Conducting II

Dr. William S. Carson

Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education

MU‑385 * Coe College * Spring 2008

 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 11:00 ‑ 12:00 AM

Marquis Rm. 201

 

Office: Marquis 203

Office Hours: Monday -  Friday; 10:00 ‑ 10:50 AM

or by appointment

Office Phone: 399-8520 * Home Phone: 362-8912

E-Mail: wcarson@coe.edu

 

 

Catalogue Statement:

This intensive one‑credit course is designed to continue the preparation of the future music educator for his or her role as a conductor.  The topic will be approached by studying the literature and techniques of instrumental music.  Baton and Score reading skills will be emphasized.  Prerequisite:  MU‑285 or Permission of Instructor

 

Text:             Elizabeth A.H. Green, The Modern Conductor, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice‑Hall. The readings in Elizabeth Green relate to things that will be discussed in class – but not necessarily in the order in which they are assigned. Readings are spread out throughout the term, rather than aligned with specific topics that will be discussed.

 

Supplementary Materials:

Baton, pencil, ink pen, three‑ring binder, computer access, manuscript paper, colored pencils, major instrument.  One blank mini-videotape or digital storage media (exact format will be discussed in class) and access to playback equipment.

 

Reserve Materials:    Supplementary reading as assigned.

 

Grading:       This is a very demanding class, requiring a large amount of preparation outside of class, and requiring participation in four conducting sessions outside of class time.  There is a test, quiz, or reading or listening assignment for almost every class meeting, in addition to the preparation time required for the in‑class conducting.  The grading scale is high, and there is little room for error.  Please see grading details outlined on separate sheet.

 

Meetings:     A major portion of the value of this course will come from the in‑class work. Tests, quizzes, and assignments, add to the importance of class attendance, particularly because students will only be allowed to make up one missed test or quiz, and late assignments will be penalized.  In addition to the class meetings listed in the catalog, members of this class will also be judged on their participation as conductors in sessions outside of class time. There will be additional meetings to conduct rehearsals, and the final required conducting session will be held at a band rehearsal during exam week.  Students who complete the course successfully may be given the option of conducting the band at commencement.

 

Note:  This course is taught primarily as a workshop or laboratory class – the materials will be adjusted daily to fit what the instructor perceives as your strengths and weaknesses.


 

 

Grading Details

 

The student will be graded on both conducting performance and on factual knowledge.

 

REQUIRED WORK:                                        Points                           Number                        Total

Daily in class performance                                         10            x                   40            =               400

Required Outside Conducting                                      50            x                     4            =               200

Rehearsal Reviews (non-Coe)*                                  25            x                     4            =               100

Written tests (vocab., transp.)                                   100            x                     3            =               300

Graded Quizzes                                                         50            x                     3            =               150

Notebook of all assignments, etc.*                             200                                                =               200

Conducting Final                                                       200                                                =               200

Major Project ‑ rough draft*                                     150                                                =               150

Major Project ‑ final draft*                                       300                                                =               300

TOTAL Required Points                                                                                                               2000

 

EXTRA CREDIT WORK:

Rehearsal Reviews                                                    10            x                     4            =                 40

Extra credit attendance                                              10            x                     3            =                 30

Perfect Attendance Bonus                                         30                                                =                 30

Extra credit conducting                                               25            x                     2            =                 50

TOTAL Points Possible                                                                                                                2150

 

1950  ‑ 2150  =  A         1900  ‑ 1949  =  B          1850  ‑ 1899  =  C            1800  ‑ 1849  =  D            0 - 1799 =F

Plusses and minuses are at the discretion of the instructor.

 

* Conducting II is a Writing Emphasis course.  Students who do not earn at least 500 out of the 750 possible points for the Major Project, both rough and final draft, and the rehearsal reviews and writing assignments included in the notebook, will NOT be able earn writing emphasis for the course, and will thus not earn a grade higher than C-, no matter how well they perform in other aspects of the class, and despite any other extra credit that might be submitted.

 

Students who miss ONE test or in class assignment will be allowed to make up their work, but ONLY the FIRST time!  After that any make up work must be done in the form of extra credit assignments. Assignments will lose 25% in value each day that they are late, including weekends and holidays.

 

First Order Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have:

(1)           An increased knowledge of the basic elements of conducting

(2)           An appreciation for the many roles of the conductor

(3)           Improved confidence as a conductor

(4)           An increased awareness of different styles of music

(5)           A more open attitude toward unfamiliar musical styles

(6)           Basic knowledge of standard repertoire

(7)           Knowledge of basic source materials for conductors

(8)           A desire for continued growth as a conductor

(9)           An awareness of the importance of preparation

(10)         Improved personal musicianship

 

Second Order Objectives:

To demonstrate the above competencies, the student will:

(1)           Demonstrate knowledge of transposition and vocabulary facts

(2)           Answer questions concerning stylistic differences

(3)           Compose exercises for various instruments

(4)           Review articles in trade and research journals

(5)           Listen to and evaluate performances and recordings

(6)           Observe and evaluate conductors, both visually and aurally

(7)           Survey and evaluate reference materials

(8)           Demonstrate appropriate use of baton

(9)           Demonstrate application of basic beat patterns

(10)         Demonstrate expressive gestures

(11)         Demonstrate control of dynamic, tempo, articulation

 

 

Conducting II, Spring 2008

Class Schedule (subject to change)

 

 

Month          Day            Assignment                                                                                                                            

Jan.                11            Pre-Quiz        

                      14            Green, 20-25

                      16            RA1

                      18            Practice Quiz               

                      21            Green, 142-173             

                      23            Practice Quiz                                      

                      25            Quiz I             

                      28            RA2

                      30            Green, 174-215

Feb.                 1            Assignment 1               

                        4            Green, 222-235

                        6            Practice Quiz                                      

                        8            Green, 41 - 62

                      11            Assignment 2               

                      13            Green, 63 - 77

         15            Green, 78 - 83

         18            Test I       

         20            Practice Quiz               

         22            Class will not meet at regular time.  Instead, serve as band host and observe jazz directors.

         25            Star-Spangled Banner   

         27            Green, 84 -95

                      29            RA3         

Mar.                 3            Quiz II

                        5            Green, 43-49

                        7            Green, 119-138

                   8-16            Spring Break                                      

                      17            Assignment 3                                                                                      

                      19            Practice Quiz                                      

                      21            Green, 139-141

                      24            Assignment 4  

                      26            Green, 71-95

                      28            Project Rough Draft due

                      31            No class – Dr. Carson out of town

April                 2            No class – Symposium Day

                        4            Green, 217-221             

                        7            Repertoire for final exams

                        9            Quiz III

                      11            Repertoire for final exams

                      12            Afternoon  Opportunity to observe Elementary Honor Band with guest conductors

                      13            Afternoon opportunity to observe High School and Middle School Honor Bands with guest conductors                         

                      14            Repertoire for final exams                                                                                           

                      16            Test II , Green, xiii-xviii                                                                                    

                      18            Green, 1-7

                      21            RA5

                      23            Notebook, Final Project

           23 and 30            Final Conducting Exam during band rehearsals (7:00 – 9:15 p.m.)

                      30            8:00 – 10:00 a.m.           Final Written Exam

 


 

Written Assignments

The following writing assignments will be described in class before they are due.  Assignments will be considered part of notebook score.

 

Assignment 1:

Two-page Article - Best and Worst Leaders 

 

Assignment 2:

Interpretation Comparison - Two recordings of Beeth #5, mvt. I

 

Assignment 3:

Star Spangled Banner in the traditional key.  Write parts for instruments pitched in Eb (e.g., alto sax), Bb (trumpet, clarinet), F (horn), A (clarinet).  For C instruments write parts in bass clef, treble clef, alto clef, and tenor clef.

 

Assignment 4:

Internet Search - Find and describe at least 5 Internet sites related to conducting.  Create a webpage with your descriptions and post on the internet. This assignment is to be turned by e-mailing the URL to wcarson@coe.edu

 

 

Reading Assignments

 

For each reading assignment, you are expected to prepare a short (minimum one page per reading assignment) synopsis/commentary on the material covered and its relevance to class and to the required text.  Your opinions about the material and analysis of its presentation are most important.

 

RA1

Maurice Miles, Are you beating Two or Four?, Borough Green, Kent, England:  Novello, 1977.  Chapters 1, 2(The             Baton, The Left Hand, The Right Hand, Starting, Rostrum Etiquette).

 

Brock McElheran, Conducting Technique, New York:  Oxford University  Press, 1966.  Chapters III, IV,

 

RA2

Frederik Prausnitz, Score and Podium, New York:  W.W. Norton, 1983.  Introduction, pp. 1-2, 6.  Chapter 1A, pp. 11-15.  Chapter 1B, pp. 17-25.  Chapter 2A, pp. 29-39.

 

RA3

Conducting Resources

Prepare annotated bibliography of 5 or more conducting-related texts available in the library, in my office, or from another faculty member.  Compare with each other and with Green.

 

RA4

Library Skills Exercise

The following articles are available in the library - if you can find them:

Donn L. Mills, "Conductor's Upper-Hand Technique."

_____, "A Player's Guide for Keeping Conductors in Line."


 

Project Instructions

 

The major written conducting project for the term will be the compilation of a detailed plan of action for an ensemble that you would plan to lead some time in the future.  It must be a very detailed set of guidelines and an outlining of thought processes.  Every detail on the Conducting Class Unit Outline which you will receive as a handout needs to be addressed. 

 

Start today by deciding what kind of group you want to write about.  Following are some examples of topics that should be addressed to get you thinking:

·        Description of Group

·        Purpose of Group

·        Educational Goals

·        Budget (must be submitted electronically and discussed in paper – see below)

·        Recruiting/auditions/membership publicity

·        Selection of repertoire

·        Balancing of program (include timings of selections, so that halves of the concert are balanced)

·        Resources that you will use:  list at least 5 books, magazines, or internet sites that will help you prepare for working with this ensemble.

 

Each piece which will be included in the performances of the imaginary ensemble needs the following:

·        program notes

·        rationale for choosing

·        discussion of the difficulties of the piece

·        educational value of the piece

·        rationale for its placement in the program

 

You will need to submit two portions of your paper electronically:

  • A complete budget, showing income and expenditures must be submitted using Excel, Works, or some other spreadsheet program.  You must use formulas to calculate amounts and totals.

  • A presentation using PowerPoint or another similar presentation program, submitting an imaginary proposal or presentation – additional funding, permission to tour, a recruiting presentation, defense against budget or staff cuts, etc.

    • Of course this can not be as valuable as actually leading a group through a semester or season, but you will have thought through many of the important pitfalls and aspects at least once before you have to sink or swim.  Plan to spend a lot of time on this assignment and start early.  I recommend that you try to do at least one paragraph a day, rather than waiting until spring break and trying to come up with 40 pages at once.  Make this an on-going project. 

     

    You also need to be reminded that, since this is a writing emphasis course, you will have the opportunity to submit a rough draft, revise it, and resubmit.  You should be aware of several things about this process:

    ·        Your rough draft should show me everything you plan to have in the final draft:  the cover, all text, etc.  Treat it like a final draft, just know that you will get a second chance.

    ·        I will be very picky in my critique of the rough draft.

    ·        The final draft needs to be carefully revised to fit all my suggestions - AND I expect you to continue your own research and come up with some new ideas in the mean time.

    ·        I will be incredibly picky in my critique of the final draft.  I recommend consulting the writing center and students who have taken the class in the past! 

     

    Good Luck!

    Some writing advice (common problems)

     

1.     Don't use contractions

2.     Check your spelling!

3.     Don't use "that" for people – use "who" instead

4.     Don't use "upbeat" to describe happy music.  "Upbeat" is the anacrusis, or the beat before a downbeat (beat one)

5.     Spell out numbers under 100

6.     Number your pages

7.     Doublespace

8.     Have someone else read your paper for clarity, assumptions, sentence structure