The craft of conducting – the basics

Video 6 – Patterns in simple time and the anacrusis

Teacher music resource developed by The Arts Unit

Video 6 and supplementary materials

NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble with conductor Stephen Williams

Let's get technical!

Let’s get technical!

In Video 6, Stephen explores ways to indicate dynamics and nuance, conducting the anacrusis in all simple time signatures and more hand independence exercises.

NSW State Music camp vocal students rehearsing with conductor
NSW State Senior Music Camp 2021 - Vocal Ensemble

Patterns in simple time and the anacrusis - 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: chapter markers are also provided on the video.

  • 01:15 - Hand exercises to encourage dynamic gestures

  • 02:37 - Crescendos and diminuendos to music LH only

  • 03:21 - 4/4 pattern in the RH, LH crescendos and diminuendos

  • 04:33 - The LH role

  • 05:45 - The baton in review

  • 06:28 - The angled ‘screwdriver’ grip

  • 06:43 - The stance (left food forward) and the LH

  • 08:17 - Conducting the anacrusis (or upbeats)

  • 08:36 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 4 demonstration

  • 10:00 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 4 with music

  • 10:15 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 3 demonstration

  • 10:55 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 3 with music

  • 12:03 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 2 demonstration

  • 12:40 - 4/4 upbeat on beat 2 with music

  • 14:09 - To count in or not?

  • 14:43 - The quaver upbeat – 2 viable alternatives

  • 15:25 - The ‘flick’ quaver upbeat

  • 15:38 - The 3/4 anacrusis – the technique is the same!

  • 16:14 - 3/4 upbeat on beat 3 with music

  • 16:53 - 2/4 with quaver upbeat

  • 17:20 - The Moldau – quaver upbeat in 6/8 (in 2)

  • 18:15 - Dynamic shadings – an alternative.

The Anacrusis and pick-ups

The golden rule is the upbeat must start one full beat before and be in the exact tempo and style of the music that is to follow.

Entrance on 2 in 4/4

'Irish Tune' traditional by Percy Grainger
1. 16 bar conducting exercise in 4/4 practising the three beat anacrusis based on a traditional theme ‘The Irish Tune’

Entrance on 3 in 4/4

'Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol' by Percy Grainger
2. 16 bar conducting exercise in 4/4 practising the two beat anacrusis based on the ‘Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol’ by Percy Grainger

Practise playing along to the video Percy Grainger - The Sussex Mummer's Christmas Carol to refine your technique.

Percy Grainger - The Sussex Mummer's Christmas Carol

Duration: 02:45

Entrance on 4 in 4/4

Stephen Williams
3. 16 bar conducting exercise in 4/4 practising the one beat anacrusis by Stephen Williams
'Symphony No. 1' by Johannes Brahms. Fourth Movement
4. 16 bar conducting exercise in 4/4 practising the one beat anacrusis based on a theme from Symphony 1 by Johannes Brahms

Entrances in 3/4

Stephen Williams
5. 16 bar conducting exercise in 3/4 practising the two beat anacrusis by Stephen Williams
‘I Vow to Thee, My Country' by Cecil Spring Rice
24 bar conducting exercise in 3/4 practising the one beat anacrusis based on the song ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country by Cecil Spring Rice

Enjoy

Georges Prêtre was a French orchestral and opera conductor who led many of the world’s leading orchestras during a remarkable 70-year career.

Enjoy watching Prêtre conducting Beethoven: symphonie No.7.


Georges Prêtre - Beethoven：symphonie No.7

Duration: 41:44

Third-party content attributions - Syllabus

  • The Arts Unit music festivals images, photographer: Anna Warr.