Basic Conducting Techniques

by Joseph A. Labuta

Basic Conducting Techniques , Seventh Edition, provides a clear and intelligible introduction to the art of conducting an ensemble. Over the course of fourteen chapters, the authors explicate the elements of conducting, supplementing their teachings with an extensive selection of musical examples from the classical repertoire. Practical and innovative, clear and approachable, this text illuminates the essential skills a beginning conductor should develop to lead and rehearse a performing group.

This new edition features:








With the beginning conductor in mind, this hands-on, competency-centered approach is appropriate for mixed classes of choral and instrumental music majors, providing indispensable versatility for students and practicing conductors alike. Rooted in decades of teaching and conducting experience, Basic Conducting Techniques is the essential guide to the principles of conducting.

Genres: Music, Textbooks

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The study of conducting is tricky. This textbook divides it into ~10 areas/chapters that are not very long or verbose. Most of the pages (75%) are either reference or appendix material, so there’s alot of flipping back & forth as one goes through the exercises that append every chapter. Sadly, I tackled this book on my own, independently, and had no band or choir to practice upon. Having access to peers, or fellow students, or small groups of instrumentalists is surely different from just imagining, or listening to recordings, or watching vids online. I had to do the latter. Nonetheless I derived some basic conducting techniques.

Some of the instructions were not entirely clear and could’ve been padded up with more explanation. Some of the exercises felt redundant. The layout of the book could’ve been better. I think that there should’ve been score samples for the exercises after each & every chapter. There’s a degree of DIY to the exercises, in that you will need to search for pieces to study on your own or will be pressed to solicit or gather together musicians who are kind enough to offer their energy to allow you, the reader/conductor-in-training, to practice conducting music with them. I’d also reckon that university professors will use a newer edition or another textbook that has links to software or has references to invaluable, open-source sites. I’ve a couple more conducting textbooks lined up before I take my (CSET) exam and I suspect that they’ll be a little better, or more colorful & neat. After I realized that I’d already downgraded my experience w/the book by having no instrumentalists or singers to practice upon, I, shamedly, started to hurry & skim through [the latter half]. Altogether, it’s solid and has the essentials. There are photos, diagrams of patterns, detailed analyses, quarter-note drills, transpositions and scores w/individual parts. All good, but kinda dry & uninspiring.