Basic Conducting Techniques

by Joseph A. Labuta, Wendy Matthews

Overview

Now in its eighth edition, Basic Conducting Techniques provides a clear and intelligible introduction to the art of conducting an ensemble. It has been updated with a greater diversity of repertoire, including contemporary examples and more music by underrepresented composers.

Over the course of 14 chapters, the authors explicate the elements of conducting, supplementing their teachings with an extensive selection of musical examples from the classical repertoire. Practical and innovative, clear and approachable, the book illuminates the essential skills that a beginning conductor should develop in order to lead and rehearse a performing group. The companion website provides scores and transposed parts for all musical excerpts, as well as guitar and piano parts, audio recordings of the excerpts, and updated demonstration videos modeling specific conducting techniques. With the beginning conductor in mind, this hands-on, competency-centered approach is appropriate for mixed classes of choral and instrumental music majors, providing indispensable versatility for students and practicing conductors alike.

Utilizing decades of teaching and conducting experience, the eighth edition of Basic Conducting Techniques is the essential guide to the principles of conducting.

Note: The paperback edition of this book (ISBN 978-1-032-02497-4) is spiral-bound.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032024974
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/31/2023
Edition description:	8th ed.
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Joseph A. Labuta is Professor Emeritus of Music and former Director of Music Education at Wayne State University. He is the author of Teaching Musicianship in the High School Band.

Wendy K. Matthews is Associate Professor of Music Education and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Curriculum and Assessment at Kent State University. She has published in numerous journals and is the author of the chapter "Music pedagogy for large group teaching" in the Routledge International Handbook of Music Psychology in Education and the Community.

Table of Contents

PART I: CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE

Chapter 1: The Baton, Preparation, Downbeat, and Release

Chapter 2: Beat Patterns and Preparations in Tempo, Dynamic, and Basic Style

Chapter 3: Preparations and Releases for All Counts

Chapter 4: Fractional Beat Preparations

Chapter 5: Divided Meters

Chapter 6: Asymmetrical and Changing Meters

Chapter 7: The Fermata

Chapter 8: The Cue

Chapter 9: Conducting Musical Styles

Chapter 10: Expressive Conducting and the Left Hand

Chapter 11: Tempo Changes and Accompanying

PART II: SCORE PREPARATION AND REHEARSAL TECHNIQUE

Chapter 12: Analysis, Score Preparation, and Conductin the Full Score

Chapter 13: The Instrumental Rehearsal

Chapter 14: The Choral Rehearsal

PART III: MUSICAL EXCERPTS

Chapter 1: The Baton, Preparation, Downbeat, and Release

Chapter 2: Beat Patterns and Preparations in Tempo, Dynamic, and Basic Style

Chapter 3: Preparations and Releases for All Counts

Chapter 4: Fractional Beat Preparations

Chapter 5: Divided Meters

Chapter 6: Asymmetrical and Changing Meters

Chapter 7: The Fermata

Chapter 8: The Cue

Chapter 9: Conducting Musical Styles

Chapter 10: Expressive Conducting and the Left Hand

Chapter 11: Tempo Changes and Accompanying

Chapter 12: Analysis, Score Preperation, and Conducting the Full Score

TECHNICAL MASTERY

Appendix A: Competencies for the Beginning Conducting Class

Appendix B: Student Evaluation

Appendix C: Chart of Transpositions and Clefs

Appendix D: Full Score Instrumentation and Foreign Equivalents

Appendix E: Counting Drills for Uneven Meters

Appendix F: Musical Style Chart

Appendix G: Glossary

Appendix H: Model Video Excerpt Chart

Editorial Reviews

New edition of a text that provides practical hands-on procedures, techniques, guidance, and materials for the beginning conducting class. Labuta, an experienced musician and educator (Wayne State U.), employs a broad repertory of musical excerpts and scores, most of them reduced to four-part format, that enable students to work with an ensemble of class members to practice conducting and rehearsal techniques at each class meeting. Excerpts include orchestral materials, band scores, as well as choral music excerpts, scores, and rehearsal techniques. A new feature is the inclusion of specific instructions identifying problems that must be solved in order to master conducting skills for the selected examples. Wire spiral binding. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews