Conducting Lessons
In conducting lessons, students learn how to physically communicate musical ideas in a comfortable and clear manner; they are instructed in metrical beating patterns, giving cues, starting and stopping pieces, and expressing dynamics and phrasing. Because a conductor takes in a lot of information from a page of orchestral or choral music, students also study score-reading to acquaint themselves with clefs and transposition. Finally, students learn how to lead an effective rehearsal so that they can use their conducting skills to help an ensemble prepare a piece of music for performance.
In most conducting lessons, students will practice to a musical recording or while their instructor sings or plays an instrument. In semi-private lessons or group classes, students take turn conducting each other while the rest of the class sings or plays instruments.
Conducting lessons are a wonderful supplement to any musical study. They can be a student's only form of current musical study, but we recommend all conducting students read music and have taken at least three years of instrumental or voice lessons. Conducting technique can be incorporated into Theory, Composition, or Instrumental and Voice lessons. Talk to your instructor.