Basic Conducting Techniques

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.

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.

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