This text contains practical instruction in choral and instrumental conducting for both beginning and intermediate students, along with a large selection of scores for classroom practice.

A fresh, original look at the art of conducting, including Pattern Cubes, which is a three-dimensional system for charting baton movement. Through this book, both the aspiring and the experienced conductor will benefit from Harold Farberman's experience and ideas.

John Mauceri, who has stood on podiums before storied symphonies, operas, and ballets around the world, brings a lifetime of experience to bear in this informative, brilliantly entertaining exploration of his profession. As Mauceri traces the lineage of his craft, from Felix Mendelssohn (the first to use a baton) to the present day, he shows us how conducting is itself a composition: of legacy and tradition, of techniques handed down—and more than a trace of ineffable magic. Weaving clear musical explanations together with memorable accounts of working alongside masters like Bernstein and Stokowski, Mauceri reveals how conductors approach a piece with a combination of personal interpretation, imagination, and insight into the composer’s intent; what it takes to communicate solely through gesture, with sometimes hundreds of performers at once; and the occasionally glamorous, often challenging life of the itinerant maestro. Illuminating and instructive, inflected with candor, humor, and grace, Maestros and Their Music is the perfect guide to the allure and theater, passion and drudgery, rivalries and relationships of the conducting life.

Exactly what does a conductor do in front of an orchestra? Internationally renowned conductor Christopher Seaman offers lively and informative answers in this wise yet humorous book.

The Elements of Expressive Conducting begins with a synthesis of various movement theories which allow beginning conducting students to understand how best to use their body as an expressive instrument. Strategies for developing musical expression beyond pedagogical execution are discussed in each chapter. The text further explores merging musical preparation with a healthy, tension-free approach to an individual's movement. Readers will also find strategies for developing the coordination between the ear and body; ways to transfer "every day" movements to the art of conducting; and suggestions for building to a professional level of success.FeaturesExercises which stimulate the imagination and inform the bodyVideo examples of these exercises on the publisher's websiteDrawings of imaginative ways to consider beat patternsMusical examples chosen to reinforce specific conducting fundamentalsPractical strategies drawn from the author's more than four decades of pedagogical experience

Featuring a diverse range of flexible and practical instrumentation exercises, Conducting: The Art of Communication, Second Edition, provides the most comprehensive treatment available of all aspects of instrumental conducting: technical, analytical, and expressive. Authors Wayne Bailey and Brandt Payne, offer students unparalleled coverage of the art of conducting, advanced techniques, score study for rehearsal and performance, and error recognition and correction (helping students to develop their "conductors' ears"). They provide brief and innovative exercises that focus on common technical and musical problems; score analysis and preparation; elements of expressive conducting, including facial expression and body movement; and aural skills that aid in error detection.

(Amadeus). Conducting an orchestra is something that is seen as well as heard, but it is quite misunderstood when it comes to knowing what this person actually does for a living. This most mysterious of jobs is brought to life for the music lover as well as for the aspiring maestro in a book by Leonard Slatkin. Drawing on his own experiences on and off the podium, Slatkin brings us into the world of the baton. He tells tales of some of the most fascinating people in the musical world, including Frank Sinatra, Leonard Bernstein, and John Williams. He takes the reader to the great concert halls and orchestras, soundstages in Hollywood, and opera pits around the globe. Mr. Slatkin recounts his controversial appearance at the Metropolitan Opera, his creation and direction of summer music festivals, and a shattering concert experience that took place four days following 9/11. Life in the recording studio and on the road as well as health issues confronting the conductor provide an insider's glimpse into the private world of public figures. Covering everything from learning how to read music to standing in front of an orchestra for the first time, what to wear, and how to deal with the press, Conducting Business is a unique look at a unique profession.

(Meredith Music Resource). This incredible book by one of the world's foremost authorities on conducting contains no conducting patterns, and no advice on how to conduct any piece. Instead, it focuses on the skills, knowledge and experiences needed to become and function as a conductor-teacher. "This text is a 'must have' for all serious musicians. It captures the legacy and wisdom of one of the most important conductors of our time. This is what can happen when a focused and inquisitive mind meets up with a uniquely creative imagination." Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Director of Wind Studies, College of Music University of North Texas (a href="http://youtu.be/JM6g4KBA4Fk" target="_blank")Click here for a YouTube video on On Becoming a Conductor(/a)

The conductor—tuxedoed, imposingly poised above an orchestra, baton waving dramatically—is a familiar figure even for those who never set foot in an orchestral hall. As a veritable icon for classical music, the conductor has also been subjected to some ungenerous caricatures, presented variously as unhinged gesticulator, indulged megalomaniac, or even outright impostor. Consider, for example: Bugs Bunny as Leopold Stokowski, dramatically smashing his baton and then breaking into erratic poses with a forbidding intensity in his eyes, or Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, unwittingly conjuring dangerous magic with carefree gestures he doesn’t understand. As these clichés betray, there is an aura of mystery around what a conductor actually does, often coupled with disbelief that he or she really makes a difference to the performance we hear. The Silent Musician deepens our understanding of what conductors do and why they matter. Neither an instruction manual for conductors, nor a history of conducting, the book instead explores the role of the conductor in noiselessly shaping the music that we hear. Writing in a clever, insightful, and often evocative style, world-renowned conductor Mark Wigglesworth deftly explores the philosophical underpinnings of conducting—from the conductor’s relationship with musicians and the music, to the public and personal responsibilities conductors face—and examines the subtler components of their silent art, which include precision, charisma, diplomacy, and passion. Ultimately, Wigglesworth shows how conductors—by simultaneously keeping time and allowing time to expand—manage to shape ensemble music into an immersive, transformative experience, without ever making a sound.

This comprehensive text by Anthony Maiello on the art of conducting is designed to be hands on, user friendly, playable by any instrumentation, a step-by-step approach to baton technique, great for use with a wind, string or voice conducting class, and excellent as a refresher course for all conductors at all levels of ability. The 232-page book covers a variety of conducting issues and the included recording contains all the musical exercises in the book (there are more than 100).

Known internationally for his work as a teacher of conducting, Gustav Meier's influence in the field cannot be overstated. In The Score, the Orchestra and the Conductor, Meier demystifies the conductor's craft with explanations and illustrations of what the conductor must know to attain podium success. He provides useful information from the rudimentary to the sophisticated, and offers specific and readily applicable advice for technical and musical matters essential to the conductor's first rehearsal with the orchestra. This book details many topics that otherwise are unavailable to the aspiring and established conductor, including the use of the common denominator, the "The ZIG-ZAG method", a multiple, cross-indexed glossary of orchestral instruments in four languages, an illustrated description of string harmonics, and a comprehensive listing of voice categories, their overlaps, dynamic ranges and repertory. The Score, the Orchestra and the Conductor is an indispensable addition to the library of every conductor and conducting student.

The complex art of conducting may look effortless to the casual onlooker; however, it requires a great deal of knowledge and skill. The success of a performance hinges on the director's ability to keep the group playing together and interpreting the music as the composer intended. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Conducting Music shows student and novice conductors how to lead bands, orchestras, choirs, and other ensembles effectively through sight-reading, rehearsals, and performances. Bonus online video content shows expert conductors conducting various time signatures, tempos, downbeats, cues, articulations, dynamics, and more.

In this wide-ranging inside view of the history and practice of conducting, analysis and advice comes directly from working conductors, including Sir Charles Mackerras on opera, Bramwell Tovey on being an Artistic Director, Martyn Brabbins on modern music, Leon Botstein on programming and Vance George on choral conducting, and from those who work closely with conductors: a leading violinist describes working as a soloist with Stokowski, Ormandy and Barbirolli, while Solti and Abbado's studio producer explains orchestral recording, and one of the world's most powerful managers tells all. The book includes advice on how to conduct different types of groups (choral, opera, symphony, early music) and provides a substantial history of conducting as a study of national traditions. It is an unusually honest book about a secretive industry and managers, artistic directors, soloists, players and conductors openly discuss their different perspectives for the first time.

This book by Dr. David Whitwell is destined to be regarded as one of the most important works on the subject. It emphasizes the philosophic and aesthetic concepts of conducting and will cause ensemble directors to re-examine their ideas about the way they look at music making.

"John Watkins has used his years of experience on both sides of the baton to create a charming introduction to the art of conducting. There are not many reference books that deal with the 'how to' of directing a group of musicians. This practical guide to conducting wisely stays away from musical theory and concentrates on how to communicate with musicians from base amateur to seasoned professional This is a must for a newly aspiring conductor, and an experienced conductor could very well use this as a refresher." -John Tozer, music director, Scarborough, Ontario An invaluable reference guide for musicians of all types, The Art of the Conductor contains clear and detailed descriptions of universally accepted techniques used by the world's best and most successful music conductors. Classically trained musician and conductor John J. Watkins discusses the evolution of conducting technique and how it relates to various forms of music, and he outlines the wide array of skills conductors need today. He also explains the finer points of technique and control, including beat patterns and signals, tempo changes, and using the left hand, to make the conducting experience as rewarding as possible. The Art of the Conductor will help conductors, choristers, and instrumentalists build their skills and confidence for more relaxed, enjoyable, and polished performances that audiences will love.

John Mauceri, who has stood on podiums before storied symphonies, operas, and ballets around the world, brings a lifetime of experience to bear in this informative, brilliantly entertaining exploration of his profession. As Mauceri traces the lineage of his craft, from Felix Mendelssohn (the first to use a baton) to the present day, he shows us how conducting is itself a composition: of legacy and tradition, of techniques handed down—and more than a trace of ineffable magic. Weaving clear musical explanations together with memorable accounts of working alongside masters like Bernstein and Stokowski, Mauceri reveals how conductors approach a piece with a combination of personal interpretation, imagination, and insight into the composer’s intent; what it takes to communicate solely through gesture, with sometimes hundreds of performers at once; and the occasionally glamorous, often challenging life of the itinerant maestro. Illuminating and instructive, inflected with candor, humor, and grace, Maestros and Their Music is the perfect guide to the allure and theater, passion and drudgery, rivalries and relationships of the conducting life.