SYLLABUS
MUCO 250 01 Conducting
Fall Semester 2013
Cincinnati Christian University Professor Gary J. Gregory
12:30-1:20 TH -- Two credit hours Campus Phone: 244-8174 / email:
Course Description
A study of basic conducting techniques as can be applied to all varieties of musical conducting. Emphasis is on mastery of conducting patterns, expressive gestures, score reading and technical terms. Some consideration is given to use of the baton and instrumental scores. Prerequisite: MUTH 111/112 or equivalent.
Course Objectives
A. General Objectives: To develop basic conducting techniques and skills necessary for leadership of larger choral ensembles and introduce the student to basic instrumental conducting.
B. Specific Objectives: The student who satisfactorily completes this course should be able to:
1. Conduct the traditional beat patterns in the most commonly used meters.
2. Demonstrate mastery in the use of preparatory gestures, cut-offs, fermatas and tempo changes.
3. Demonstrate freedom and ease in the use of expressive gestures, use of the left hand and cueing devices.
4. Know the most commonly used terms found in musical scores.
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of instrumental scores, transposition, and use of the baton.
6. Analyze and prepare a musical score for rehearsal.
Course Assignments and Requirements
A. Students are expected to participate in every class session of the term. Because of the nature of the class, your attendance and active involvement is very important. Absences will reduce the final grade at the rate of 1% per absence beginning with the third absence. No more than 4 absences will be allowed to pass the class. In the case of a college-sponsored trip or serious illness in which a doctor mandates absence from class, the student should consult with the professor immediately to request special consideration.
- The textbook for this course is: Busch, Brian. The Complete Choral Conductor, Gesture and
Method. New York: Schirmer Books, 1984. Also required: 2-3 choral selections selected from the CCU choral library and CD for conducting demos. Students are required to purchase a conductor's baton for instrumental conducting. Cost is $7.00.
C. Class sessions will include student conducting, practice of rehearsal methods and constructive criticism for the student.
D. Each student will prepare a choral selection that will be conducted in class at the end of the semester.
E. A critique of one article relating to choral methods or conducting techniques must be submitted each month from a different musical periodical (total of three articles). A periodical is a magazine published or journal published at regular intervals. NO electronic sources will be accepted. Due dates are in the course outline below. The critique should be a minimum of one but no morethan two typewritten pages in length.
F. Special Assignment: Read Part III of our text (pp. 239-269) and submit a two-page response describing something of special interest that you learned from the reading. Indicate with a statement at the end of your paper that you have completed all of the reading (Due by Dec. 12). Additional Special Assignments may be given in class including conducting exercises, writing musicalexamples, transposition exercises, reviews of articles, and additional conducting opportunities.
G. Students are expected to practice techniques and prepare exercises outside of class time. An average of 45 minutes practice per class is required for an "A" in the daily preparation grade.
H. Food and drinks are not permitted in class. Students should not wear caps, sweats or immodest clothing to class.
Course Evaluation Procedures
40%Exam Scores20%Instructor’s Conducting Observations/Evaluations
15%Article Reviews20%Daily Preparation 05%Special Assignments
Outline of Assignments and Organization of Material
T Aug.27Introduction: preliminary observations. Exercises for wrist flexibility.
H Aug.29Chapter 1/2 - The Body in Preparation. Pulse and Preparation. All exercises.
T Sept. 3Chapter 3 - Basic Hand Motion. All exercises.
H Sept. 5Chapter 4 - Releases (pp. 30-39). All exercises.
T Sept.10Chapter 4 - Cueing (pp. 40-52). All exercises.
H Sept.12Chapter 5 - Score Preparation/Left Hand Releases. All exercises.
T Sept.17EXAM - Chapters 1-5 and Conducting Terms
H Sept.19Chapter 6 - The Three Pattern/Gestures of Interpretation. All exercises.
(ACCME)
T Sept.24[Continued]
H Sept. 26Chapter 7 - Preparatory Gestures/Two Pattern/Basic Rehearsal Techniques. All exercises. (First Article Review)
T Oct. 1Chapter 8 - Standing on Your Head and Other Practical Matters
H Oct. 3FALL RECESS
T Oct. 8Chapter 9 - Gestures of Articulation/Subdivision. All exercises.
H Oct.10Chapter 9 – Continuation
T Oct.15Chapter 10 - Ending the Work. All exercises.
H Oct.17Chapter 11 - Mixed Meters/Other Release Gestures. All exercises.
T Oct.22EXAM - Chapters 6-11
H Oct.24The Instrumental Score.
T Oct.29Clefs and Transpositions. (Second Article Review)
H Oct. 31Interpreting the Band Score, Transcriptions and Arrangements.
T Nov. 5Basic Problems: Intonation, Balance, Attack, Cueing and Expressive Gestures.
H Nov. 7EXAM - Instrumental Score
T Nov.12Chapter 12 - The Six Pattern/Fermata Studies. All exercises.
H Nov.14Chapter 13 - The One Pattern/Additional Fermata Studies. All exercises.
T Nov.19Continue Chapter 13
H Nov.21Chapter 14 - Asymmetrical Meters. All exercises (pp. 183-189). (Third Article Review)
Nov. 26/28Thanksgiving Recess
T Dec. 3Chapter 14 - (pp. 190-199). All exercises. (C/C week)
H Dec. 5Chapter 16 - Gradual Changes in Tempo. All exercises. (C/C week)
T Dec. 11Chapter 17 - Conducting Triplets and Abrupt Tempo Changes. All exercises.
H Dec. 12Review/Practice (Part III Special Assignment Due)
Dec. 16-19FINAL EXAMS
Notice: These Course Plans are subject to change during the semester at the discretion of the professor.
Bibliographic Resources
Curtis, Larry G. and Kuehn, David L. A Guide to Successful Instrumental Conducting. Dubuque, IA: Brown and Benchmark, 1992.
Decker, Harold A. and Colleen J. Kirk.Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1988.
Garretson, Robert L. Conducting Choral Music. 8th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1998.
Green, Elizabeth A.and Gibson, Mark. The Modern Conductor. 7th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2003.
Hoffer, Charles R. Teaching Music in the Secondary Schools. 5th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2000.
Hunsberger, Donald and Ernst, Roy. The Art of Conducting. 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1992.
Lamb, Gordon H. Choral Techniques. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co., 1974.
Nowak, Jerry and Henry Nowak. Conducting the Music, Not the Musicians. New York: Carl Fischer, 2002.
Phillips, Kenneth H. Basic Techniques of Conducting. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997
Robinson, Ray & Winold, Allen. The Choral Experience. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1992.
Roe, Paul F. Choral Music Education. 2nd Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983.
Rudolf, Max. The Grammar of Conducting. 3rd Edition. New York: G. Schirmer, 1994.
Music Periodicals in CCU Library
American Music; Choral Director; Choral Journal; Clavier Companion; Creator; Hymn; Instrumentalist; Keyboard; The Chorister; School Band And Orchestra (SB&O);Stanza; Worship Leader.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Since much of the education process occurs in the interactions of students and faculty with the curriculum, student attendance at class is required. Students with more than two weeks of absences in a particular course will receive the grade of FA (Failure due to absences) in the class. Students who reach this level prior to seventh week of the semester may withdraw from the class and receive a “W” for the class.
When a student is failed in a course due to absences, it is rare that reinstatement in the class is allowed. However, a student can apply for reinstatement, understanding there may be substantial penalties, including extra work. The reinstatement process begins with the Registrar’s Office.
Students are required to report all absences to the Academic Support Office. Reports should be made within 48 hours of the absence. Only reported absences will be considered when evaluating the student’s situation for reinstatement. Absences that are not reported in a timely manner will not be considered “excused” for reinstatement. Students should keep documentation on absences (Dr.’s note or bill, note to professor about school sponsored activity, personal records, etc.). Reinstatements will not be considered without proper reporting and documentation.
A student should be aware that faculty members may penalize students for class absences prior to the two week limit. Read the individual course syllabus for statements of such penalties. The two weeks of absences are not entitlements for students. They should not be viewed as “personal days” but as “sick days.”
MUCO 250 Conducting - 1 - Fall 2013