GEORGETOWN
C    O    L    L    E    G    E

Music Department
Conducting: Music 335
Dr. Peter LaRue

Course Outline - Music 335
[changes and adjustments will be made as necessary]

Week 1:
Introduction to the art & craft of conducting
Basic posture & position
Introduction of 4/4 - 3/4 - 2/4 patterns - gestures

Week 2:
Introduce use of baton
Introduce preparatory beats
Continue work on basic patterns
Delineate - legato and marcato or weighted gestures
Terms - takt & ictus, general musical terms

Week 3:
Pallette of gestures - dynamics
Preparatory beats on/for all counts
Releases - varying methods uses

Week 4:
Practice Conducting Project #1 & Discussion

Introduce melded gestures
Continue work on weighted gestures

Week 5:
Introduce fermatas
Continue work on melded and weighted gestures
Introduce use of the left hand and usage
Introduce orchestral transpositions

Week 6:
Continue work on fermatas
Continue work with left hand
Introduce - facial gestures - other non-verbal gestures

Week 7:
Practice Conducting Project #2 & Discussion
Continue work on facial features/body language
Introduce asymmetrical and changing meters

Week 8: October 9th
Review general terms and transpositions
Continue work on asymmetrical and changing meters
Introduce cues - use, approaches

Week 9: October 16th
Continue work on cues - left hand, head, eyes
Expand efforts on dynamics, melded gestures, weighted gestures

Week 10:
Score Study and Preparation
Instrumental/choral implications of conducting
The musical line

Week 11:
Practice Conducting Project #3 & Discussion
Continue discussions of score study and preparation
Introduce selection of literature - program preparation

Week 12:
Continue discussions on selection of literature
Program preparation
Rehearsal strategies, preparation
Review full pallette of gestures - melded, weighted, legato, marked
Review use of left hand, cues

Week 13:
Practice Conducting Project #4 & Discussion
Seating Arrangements and Formats
Introduce overtone series
Review all basic terminology
Efforts on 7/8 - 5/8 - approaches

Week 14:
Review seating arrangements/formats
Continue discussions of overtone series
Continue efforts on 7/8 - 5/8

Week 15:
Practice Conducting Project #5 & Discussion
Introduce varying styles - musical eras
Introduce podium presence
Discussion of communication skills

Week 16:
Final Conducting Projects
Scheduled video reviews/evaluations

 

Final Examination
As Scheduled by the Registrar

Let's Have a Great Semester
Peter LaRue