MUE 3230. BASIC CONDUCTING TECHNIQUES.

Fall 2019

Dr. Jane Warren

Office: WMB 231
(hours by appointment)
Phone: 615-579-0448 (cell)

Email: jane.warren@belmont.edu

Days/Time: M/W/F 11:00 - 11:50 AM

Room: Harton Hall

CATALOGUE COURSE DESCRIPTION

MUE 3230. Basic Conducting Techniques (3). Prerequisites: MUT 1320, MUT 1340.
The study of a basic set of physical and musical skills vital to the practice of the conductor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Basic Conducting Techniques is designed as a developmental process in the art of conducting. The student
will learn the fundamental mechanics and artistic theories of movement and gesture, score preparation, an
increased awareness of his/her strengths and vulnerabilities and the qualities of great musical leadership.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Once the course in Basic Conducting Techniques is completed, it is expected that the student be compe-
tent executing the following skills:
1. Ability to conduct standard beat patterns for following meters: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8
2. Ability to conduct irregular meters (5 and 7)
3. Ability to effectively and musically communicate through conducting gestures and facial affect
4. Ability to establish and maintain tempi through conducting gestures
5. Ability to clearly communicate cues, attacks and releases to ensemble
6. Ability to conduct with and without a baton
7. Ability to comfortably and purposefully utilize both hands while conducting (all students should use right
hand to beat basic pattern)
8. Ability to prepare score at a basic level
9. Introductory awareness of rehearsal techniques.

Required Materials
• Conducting Baton (available in the Belmont University Bookstore)
• Video Recording Device (smartphone, ipad, computer, etc)
• Colored Pencils / Ruler
Pencil Colors needed: RED, BLUE, PURPLE, GREEN, YELLOW, BLACK or BROWN
Preferred pencils: Prismacolor Col-Erase purchase them at JERRY’S ART-A-RAMA in East Nashville or the PLAZA
ART store (633 Middleton St, Nashville, TN 37203 http://www.plazaart.com/stores/nashville/ ) downtown.
Individual pencils may be purchased at either place.
Amazon and other online vendors carry: Prismacolor Col-Erase 12-set or 24 set
The other accepted option: Pilot Color Eno 0.7mm Automatic Mechanical Pencil 8 Color Set from Amazon
• Ruler (6” clear plastic ruler is best)
Grading Procedures:
Final grades will be determined on the percentages listed below.
All assignments are due on the date listed on the course calendar. Late work will not be accepted.
****Conducting exams may not be made up*****

Basic Conducting Techniques Syllabus 1

MUE 3230. BASIC CONDUCTING TECHNIQUES– Fall 2014

Final Grade Percentage Breakdown:

5 Conducting Exams + Self Evaluations = 50% (10% each)
3 Quizzes = 15% (5% each)
Attendance + Participation =10%
Final Exam = 25%
Conducting Exams:
The nature of conducting does not lend itself to easy grading. Your conducting exams will be graded based
on your preparation, your progress from one exam to the next, and your cumulative incorporation of course
topics into the exam excerpt. Excerpts will be provided, discussed and practiced prior to each exam.

• Conducting Exam 1
Demonstrate the ability to confidently conduct in 3/4 time and show releases on each beat.
• Conducting Exam 2
Demonstrate the ability to confidently conduct in 4/4 time and show releases on each beat.
Demonstrate the ability to begin a piece on a beat other than one (the downbeat).
• Conducting Exam 3
Demonstrate the ability to conduct the three types of fermata.
• Conducting Exam 4
Demonstrate the ability to cue on any beat.
• Conducting Exam 5
Demonstrate the ability to conduct asymmetrical, compound, subdivided and mixed meters.

Self Evaluation:
After each conducting exam a self-analysis is due via email.
Describing improvements that you have made, improvements that you need to make, and other observations
about your own conducting, list at least three specific things you did well and at least two specific objectives
for improvement.

Quizzes:
All quizzes are weighted the same amount. Each quiz will occur at the beginning of class. No extra time will
be given. There will be no make-ups for tardy students – only excused

absences will be granted a make-up quiz. This must be pre-arranged except for cases of severe illness.

• Quiz 1: Article 1 – “Creative Conducting: 15 Conducting Tips …” (Steven Moore)

• Quiz 2: Article 2 – “Preparing the Conductor as Teacher” (Jerry Ulrich)
• Quiz 3: Article 3 - History of Conducting (article in Groves Music Online)
Attendance / Participation
Your attendance and participation in class are the primary ways that you will learn and gather information
throughout this course. If you fail to attend class you will receive a “0” for the day. In order to receive a “100”
for the days you attend class, you must participate in a manner that contributes in a positive fashion to the
class.
In accordance with Belmont University policy, missing 25% or more class times constitutes failure.
Tardiness is not acceptable. Every two times you are late to class will be counted as one absence.

Final Exam:
The final exam for this class is scheduled for Thursday, December 5 at 11 AM (place TBA)
This is a performance exam only. There is no written component.

Basic Conducting Techniques Syllabus 2

 Skill Expectations
Once the course in Basic Conducting Techniques is completed,
there should be comprehension of and functional skill in the following:
• The ability to use the face to communicate expressively.
• The ability to use entire body to communicate expressively.
• The ability of the left hand to function independently of the right hand.
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to execute the following beat patterns:
2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8,12/8, 5/8 and 7/8, including an ability to execute subdivision in all meters,
making appropriate musical use of the subdivision.
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to execute preparation and release gestures on all beats.
• The ability to cue different sections of an ensemble on all beats of the measure.
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to execute the three types of fermata.
• The ability to execute the gesture of syncopation (stop gesture).

Course Schedule
(Schedule subject to change as necessary)

WEEK 1
Wednesday, August 21 What is it to conduct? Improvisation Games and how they relate to conducting.
Friday, August 23 The Conducting Posture, The Baton, The Preparatory Gesture, Beat Patterns 2, 3, 4.
WEEK 2
Monday, August 26 The Preparatory Gesture, Beat Patterns 2, 3, 4, The Final Release, Internal Releases
Wednesday, August 28 The Preparatory Gesture, Beat Patterns 2, 3, 4, The Final Release, Internal Releases
Friday, August 30 Introduce music for Conducting Exam I/Score Study Must have colored pencils in class!!
WEEK 3
Monday, September 2 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Wednesday, September 4 Practice Round
Friday, September 6 Practice Round
WEEK 4
Monday, September 9 Practice Round
Wednesday, September 11 QUIZ I: Article 1 – Fifteen Conducting Tips (Moore) / Practice Round
Friday, September 13 Practice Round
WEEK 5
Monday, September 16 Practice Round
Wednesday, September 18 CONDUCTING EXAM I (3/4 + releases)
Friday, September 20 Entrances on beats other than one
WEEK 6
Monday, September 23 Practice Round SELF ANALYSIS I DUE (via email)
Wednesday, September 25 Practice Round
Friday, September 27 Practice Round
WEEK 7
Monday, September 30 NO CLASS (Rosh Hashanah Holiday)
Wednesday, October 2 CONDUCTING EXAM II 4/4 time + Entrances on beats other than one + releases
Friday, October 4 The Fermata
WEEK 8
Monday, October 7 Practice Round SELF ANALYSIS 2 DUE (via email)
Wednesday, October 9 QUIZ II: Article 2 – Conductor as Teacher (Ulrich) / Practice Round
Friday, October 11 NO CLASS
WEEK 9
Monday, October 14 FALL BREAK
Wednesday, October 16 Practice Round
Friday, October 18 Practice Round

WEEK 10
Monday, October 21 Practice Round
Wednesday, October 23 CONDUCTING EXAM III: (The Fermata)

Basic Conducting Techniques Syllabus 3

MUE 3230. BASIC CONDUCTING TECHNIQUES– Fall 2014

Friday, October 25 Left Hand Independence/The Cue

WEEK 11
Monday, October 28 Practice Round SELF ANALYSIS 3 DUE (via email)
Wednesday, October 30 QUIZ III: Article 3 – History of Conducting (Groves) / Practice Round
Friday, November 1 Practice Round
WEEK 12
Monday, November 4 Practice Round
Wednesday, November 6 CONDUCTING EXAM IV: (The Cue)
Friday, November 8 Asymmetrical, compound, subdivided and mixed meters
WEEK 13
Monday, November 11 Practice Round SELF ANALYSIS 4 DUE (via email)
Wednesday, November 13 Practice Round
Friday, November 15 Practice Round
WEEK 14
Monday, November 18 Practice Round
Wednesday, November 20 CONDUCTING EXAM V: (asymmetrical, compound, subdivided and mixed meters+cues)
Friday, November 22 Preparation for Final
WEEK 15
Monday, November 25 NO CLASS CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT
Wednesday, November 27 NO CLASS
Friday, November 29 THANKSGIVING BREAK
WEEK 16
Monday, December 2 LAST DAY OF CLASS
Wednesday, December 4 Academic Preparation Day

FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 11 AM (place TBA)

*It is expected that all students will participate in the course evaluation*

The Belmont Honor System

Belmont University Honor System aims to cultivate a community based on trust, academic honesty, and social
responsibility. All aspects of the Honor System, including faculty expectations, are discussed in length in the
current student handbook.
Belmont’s Honor Code says:
“I will not give or receive aid during examinations;
I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other
type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis for my grade;
I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that
others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

Sometimes group study, tutoring, and the availability of information online create areas of ethical ambiguity.
Some of this will be discussed in class.
Please see me if you have any questions or concerns about the propriety of an activity.

Accommodation of Disabilities:
“In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.
If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations
of the disability during this course, please notify the
Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of Student Affairs
(460-6407) as soon as possible.

Institutional Statement on Student Class Attendance and Absences

Belmont University is committed to the idea that regular class attendance
is essential to successful scholastic achievement.
Absence is excused only in cases of illness or other legitimate cause.
Attendance is checked from the first class meeting.
Late registrants will have accrued some absences prior to formal registration in the course.
In the case of excused absence from class,
students have the right and responsibility to make up all
class work missed.

Basic Conducting Techniques Syllabus 4