University of North Texas College of Music MUAG 3800.004 Fundamentals of Conducting Spring 2016 Course Syllabus Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams, Instructor (nicholas.williams@unt.edu) Office: MPAC Annex Room 110B Office Phone: 940-565- 3737 MUAG 3800. Fundamentals of Conducting: fundamentals of conducting, including beat patterns, various gestures for attack, release, and phrasing. Includes the use of the left hand, score reading, development of aural skills, rehearsal techniques and interpretation. Prerequisites: junior in good standing and completion of MUTH 2400/2410. MUAG 3800 is a prerequisite for MUAG 3820 and 3870. UNT undergraduate catalog Scope of the course The scope of the course is the development of a professional conducting approach with emphasis on techniques appropriate to choral, orchestral, and wind conducting. The course will include instruction in beginning and intermediate conducting techniques, score analysis and preparation, development of visual/aural discrimination skills, the role of the conductor in historical and philosophical perspectives, and a reinforcement of basic musicianship. Required Materials 12 to 15 baton (to be discussed before purchase) SD Memory Card (with your name written on the card) Primary instrument (secondary instruments as requested) 2 or 3 inch three- ring binder 8 ½ X 11 manuscript paper for transposition assignments The Modern Conductor Elizabeth Green, 7 th ed. (8 th ed.) Attendance Policy Regular and punctual class attendance is expected. Absences will result in a lowering of the final grade as follows. 1 no reduction 2 reduction of one letter grade 3 reduction of two letter grades 4 reduction of three letter grades 5(+) grade of WF if withdrawal is requested (or) final grade of F Tardies accumulate to an absence at the rate of two tardies equal one absence. Absence from class on a pre- assigned conducting assignment will result in the student being passed over for that conducting sequence, with a grade of zero or no credit. The instructor, in advance of the absence, must approve exceptions. The opportunity to make up a missed conducting assignment will be at the discretion of the instructor and will be rare. Grades Grades will consist of written transposition assignments, exams, demonstration of conducting technique through regular class assignments, article reviews, concert reports, rehearsal observations, and the final exam. Failure to turn in written assignments, when due, will result in a letter grade penalty per calendar day.
Evaluation Percentage Conducting demonstration 50 % Transposition assignments, terms assignments, quizzes, article reviews, concert reports, conducting portfolio, rehearsal observations 30 % Final exam (written & conducting) 20 % Concert Observations and Review Requirements Each student must attend a minimum of three conducted concert performances of which the student is not a member. In order to receive credit for the concert attendance, the student must submit a written observation report along with a program of the concert. All reports must be typed double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, all margins 1 inch. The length of the typed assignment must be a minimum of one page, and a maximum of two pages with the above guidelines followed. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the reduction of the final grade by one letter. For full credit, this assignment must be turned in during class or delivered to the Wind Studies office by 5pm on the due date. Electronic submissions are not accepted. Concert reviews are due as follows. Concert Report 1: no later than February 24, 2016 Concert Report 2: no later than March 30, 2016 Concert Report 3: no later than April 27, 2016 Rehearsal Observation Each student is required to submit five completed rehearsal observations, each reflecting forty- five minutes spent in a MAJOR university or professional (conducted) ensemble rehearsal. [At UNT, these ensembles might include: A capella Choir, Concert Choir, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, or Brass Band. (One O clock, Two O clock, and Three O clock rehearsals may be submitted for only one of these observations.)] The student must be an observer and not a performer at the time of the observation. The observations should be drawn from different ensembles and should represent different conductors. The reports must represent at least three different performing mediums (winds, orchestral, choral, elite jazz ensemble). All reports must be typed double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, all margins 1 inch. The length of the typed assignment must be a minimum of one page, and a maximum of two pages with the above guidelines followed. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the reduction of the final grade by one letter grade. For full credit, this assignment must be turned in during class or delivered to the Wind Studies office by 5pm on the due date. Electronic submissions are not accepted. Rehearsal observations are due as follows. Rehearsal observation 1: no later than January 27, 2016 Rehearsal observation 2: no later than February 3, 2016 Rehearsal observation 3: no later than February 24, 2016 Rehearsal observation 4: no later than March 2, 2016 Rehearsal observation 5: no later than April 6, 2016 Extra Credit Limited extra credit may be earned. a. Observation of rehearsal the previously stated guidelines must be followed. In order to receive extra credit, the student must observe, in addition to the required five rehearsals, ONE FULL REHEARSAL and submit a written evaluation of the rehearsal. One point will be added to the final grade for each rehearsal observed. A maximum of two will be accepted. b. Additional concert attendance the previously stated guidelines must be followed. In order to receive extra credit, the student must observe, in addition to the required three, one
conducted performance. One point will be added to the final grade for each concert attended. A maximum of two will be accepted. c. Student conducting on a performance This may be any performance that the student actually conducts: i.e. an ensemble on a student recital, an ensemble at a community or church function, or any other approved ensemble performance. In order to receive credit, the student must receive advanced approval of the event and MUST submit a videotape of the performance. Two to five points will be added to the final grade for the conducting performance earned. Only one performance will be accepted. Office of Disability Accommodation The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323. Code of Conduct The UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline provides penalties for misconduct by students, including academic dishonesty (cheating/plagiarism.) If you engage in academic dishonesty related to this class, you will receive a failing grade on the test or assignment and a failing grade in the course. In addition, the case will be referred to the Dean of Students for appropriate disciplinary action. Please refer to https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct for more information. Fall Semester Add/Drop Period Information about add/drop dates for the Fall Semester: http://www.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/fall/withdraw.html General Academic Schedule: http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/fall/calendar.html Final Exam Schedule The final exam schedule is linked below. http://registrar.unt.edu/exams/final- exam- schedule/fall Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress Undergraduates A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed attempted credit hours above 150% of their required degree plan. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility. If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory- academic- progress- requirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is recommended that you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being doing so. Graduates A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of
credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility. If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory- academic- progress- requirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is recommended that you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being doing so. Academic Integrity Academic Integrity is defined in the UNT Policy on Student Standards for Academic Integrity. Any suspected case of Academic Dishonesty will be handled in accordance with the University Policy and procedures. Possible academic penalties range from a verbal or written admonition to a grade of F in the course. Further sanctions may apply to incidents involving major violations. You will find the policy and procedures at: http://vpaa.unt.edu/academic- integrity.htm. Student Behavior in the Classroom Student behavior that interferes with an instructor s ability to conduct a class or other students opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at: www.unt.edu/csrr. Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course. The student evaluation of instruction is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. The short SPOT survey will be made available April 18th May 1st to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate how this course is taught. For the spring 2016 semester you will receive an email on April 18th (12:01 a.m.) from "UNT SPOT Course Evaluations via IASystem Notification" (no- reply@iasystem.org) with the survey link. Please look for the email in your UNT email inbox. Simply click on the link and complete your survey. Once you complete the survey you will receive a confirmation email that the survey has been submitted. For additional information, please visit the spot website at www.spot.unt.edu or email spot@unt.edu.
Concepts in Fundamentals of Conducting Body position and facial expression Hand position/baton grip Basic beat patterns (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Preparatory gestures and releases in tempo, dynamics and style Basic LH gestures Dynamic contrasts Cueing Fermati Incomplete measures Contrasting style patterns (staccato, legato, and tenuto) Gesture of Syncopation (GoS) Subdivision of basic patterns Role of the conductor Reading choral and instrumental scores Transpositions and clefs Musical terminology Introduction to score study
Expectations of Fundamentals of Conducting The goal of the class is to have students conduct as often as possible while obtaining a fundamental understanding of the art of conducting. While developing fundamental skills, the class will be required to sing, play, and conduct in order to internalize the concepts. Classes will begin with a review of fundamentals in which class members must actively participate. Assemble instruments and prepare materials before class begins. All conducting opportunities will be recorded, and self- evaluations must be completed. The instructor will provide written comments. Students will be given a variety of exercises for review and practice. Concepts will be discussed and rehearsed in class before students are asked to conduct. Readings, exercises, and observations will be assigned. The instructor will be available for appointments when students require extra instruction or assistance. Students who receive a grade below a C on any conducting assignment should make an appointment with Dr. Williams. Regular participation and attendance of all members will be expected. It is unfair for a student to conduct the class and then be absent while others are conducting. Missed quizzes will result in a grade of zero. Concepts are cumulative. Please organize all class materials in a 2 or 3 inch three- ring binder for easy reference. This conducting portfolio will be due on the day of the final written exam. The purpose of the portfolio is to organize all conducting materials and evaluations as a resource for further professional growth. The portfolio should contain the following. Table of contents All lecture handouts All conducting excerpts Four rehearsal observations Three concert reviews Self- evaluations of all video taped conducting experiences All additional articles and supplementary handouts All quizzes Any other item deemed important by the instructor
University of North Texas College of Music MUAG 3800.004 Fundamentals of Conducting Spring 2016 Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams, Instructor (nicholas.williams@unt.edu) Rehearsal Observations As a part of the course expectations, each student will submit five rehearsal observations, each reflecting forty- five minutes spent in a MAJOR university or professional ensemble rehearsal. The student must be an observer and not a performing member of the ensemble. The observations should be drawn from at least three different ensembles (wind groups, choirs, orchestras, elite jazz ensembles, etc.) and represent at least three different conductors. The five reports must represent at least different performing mediums. All reports must be typed double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, all margins 1 inch. The rehearsal observations are due no later than the following dates. Rehearsal observation 1: no later than January 27, 2016 Rehearsal observation 2: no later than February 3, 2016 Rehearsal observation 3: no later than February 24, 2016 Rehearsal observation 4: no later than March 2, 2016 Rehearsal observation 5: no later than April 6, 2016 For full credit, this assignment must be turned in during class or delivered to the Wind Studies office by 5pm on the due date. Electronic submissions are not accepted. Correct spelling and use of the English language is expected. In your observation, consider the following. 1. Baton (or hand) technique Is it clear/understandable? Is it effective musically? Is it visible? 2. Verbalizations Does the conductor talk too much? Do performers respond well to the conductor s instructions? Was the conductor professional in his/her comments? 3. Rehearsal pacing Is there a plan to the rehearsal? Is the group s interest focused on the music? Is there an opportunity to relax in rehearsal? What was accomplished during the rehearsal? 4. Musicality Does the conductor insist upon dynamics, accents, phrasing, and rhythmic exactitude? Were balances correct, solo lines brought out, and/or supporting lines appropriate? Were intonation discrepancies addressed? Did the conductor insist on the correct style of each piece?
University of North Texas College of Music MUAG 3800.004 Fundamentals of Conducting Spring 2016 Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams, Instructor (nicholas.williams@unt.edu) Concert Observations As a part of the course expectations, each student will submit three concert observations, each reflecting a performance of a MAJOR university or professional ensemble. The student must be an observer and not a performing member of the ensemble. All reports must be typed double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, all margins 1 inch. Electronic submissions are not accepted. Correct spelling and use of the English language is expected. The concert observations are due no later than the following dates. Concert Report 1: no later than February 24, 2016 Concert Report 2: no later than March 30, 2016 Concert Report 3: no later than April 27, 2016 In your observation, consider the following. Stage Presence How does the conductor enter the stage? How does the conductor acknowledge the audience and the performers? What does the conductor do between movements of a work? How does the conductor acknowledge soloists or featured sections? How does the conductor acknowledge the entire ensemble? How does the conductor leave the stage? In what ways does the conductor enable the musical performance? (mechanics, musicianship, etc.) How does the conductor visibly communicate style and musicianship to the ensemble? Other general observations
University of North Texas College of Music MUAG 3800.004 Fundamentals of Conducting Spring 2016 Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams, Instructor (nicholas.williams@unt.edu) Guidelines for Article Reviews Assignments must be typed double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, all margins 1 inch. The length of the typed assignment must be a minimum of one page, and a maximum of two pages with the above guidelines followed. For full credit, this assignment must be turned in during class or delivered to the Wind Studies office by 5pm on the due date. Electronic submissions are not accepted. Correct spelling and use of the English language is expected. The purpose of the article reviews is to provide awareness of the many viewpoints about the fundamentals of conducting and the role of the conductor/educator on the podium. The purpose is not merely to restate the article s content, but to summarize the author s intent in your words. In addition, each student is expected to add personal comment. (Do you agree? Do you disagree? Not understand? etc.) Finally, your review should explain any further questions or comments that you have as a result of the author s information and viewpoint. Please don t just regurgitate! As a general format, the content should include: summary, reaction, questions, and comments. Article Review 1: February 10, 2016 Article Review 2: February 17, 2016 Article Review 3: March 9, 2016 Examples of articles to be reviewed: Battisti, Frank. Conducting Isn t Easy, Instrumentalist, April 1997, 11-16.. The Winds of Change. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications, 239-242. Corporon, Eugene. The Quantam Conductor. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, vol.1. Chicago: GIA Publications, 1997, pp. 11-18. Junkin, Jerry. Getting to know the score, Instrumentalist, May 1998, 44-56. Sandene, Brent. Awakening Students to the Art of Conducting, Music Educators Journal, November 1994, 38-40. Sharp, Timothy. Precision Conducting The Seven Disciplines of the Masterful Conductor. Leawood, Leawood Music Press, 1996. KS: