Semester Calendar
(Subject to change)

Week 1: Jan. 18

• Introduction - "What is a conductor's role?"
• Review basic gestures
• Warm-up exercises
• Read: Stotter Ch. 1

   

Week 2: Jan. 23 (No class Jan. 25 - IMEA Convention)

Review basic gestures (cont.)

Score study and score marking

Observing conductors

•  Read: Renshaw

•  Read: Stotter Ch. 2

 

Week 3: Jan 30 and Feb. 1

Score study continued

Instrumental issues

Transpositions, ranges

Grainger practice session #1

Fermatas

•  Read:, Battisti "Score Orientation"

•  Read: Hunsberger pp. 51-53

•  Read Stotter Ch. 3 & 8

 

Week 4: Feb. 6 (No class Feb. 8 - TI:ME Convention)

Instrumental issues (cont.)

Names in other languages, characteristics

Transposition

Grainger practice session #2

Adjusting dynamic and tempo

•  Read: Hunsberger pp. 70-71

•  Grainger score analysis due Feb. 6 th

 

Week 5: Feb. 13 and 15

Error detection Session #1

Educational issues

Identifying teaching content

Warming-up an ensemble

Transitions

•  Quiz #1 - Feb. 13th (Instrumental issues)

•  Conducting opportunity #1- Grainger (Concert Band - Mon or Wed, at 12:00)

 

Week 6: Feb. 20 and 22

String issues

Markings, bowings, and vocabulary

Evaluating performances

Criteria and guidelines

Divided and changing meters

Contemporary composition and composers

•  Read: Wakin "Schoenberg, Bach and Us"

•  Elgar score analysis due Feb. 22 nd

•  Read: Stotter Ch. 4

 

Week 7: Feb. 27 and March 1

History of conducting

Important conductors

Past and present

Elgar practice session #1

•  Millikin band festival ( Kirkland Stage - Feb. 27 th 9am - 2pm)

•  Read: Rockwel "Settling the Score"

 

Week 8: March 6 and 8

String playing techniques

Rehearsal techniques

Teaching musical content

Elgar practice session #2

•  Read: "Now Hear This!"

•  Read: Hunsberger pp. 73-77

•  Quiz #2 - March 8 th (String issues)

 

Week 9: March 13 and 15

Current events in classical music

Error detection session #2

Using the left hand

•  Read: Tommasini "What's New in Classical Music?"

•  Read: Stotter Ch. 6

•  Conducting opportunity #2 - Elgar ( String Arts - Mon. March 12 th , 7:15 - 8:45)

 

- spring break-

 

Week 10: March 27 and 29

"Going beyond the patterns" - Incorporating expression

Psychological conducting

•  Read: Reynolds "Guiding Principles of Conducting"

•  Read: Hunsberger p. 94-96 (Dynamic accents, syncopation)

•  Observations due March 29 th

 

Week 11: April 5 (no class April 3 - Advising Day)

Portraying "feeling" in conducting

Holst practice session - Mvt. 1

•  Read: Harris "Musical Experience and the Role of Feeling"

•  Holst Analysis due April 5th

 

Week 12: April 10 and 12

Asymmetrical meters

Error detection session #3

Holst practice session - Mvt.. 2

•  Read: Freidman "How Conductors Create Big Slurs."

•  Read: Stotter ch. 5

 

Week 13: April 17 and 19

Asymmetrical meters (cont.)

Administrative responsibilities

Seating, preparing for performances, library, etc.

Holst practice session - Mvt. 3

•  Read: Hunsberger Chapt. 8 & 10

•  Quiz #3 - April 19 th (Administrative issues, materials, etc.)

Week 14: April 24 and 26

Literature selection and programming

The "Art" of conducting

Advanced conducting techniques

•  Read: Davidson "Measure for Measure"

•  Conducting opportunity # 3 - Holst (Concert Band - Mon or Wed. 12pm)

 

Week 15: May 1 and 3

•  Topic paper presentations (papers due May 1 st)

 

Week 16 - May 8

Final exam review

 

•  Final Exam - TBA