Video 4 – Beat patterns in simple time and lots more

Directions for the following conducting exercises:

• These exercises are to be sung. Where possible practise 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.

• Practise 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!).

Additional practise

Practise the following in a range of styles from legato to staccato to marcato to tenuto.

Use the wrist to move the tip of the baton in the style of articulation desired. Maintain constant arm movement to show a continuation of sound between articulations.

• Air for Band - Erickson

• Choreography - Sheldon

• Declaration Overture - C.T.Smith

• Symphony No.3 last movement - Giannini

• Suite in F movement 2 – Holst

• Toccata - Frescobaldi

• Keep it simple, conduct what you want to hear.

• Avoid patterns that are too vertical unless that is the sound you want.

• Each rebound of the preceding beat is also the preparation for the following beat.

• The height of the rebound reflects the weight of the next beat.

Practise the following 3 pieces in a range of styles from legato to marcato. Use the wrist to move the tip of the baton in the style of articulation desired. Maintain constant arm movement to show a continuation of sound between articulations.

Ambidextrous conducting

The ability to conduct with either hand should be developed during the early stages.

Apply the following swapping of hands to any exercise and work you are studying. Apply various styles and dynamics to each exercise as you progress.

Additonal pieces for practise:

• Little Ripper March - David Stanhope

• Symphony 3 movement 1 - Vittorio Giannini

• Suite in F movement 4 – Gustav Holst

• Valdres - Johannes Hanssen

A conductor has several options:

• a simple straight up and down gesture

• a rounded or oval gesture

• supermetric patterns (for example: 2, 3, 4).

Practise the melodies below in a range of styles from legato to marcato. Use the wrist to move the tip of the baton in the style of articulation desired. Maintain constant arm movement to show a continuation of sound between articulations.

Additional pieces for practise:

• Lincolnshire Posy movement 6 - Percy Grainger

• Suite in F movement 4 - Gustav Holst