Systematic, practical, and thorough, Basic Techniques of Conducting offers a clear instructional strategy and a basic methodology for teaching the physical gestures and concepts essential for the development of a convincing conducting technique. Taking a competency-based approach, this text provides a clear, step-by-step system for mastering the physical gestures required for good conducting. Paying special attention to the psychomotor skills needed for clear and expressive conducting, it establishes a solid foundation on which to build an advanced and personal conducting style.
Based on ten years of teaching and class-testing, the text is carefully organized to establish essential conducting skills over a one-semester period. Each of the thirty lessons introduces basic conducting techniques in a developmental sequence, and includes a review of previous techniques, "guided practice" segments for group practice of new techniques, and "assignment" sections for independent study and practice.
The text is fully illustrated with many conducting diagrams, photographs of hand and body movements, and numerous musical examples for directed conducting practice. Emphasizing complete musical examples rather than short excerpts, it features both choral and instrumental exercises for drill and practice. Engaging and accessible, Basic Techniques of Conducting offers all of the content necessary to build a solid foundation of conducting skills for all vocal and instrumental music education majors.
Industry Reviews
"Finally--a reasonable beginning textbook. Logical progression of skills. Paced beautifully. Visually laid out well. Good choices for examples. Instrumental and vocal parts a real plus."--Carol Dunevant, Northern Kentucky University
"Clear, precise, 'hands-on' approach; nice to have examples in both choral and instrumental format."--Cherilee Wadsworth Walker, East Central University, OK
"Wonderful textbook for a first semester beginning conducting class. As with all of K. Phillip's work, every aspect of the book is meticulously well planned and organized and thoughtfully explained. Examples are thoroughly coordinated with the text and appropriately varied."--Vance D. Wolverton, California State University-Fullerton
"Very basic, thorough, comprehensive, and well organized. An excellent introductory text."--Will Schwartz, Colorado State University
"Organized in a step-by-step manner and easily understood. I appreciate the variety of musical examples, terms, and skills needed at each level of conducting. This is the first book I feel is practical to use."--Charles L. Yingling, Southwestern College, Kansas
"Very thorough. The examples are clear and comprehensible at a glance. The evaluation forms are useful."--Robert W. Peck, Louisiana Tech University
"Superb effort by Dr. Phillips. He is a consummate educator with practical approaches to the essential skills of conducting. His pedagogy is most sound and the pacing/sequencing of this method is right on target for undergraduate beginning conductors. I congratulate him on another successful publication."--Timothy J. Sharer, Wayne State College
"Excellent sequence of lessons. Format is very useful for organization of semester."--John F. Warren, University of Miami
"Excellent organization; love the instrumental parts (transposition) for examples; great evaluation sheets."--Jeff Bell, Indiana Wesleyan University
"Very comprehensive, obviously written by someone with great experience and skill in teaching this subject."--James Beaumier, Coker College
"Very detailed descriptions of conducting motions, easy to understand--nice visuals."--Myron S. Mikita, Jr., Don Bosco High School
