MUSC 515 Graduate Conducting

Intermediate and advanced instruction in choral and instrumental conducting techniques for music educators. Knowledge and skill areas stressed are a review of conducting gestures and patterns; advanced score interpretation, rehearsal management and technique, special challenges in choral and instrumental contexts.

This course is designed to refine pre-existing choral and/or instrumental conducting skills in the music educator. Specific attention will be given to the music teacher as conductor. Areas of study include: 1) advanced conducting technique; 2) advanced score study, marking, and preparation; and 3) advanced rehearsal techniques. Representative literature from various periods will be studied and conducted. The course provides extended teaching, coaching, and podium time working with ensembles in rehearsal (lab ensemble).

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. For two of the four discussion, the student is required to create a 400-word thread in response to the provided prompt.  The student will also be required to respond in at least 200 words to 2 classmates prompts for each Discussion. For each thread and reply, students must support their assertions with at least 1 scholarly citation from the course readings and 1 biblical reference in current Turabian format. Please reference Discussion Assignment Instructions for further details.

Discussion: Program Note: Initial thread requires that the student upload a program note of 100-300 words. For each thread and reply, students must support their assertions with at least 1 scholarly citation from the course readings and 1 biblical reference in current Turabian format. The student must post 2 replies of at least 100 words

Discussion: Instrumental versus Choral: The student is required to submit an initial thread of at least 200 words and at least two replies of 400 words each. No citations are required for the thread; however, each reply must be supported with at least 1 scholarly citation from the course readings and 1 biblical reference in current Turabian format.

Discussions: Video Critiques (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The student will submit two 2-3 minute videos of him/her conducting a song/piece. The student will then critique at least 2 classmate’s videos in at least 200 words. Replies must have 1 scholarly citation in current Turabian format.

Score Analysis Assignment

The student will complete advanced analysis and marking as applied to a work by a choral or instrumental ensemble. The instrumental student must prepare at least 100 measures of a piece of music as if he/she will rehearse it. The choral student must choose a song from standard high school literature that is 3–5 minutes in length. In addition, the student will complete a paper of 1,000–1,500 words. The paper must include at least 2 citations and be in current Turabian format.

Live Rehearsal Observation Assignments (2)

The student will contact a local conductor about viewing rehearsals at 2 different points in the course, and complete a written observation for each rehearsal. Each observation must be 500–800 words and must be written in current Turabian format.

Conducting Video Assignments (2)

The student must begin the preparation for these assignments during Module 1: Week 1 of this course. The student will video himself/herself conducting an ensemble. The choral conducting student must conduct 1 song for each assignment. The instrumental conducting student must conduct a piece that totals 5–8 minutes in length. The student will be conducting live choral or instrumental ensembles.

Final Presentation Assignment

The student will complete a 10–15-minute video presentation. This presentation must include an introduction of a piece of music that the student will be conducting. The music may be from a live performance (preferred) or an audio recording (the student must receive permission from the instructor to use an audio recording), and 3–5 minutes of the video must showcase his/her conducting skill. The remaining portion of the presentation will include his/her thoughts on techniques and strategies he/she has learned in the course, and how he/she implements these into his/her conducting.