Conducting II

Tom Egnoto






Spring 2014








TABLE OF CONTENTS


1. Syllabus & Assignment Log
2. Final Conducting Performance Experience
3. Self-Assessment of Dispositions & Skills
4. Observation Assignment
5. Performed pieces & reviews:
a. Three Madrigals
b. The Road Not Taken
c. Neighbors Chorus
d. El Grillo
e. When Jesus Wept
f. Speak to One Another
6. Unperformed pieces:
a. Hallelujah, Amen
b. Psalite
c. Walking on the Green Grass
d. Magnificat
e. Laudate Dominum
7. Notes & Extra Material


Spring Semester
T/Th@10-10:50 am C101
T/Th@11-11:50 am C101
Crane School of Music
MUCP 309 (1 credit)
Conducting II: Choral Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Reames Office: A314 267-2461 reamesrr@potsdam.edu

Catalog Description:
Skills learned in Conducting I are applied more broadly in this course designed specifically for choral students.
Students will study a variety of topics including, but not limited to rehearsal technique, musical terminology,
asymmetrical meters, mixed meters, left hand independence, error detection, fermatas, and specific conducting
problems. Students will be expected to combine conducting skills with clear verbal communication in simulated
rehearsal situations.
Prerequisite: MUCP-209.

Course Materials and Texts Required:
1. Five choral scores purchased from bookstore:
1) Three Madrigals E. L. Diemer SATB Boosey & Hawkes M-051-45417-4
2) Neighbors Chorus J. Offenbach SATB Broude Brothers
3) The Road Not Taken R. Thompson SATB ECS Publishing 2485
4) Laudate Dominium W. A. Mozart SATB Warner Bros. LG51165
5) Tomorrow shall be J. Gardner SATB Oxford 84.356

2. Other choral scores borrowed from Crane Choral Library or downloaded from http://www.cpdl.org

3. Must make individual arrangements to videotape conducting assignments and download on Moodle.

4. One three-ring binder/portfolio for hard copies of assignments.
5. Compile all conducting videotaped assignments for an electronic portfolio.
6. One baton for appropriate assignments. (Premier Batons available for $20, Mr. Scott LaVine or Northern Music)

7. Packet of colored pencils for score analysis.

Texts Recommended:
Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir, Vols. 1 (2005), 2 (2007) & 3 (2011)
compiled and edited by H. J. Buchanan & M. W. Mehaffey; GIA Publications, Inc. Chicago

Neuen, Donald. Choral Concepts. Cal i f or ni a: Schirmer, Wadsworth Group/Thomson Learning, 2002

Course Topics:
1. Conducting Patterns and Gestures
2. Rehearsal Techniques
3. Appropriate Choral Literature
4. Musical Skill Development

Course Objectives:
1. To further develop a conducting technique focusing on outstanding choral literature.
2. To develop the ability to interpret with stylistic understanding various styles and periods of choral
composition.
3. To develop the ability to study and prepare a musical score for rehearsal purposes.
4. To develop an efficient rehearsal technique that encompasses a) giving verbal directions clearly and concisely,
b) indicating interpretive and stylistic ideas in gesture, and c) hearing what an ensemble is actually producing.
5. To recognize and correct inaccuracies in pitches and/or rhythms.
6. To develop interest in scholarly research and information related to the choral art.
7. To participate in lectures and class discussions, observe teacher modeling, read relevant text materials, work in
small groups, engage in guided practice, interact with peers, interns, and teacher, peer-teach/conduct, and
self-assess progress.
8. To organize all relevant resources and materials in portfolios.
Course Assignments & Responsibilities:
1. Reading assignments: Students will be responsible for reading assigned texts/professional articles and
should be prepared to make informed comments in class or respond in writing.
2. Class teaching, conducting and participation: Each student will perform peer teaching, conducting, and
participate in the choir as the class for all students demonstrating professional behaviors.
3. Video self-assessment: Each student will arrange to have his/her conducting segments taped and will self-assess each
teaching/conducting session using observation forms provided. Video Assessments will be posted on Moodle prior to the next
conducting class. Late assignments may not be graded, but they may be included in the portfolio for consideration.
4. Synthesize materials and assignments in Professional Product and Electronic Portfolios.
5. Check Moodl e regularly and often.
6. Participate in a 3-hour Service Learning project to work/volunteer in the Choral Library or other choral
related task. Submit Volunteer Time Sheet. (optional/extra credit)
7. Become a technology buddy and assist fellow students in need.

GRADING: Grades will be assigned as follows:
NO incompletes will be given. Instructor reserves the right to consider unique situations.
Late assignments may not earn points. All hard copy homework with multiple sheets MUST be STAPLED. Any
missed course requirement or assignment may result in a lowered grade including attendance requirements. Instructor
reserves the right to raise a course grade in exceptional circumstances.

Assessment Measures:

Grading System
1. self-analysis and correction through video observation

4.0 100-96 3.7 95-93 3.3 92-89
2. conducting gestures

3.0 88-85 2.7 84-81 2.3 80-77
3. attendance and class participation

2.0 76-73 1.7 72-69 1.3 68-65
4. written assignments/score preparation and analysis

1.0 64-61

5. musical skills and conducting progress


Please discuss alternate projects if you are uncomfortable with an assignment or are ready for more advanced work -"Assign
Yourself". Dr. Reames (and the Conducting Student Intern) are available for individual consultation and feedback.
Please take advantage of the SUNY Potsdam Writing Center. All written work should be carefully written/typed and edited prior to
turning into the professor.
Students are expected to adhere to the SUNY Potsdam Academic Honor Code.
Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations should speak with the professor as
early as possible.

Students are strongly urged to become members of
NAfME-The National Association for Music Education &
ACDA - The American Choral Directors' Association

The instructor is greatly concerned about students' progress in this course and available to students outside of class.
Please make use of office hours, e-mail, telephone, Moodle, and/or drop by the office to set up an appointment.

Thoughts to ponder:

One per cent of conducting is conducting Brock McElheran from Conducting Techniques for Beginners and Professionals

Skill Acquisition is acquired through processes of:
1. Unconscious Incompetence
2. Conscious Incompetence
3. Conscious Competence
4. Unconscious Competence

It takes 14-21 days to form new behaviors and habits.
We usually have to break a bad habit by forming and replacing it with a new habit.




Choral Literature for Conducting II: Choral



Title Composer Measures Publisher Location


Assignment 1






Review: Legato,
Preparation, Release,
4/4, Breathing, Tempo,
Eye Contact, Clear ictus,
Dynamics

The Road Not
Taken/Frostiana
R. Thompson m. 15-33 E.C. Schirmer,
1960
Bookstore


Assignment 2


Cueing Honor and
Glory/Sicut locutus
est (Magnificat,
BWV 243)
J. S. Bach m. 1-16 Plymouth Music,
1958
Moodle

Speak to One
Another
J. Berger m. 1-12 Augsburg
Publishing
1962
Library


Assignment 3

Right & Left Hand Cues
and Releases
Psallite Praetorius m. 1-19 http://www.cpdl.
org
Moodle
Three Pattern When Jesus Wept W. Billings m. 1-16 C. Dickinson, ed.
1940
Moodle
Staccato Walking on the
Green Grass
M. Hennagin m. 1-11 B & H. 1962 Moodle


Assignment 4

Staccato Neighbors Chorus J. Offenbach/
Meyerowitz, ed.
m. 1-21 Broude Bros.
1954
Bookstore
Marcato (& Cueing) Hallelujah, Amen G.F. Handel m. 1-15 E. C. Schirmer,
1925
Moodle


Assignment 5

Two Pattern El Grillo Josquin des Prez m. 1-22 Oxford, 1963 Moodle
Six Pattern: (French and
German Six Patterns); and
LH phrasing
Laudate Dominum
(Baton)
W.A. Mozart m. 42-54 Lawson-Gould Bookstore


Assignment 6 (Final)

Compound Meter O Mistress Mine Emma Lou
Diemer
entire B & H, 1962 Bookstore
Mixed Meter Tomorrow Shall Be
My Dancing Day
J. Gardner entire Oxford, 1966 Bookstore






Conducting II: Self-Assessment Log

STUDENT'S NAME:__________________________________ ___________________

ASSIGNMENTS ___________________

Conduct in class Assignments 1-5

1_ 2_ 3_ _______

4 _ 5_

Video reviews/playbacks 1-5

1. The Road Not Taken
2. Honor and Glory or Speak to One Another
3. Psallite, When Jesus Wept, or Walking on the Green Grass
4. Neighbors Chorus or Hallelujah, Amen
5. El Grillo or Laudate Dominum

Written Conductor Observation (Descriptive): What I Learned ______

Accompanying and Singing Skills ______

Attendance (no more than 3 absences for any reason) _______

Return CRANE MUSIC to choral library ______

Overall Progress & Participation throughout the semester ______

Final Performance Exam (Performance Dress) ______
(Assignment 6: O Mistress Mine and Tomorrow Shall)

Syllabus Self-Assessment Log (due end of semester) ______

Organized Portfolios with Self-Assessment Sheet completed ______

(Name of Peer Tutor(s): )

Extra Credit: Service Learning Time Sheet (3 hours) ______

Receive Early Alert: Yes or No

Student Signature: Anticipated GRADE:
(Based on syllabus point system)