The craft of conducting – the basics
Video 3 –
The conducting mechanics
Teacher music resource developed by The Arts Unit
Embedded Files
Video 3 –
In Concert 2017
Video 3 and supplementary materials
Video 3 and supplementary materials
Hunter Wind Ensemble
The 4 expressive gestures
The 4 expressive gestures
Conductors use 4 basic expressive gestures to convey musical style and nuance.
These supplementary materials gives you plenty of opportunities to develop these gestures. Conducting patterns in these 4 styles are introduced.
Bandlink Griffith
Watch Video 3: The conducting mechanics as Stephen introduces the 4 expressive gestures and conducting patterns in each of these 4 styles.
Video 3: The conducting mechanics
Duration: 31:47The conducting mechanics - video chapter markers
You may like to use the video chapter marker timings to review and revise areas of interest. Select the collapsible text arrow to view.
Please note: these chapter markers are also provided on the video.
01:20 - The basic conducting gesture
01:40 - The preparatory and the story it tells
03:40 - The 4 types of expressive gestures
(revisited)05:04 - The cut-off
07:10 - Body mapping (revisited)
08:27 - The conducting stance
12:24 - The baton – when and why
12:55 - The conducting frame
14:10 - Conducting patterns - an introduction
14:35 - Conducting in 3
19:24 - Using the left hand
21:35 - Review of the 3 dynamic levers
22:28 - Conducting in 3 – staccato
23:11 - Conducting in 3 – marcato
24:20 - Conducting in 3 – tenuto
26:32 - Additional materials to practice
27:48 - The 3 levers and dynamics - example 1
28:28 - The 3 levers and dynamics - example 2
29:00 - The 3 levers and dynamics - example 3
29:18 - The 3 levers and dynamics - example 4
29:47 - Korean folk song - example 5
30:14 - Conclusion.
Conducting beat patterns
Conducting beat patterns
Conducting in 1, 2, 3 and 4
Conducting in 1, 2, 3 and 4
Directions
Directions
Directions for the following conducting exercises:
These exercises are to be sung. Where possible practice near a keyboard and use notes as a reference. At the end of each exercise check for accuracy of pitch.
Sing confidently and musically.
Give full reign to expression and energies. If there are no style or dynamic indications, make them up!
Use a metronome as often as possible to set a tempo and maintain tempo (where applicable). If you haven’t got a good sense of time then you will need to acquire it.
Practice all exercises using right or left hand (and both).
Avoid where possible to ‘mirror conduct’. Hand independence needs to be developed and practiced constantly.
Commit to memory as much as possible.
Feel free to use a mirror to check things (not your hair or new outfit!).
Time beating in 3
Time beating in 3
Keep it simple and conduct what you want to hear.
To begin working on independence of hands, practice each excerpt:
right hand
left hand
both hands.
Periodically practice against a wall or imagine running your hands along an edge in order to ensure that the ictus plane is not curved around the body. Do this with a baton as well.
Dynamic indications (right hand and left hand)
Dynamic indications (right hand and left hand)
Loud - Large beat pattern from the shoulder
Medium - Medium beat pattern from the elbow
Soft - Small beat pattern from the wrist
Crescendo - Left hand palm up, physically 'lifting' the sound, whilst the right hand pattern gradually gets larger.
Diminuendo - Left hand palm pointing to the floor, 'pushing' the sound down, whilst the right hand pattern gets progressively smaller.
On long notes or dynamic changes on fermatas try the ‘squeeze box’ technique. You might like it!
Conducting exercises
Conducting exercises
Legato and Tenuto
Legato and Tenuto
Stephen Williams
Stephen Williams
Staccato and Marcato
Staccato and Marcato
Stephen Williams
Staccato
Staccato
‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ (L'Italiana in Algeri) by Gioachino Rossini
A Piacere!
A Piacere!
Variations on a Korean Folk Song by Chance
‘Herr Jesu Christe’ by JS Bach
Enjoy
Enjoy
Enjoy watching this video of Stephen conducting the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble performance of An Australian Sea Ballad by Robert Sheldon at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago 2007.
Conduct along with the performance to practise your range of 3/4 patterns.
Australian Sea Ballad - NSW State Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble 2007
Duration: 03:19Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
The Arts Unit music festivals images, photographer: Anna Warr.
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