MUSC 515 Graduate Conducting

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 (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a 400-word thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. 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, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 1 scholarly source from the course readings and 1 biblical reference in current Turabian format. Please reference Discussion Assignment Instructions for further details. 

Note: The Discussion: Instrumental versus Choral has different requirements and a separate set of assignment instructions contained in its own discussion page in Canvas. In this discussion, the student will post 1 thread of at least 200 words and then post 2 replies of at least 200 words. No sources are required for the initial thread; however, each reply must be supported with at least 1 scholarly source from the course readings and 1 biblical reference in current Turabian format.

Discussions: Video Critiques (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, 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. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly source in current Turabian format.

Score Analysis Assignment

The student will complete advanced analysis and marking on a printed score as applied to a piece by a choral or instrumental ensemble. The marking of the printed score must completely account for and demonstrate a strong knowledge for all of the following mark-up types: cues, expression markings, and phrasing decisions. The choral student must choose a song from standard high school literature that is 3–5 minutes in length. Instructor approval of the song is required before analysis begins for the choral student. The instrumental student will choose 100 measures of any of the music options provided in the assignment instructions as if he/she will rehearse it. In addition, the student will complete a paper of 1,000–1,500 words. The paper must include at least 2 scholarly sources and be in current Turabian format. The paper must include a thorough analysis of the historical context and technical considerations of the score markup. 

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. The student will use description and analysis format, and he/she will describe what he/she saw and then analyze what the conductor was doing. The student must include points of application to his/her conducting process. 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 the beginning 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. The video should demonstrate evidence of planning and specific score study, with execution of stylistic conducting choices to communicate the music on the score. The student must follow the video recording guidelines in the Video Assignment Recording Instructions document to receive full credit.

Program Note Assignment

In this assignment, the student will submit a document containing a program note of 250 to 350 words. The program note may describe any piece that the student has chosen to study this semester in his/her conducting videos. The note must include historical context information on the composition or the composer and show a strong understanding of the musical elements of the piece. The note must give the audience a sense of what to expect when listening to the piece, be written at a level that most concert goers can understand, and contain engaging information about the piece/song. The note should be written in current Turabian writing style.

Final Presentation Assignment

The student will complete a 10–15-minute video presentation. This presentation must begin with an introduction to and clarification of a piece of music that the student will be conducting. Preferably, the music should be from a live performance (the student must contact the instructor to get permission to use an audio recording/soundtrack instead of live performers). The student must feature his/her conducting skills in 3-5 minutes of the video. The video should demonstrate evidence of specific score study, with execution of stylistic conducting choices (expression, clarity, cues) to communicate the music on the score. The remaining portion of the presentation will include the student’s thoughts on techniques and strategies he/she has learned in the course and how he/she implements these into his/her conducting. The student must follow the video recording guidelines in the Video Assignment Recording Instructions document to receive full credit.