Conducting provides the student with an awareness of the techniques of orchestral, choral and ensemble conducting. It deepens the student's understanding of the role of conductor. There is a strong emphasis upon developing practical techniques and experience. Conducting fosters: an understanding of the role of the conductor; the development of the practical techniques in ensemble, choral and orchestral conducting; and skills in preparation, techniques and rehearsal procedures.

Conducting 1 aims to introduce music students to the discipline of choral conducting, in which the focus is on equipping students with the fundamental knowledge and skills for rehearsing and performing a wide spectrum of choral music scores. The course also aims to introduce music students to the discipline of ensemble conducting, in which the focus is on equipping students with the core knowledge of and skills for rehearsing and performing a wide spectrum of ensemble scores.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Conduct choral and instrumental ensembles efficiently and effectively
2. Research and select appropriate musical scores for a given ensemble
3. Demonstrate clear understanding of the musical score and its historical/social context
4. Read and comprehend clefs and understand linguistic demands in a given score
5. Reflect on and discuss your own learning as it relates to the course subject matter

Personal Journal Assignment (1000 words ) (20%), [Learning Outcomes 1-5],

Mid-Semester sight reading assessment (20%) [Learning Outcomes 2-5],

Participation (10%), [Learning Outcomes 1-4]

End of Semester performance examination (50%) [Learning Outcomes 1-5]

Students undertake class instruction (average of three hours per week) plus relevant practical conducting experience.

Departmental consent

Considerable experience in musical performance and theory

It is compulsory for all students enrolled in Conducting 1 to own and bring to each tutorial:

• An A=440Hz pitch fork
• A portable tuning device
• A metronome
• A 2B pencil or pacer, eraser, sharpener
• A paper notebook
• The compulsory set musical score
• Clean manuscript paper
• Chosen score