The Art of Conducting Technique

SKU: GI.G-9915

ISBN 9781622774371.

In the world of music conducting there exist fundamental practices shared by all conductors regardless of the type of ensemble they conduct. Foundations of Conducting Technique is a comprehensive beginning conducting text—complete with pictures, online videos, and supplemental conducting etudes—to facilitate the development of a clear and expressive conducting technique. In this volume, author Frank Eychaner addresses three major areas for beginning conductors: gestural technique, score study, and leadership. For gestural technique, the text details a number of technical skills, including the appropriate use of the body, the roles of the right and left hand, basic conducting patterns and their derivatives, an application of Laban movement analysis, the importance of the conducting planes, and conducting with varied articulations (staccato, legato, and marcato), among others. Using direct language, Eychaner details clear cause and effect relationships between gesture and sound. In addressing score study, Eychaner states that all conducting gestures must be guided by an accurate and artistic aural image of a musical work. Rather than advocating for one particular approach, this volume presents a number of possible score study methods for the student to explore. The author also includes a convenient and complete score study checklist. Finally, the text addresses how to be an effective and ethical leader from the podium. Eychaner presents the transformational leadership model—a holistic and dynamic approach to leadership—as a positive pathway for improving the conductor’s effectiveness on and off the podium. Supplementing the text are music etudes to help students develop the technical skills of the conductor. The exercises are intentionally simple, consisting mostly of rhythmic materials and folk-like melodies, so that conductors can focus on mastery of gestural skills. Foundations of Conducting Technique is a major contribution to conducting pedagogy and an extraordinary resource that distills the essence of effective conducting gesture. An ideal text for undergraduate conducting courses, it is also a practical reference for anyone employed in the field, including music educators, church musicians, leaders of community ensembles, and professional conductors of all ensembles. Frank Eychaner, an international leader in conducting pedagogy, has been an educator and conductor for twenty-five years, working in public schools as well as with professional, collegiate, community, and church ensembles. He is currently Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, where he teaches conducting, choral methods, and choral pedagogy, and conducts the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and Men’s and Women’s Choirs. Figure 29.5. Duruflé Requiem. Figure 29.6. Handel's Messiah. Of the Father's Love Begotten Give Thanks Appendix A: Conducting Evaluation Form Extended Bibliography.

SKU: GI.G-6575

“There is no doubt in my mind about the pedagogical potency of the use of the Swiss Ball for conducting study. This simple device transfers responsibility for teaching from heretoforeused verbal explanations to a new world of instruction that uses body awareness as the primary vehicle.” — James Jordan, Learn Conducting Technique with the Swiss Exercise Ball   Traditional conducting methods rely on how conductors look––not how they feel. James Jordan’s groundbreaking Learn Conducting Technique with the Swiss Exercise Ball takes the study of conducting beyond the mechanics to a higher plane. Using the Swiss Exercise Ball, everyone from the most experienced conductor to the beginner can tie into a state of awarenessthat opens the door to increased musical expression and kinesthetic awareness. With the aid of a Swiss Exercise Ball and the Body Mapping techniques described in this book, conductors can reach a new level of artistic expression and mastery. The Swiss Exercise Ball is available in four sizes from GIA Publications, and each comes with a pump. Choose the ball size based on the height of the conductor: • 45 cm ball, under 5’ tall (G-6575) • 55 cm ball, 5’ to 5’8” tall (G-6576) • 65 cm ball, 5’9” to 6’3” tall (G-6577) • 75 cm ball, 6’3” and taller (G-6578).

SKU: GI.G-6578

“There is no doubt in my mind about the pedagogical potency of the use of the Swiss Ball for conducting study. This simple device transfers responsibility for teaching from heretoforeused verbal explanations to a new world of instruction that uses body awareness as the primary vehicle.” — James Jordan, Learn Conducting Technique with the Swiss Exercise Ball   Traditional conducting methods rely on how conductors look––not how they feel. James Jordan’s groundbreaking Learn Conducting Technique with the Swiss Exercise Ball takes the study of conducting beyond the mechanics to a higher plane. Using the Swiss Exercise Ball, everyone from the most experienced conductor to the beginner can tie into a state of awarenessthat opens the door to increased musical expression and kinesthetic awareness. With the aid of a Swiss Exercise Ball and the Body Mapping techniques described in this book, conductors can reach a new level of artistic expression and mastery. The Swiss Exercise Ball is available in four sizes from GIA Publications, and each comes with a pump. Choose the ball size based on the height of the conductor: • 45 cm ball, under 5’ tall (G-6575) • 55 cm ball, 5’ to 5’8” tall (G-6576) • 65 cm ball, 5’9” to 6’3” tall (G-6577) • 75 cm ball, 6’3” and taller (G-6578).

SKU: GI.G-10601

ISBN 9781622776122.

This advanced orchestral conducting resource features concise discussions of advanced technical and interpretive issues for 44 major orchestral works that all conductors will perform during their careers. The brief discussions that precede each score cover the full range of issues encountered in real conducting situations, and the accompanying online videos show Maestro Itkin demonstrating the techniques for each excerpt. All music examples have been faithfully reproduced from original scores, and Maestro Itkin has also arranged each excerpt for string quintet, ideal for the conducting class setting. With nearly a thousand performances to his credit, acclaimed conductor David Itkin shares the knowledge he has acquired over his decades in the profession. The Conductor’s Craft is for both up-and-coming conductors and seasoned professionals alike, equally beneficial for personal study or for use in a classroom or ensemble setting. Click HERE watch video examples of Maestro Itkin conducting the music excerpts in this book.   This volume is a real breakthrough aid for anyone studying or teaching conducting at any level. Written by David Itkin, a most distinguished and experienced conductor and teacher, it concentrates on all the vital techniques in the teaching of the craft. The accompanying video recordings also make this volume unique. This addition to the material for teaching conducting is truly revolutionary, and the selection of examples gets successfully to the point of each subject discussed. —Samuel Adler     Composer, conductor, author     Professor Emeritus, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music The Conductor’s Craft outlines a detailed plan and method for executing conductor training in advanced conducting studios. Itkin’s book is also an excellent reference for any teacher who instructs advanced students in a collegiate orchestral conducting program, as well as for up-and-coming professionals who are studying for a career in the field. Perhaps most important, an individual conductor can manage their own self-study with Maestro Itkin’s clear statements and explanations of the technical issues presented with each excerpt. This book gives individual conductor’s freedom to explore choices and alternatives to fix tricky passages in the provided musical examples. I love the book and will be using it in my studio. —Julius P. Williams     Artistic director and conductor, Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra     President of the International Conductors Guild How refreshing to review a conducting book that deals with specificity of gesture as it relates to the music rather than mere concepts. Bravo to Maestro David Itkin for holding the aspiring conductor to task on issues of score study, execution, and style! —Mark Gibson     Director of Orchestral Studies, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati     Author of The Beat Stops Here.

SKU: GI.G-10607

ISBN 9781622776184.

This advanced orchestral conducting resource features concise discussions of advanced technical and interpretive issues for 44 major orchestral works that all conductors will perform during their careers. The brief discussions that precede each score cover the full range of issues encountered in real conducting situations, and the accompanying online videos show Maestro Itkin demonstrating the techniques for each excerpt. All music examples have been faithfully reproduced from original scores, and Maestro Itkin has also arranged each excerpt for string quintet, ideal for the conducting class setting. With nearly a thousand performances to his credit, acclaimed conductor David Itkin shares the knowledge he has acquired over his decades in the profession. The Conductor’s Craft is for both up-and-coming conductors and seasoned professionals alike, equally beneficial for personal study or for use in a classroom or ensemble setting.   This volume is a real breakthrough aid for anyone studying or teaching conducting at any level. Written by David Itkin, a most distinguished and experienced conductor and teacher, it concentrates on all the vital techniques in the teaching of the craft. The accompanying video recordings also make this volume unique. This addition to the material for teaching conducting is truly revolutionary, and the selection of examples gets successfully to the point of each subject discussed. —Samuel Adler     Composer, conductor, author     Professor Emeritus, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music The Conductor’s Craft outlines a detailed plan and method for executing conductor training in advanced conducting studios. Itkin’s book is also an excellent reference for any teacher who instructs advanced students in a collegiate orchestral conducting program, as well as for up-and-coming professionals who are studying for a career in the field. Perhaps most important, an individual conductor can manage their own self-study with Maestro Itkin’s clear statements and explanations of the technical issues presented with each excerpt. This book gives individual conductor’s freedom to explore choices and alternatives to fix tricky passages in the provided musical examples. I love the book and will be using it in my studio. —Julius P. Williams     Artistic director and conductor, Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra     President of the International Conductors Guild How refreshing to review a conducting book that deals with specificity of gesture as it relates to the music rather than mere concepts. Bravo to Maestro David Itkin for holding the aspiring conductor to task on issues of score study, execution, and style! —Mark Gibson     Director of Orchestral Studies, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati     Author of The Beat Stops Here.