Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Selim Giray
www.ostowob.co
room, to get comfortable and efcient, we take them out of context and apply a multitude of our specifc exercises. When we face
complex passages, we simply remove those challenges layer by layer. Tat is, we remove all ornamentation, ties and bowings, and
break down the excerpt to its most basic and simplest form. (See Figure 1)
Lets take a conducting challenge, a tempo change, and break it down and work on it in a methodical way. In the following excerpt,
we will remove articulations, dynamics, rubatos or accelerandos, fermatas, caesuras, then reintroduce them one-by-one in our practice. For
example, if we decide that the accelerando will go from MM 108 to 126, we will practice that with the help of the metronome. Ten, we
Aorlcoo 8trlo Joocoor |obrcory 2ul2
will make sure that our beat in all three metronome markings is
accurate: from 108 to 126 in 4/4, and 78 in cut-time. Once we
have the tempo accuracy, it is a simple procedure to reintroduce the
other challenges: dynamics, articulation, fermatas. (See Figure 2)
Parallels Between Bow and Baton Techniques
Ball State University Professor of Conducting Leonard Atherton
says in conducting, each beat consists of three parts:
1. A preparation
2. An ictusthe point at which the precise beginning of a beat
is marked
3. A rebound
1
As we know, the preparation of a bow stroke is essential in
making good contact and the follow through after the stroke,
and works much like the rebound after the ictus. If you consider
retaking multiple triple-stop chords, you will quickly recognize
how well the baton and the bow motions correspond.
As novice string players struggle with this important por-
tion of bow stroke, the preparation, less experienced conductors
are likely to struggle with the same issue. For example, when the
ensemble does not respond to the conductors prep, or takes a
completely diferent tempo than the one the conductor had in
mind, the culprit is inaccurate preparation.
For conductors, good preparation for the segment of beat
is achieved exactly the same way as the bow-stroke preparation,
by breathing. If you breathe and synchronize your prep with the
breath, you will have a consistent and accurate result, just like you
would with the bow: the faster the beat the faster you breathe, the
slower the tempo, the slower you breathe. Also, faster tempos are
better executed with breathing through the mouth but not the
nosesince we can breathe quicker with our mouth partly open.
Translating String-Specifc Terminology and the Daily Instru-
mental Practice Regimen Into the Craft of Conducting
It is safe to say that a solid practice regimen is a bona fde survival
tool for any string player. Te technical work accomplishes two
tasks: maintenance and improvement. Te string player can
only maintain and improve upon the technical ability through a
trustworthy daily practice regimen. Why not adapt your string
practice regimen into conducting?
A reliable baton technique, clear cut-ofs, and clear indica-
tion of tempo changes are elements that defne a good conductor.
As you depend on your bow technique and this difcult task has
become second nature to you, the baton needs to come to the
same profciency level before you may truly rely on the right arm.
First, to comfort ourselves, lets imagine that the baton is our bow
and forget about any pattern association and start conducting
in the same manner that we would use a bow. Furthermore, lets
set aside the baton and create a bow grip. It will quickly become
apparent that the two activities are actually quite similar, when we
take the familiar approach. With our bow, we have the prepatory
motion, the playing motion and the follow through. Te same is
the case with conducting: the prepatory portion of the beat, the
beat itself (or ictus) and rebound. In the string performance, to
internalize the upcoming piece of music, you breathe along with
the prepatory motion. To provide a good prep, you should never
lose your focus of breathing.
Bowings Associated With Various Articulations
Dtach: Not legato nor marked, a simple pattern. We avoid
any unintentional marking or accents (especially on the strong
beats).
Legato: Giving extra attention to connecting between notes.
When conducting, we need to move our right arm with the
smoothest motion possible. Closely related to legato playing is
the concern of sustaining. Sostenuto playing will be achieved
by a legato conducting with the help of the left hand, as it is in
crescendo.
Portato or lour: Slight separation between notes. In conduct-
ing, slight wrist movement combined with legato arm move-
ment.
Spiccato: Less forearm, more wrist movement is needed.
Martl: Marked notes are achieved by a decisive forearm mo-
tion, just like with the bow.
Staccato: Good separation between notes. Much like marcato,
except without the accent.
Artifcial spiccato (or slow spiccato): After the initial attack,
forearm motion continues through the slow beat.
It is quite apparent that proper conducting and bowing
motions are very similar, if not the same. Tis is an immense ad-
vantage for string players. So, in the same way you work on those
bow strokes, we will work on diferent beat patterns and articula-
tions in numerous metronome markings.
Sample Practice Regimen
Te main goal in any practice regimen is eliminating bad habits
while reinforcing the good ones. Also, just like it is with string
instrument exercises, use of a mirror and a video camera is highly
recommended.
Breathing and stretching exercises: Since conducting involves
breathing and utilization of our entire body, it is highly recom-
mended to precede your practice with breathing and stretching
exercises. An activity like yoga would address three important
areas: breathing, stretching and meditating.
Creating good posture: As it is with string playing, posture is
the basis of a solid conducting technique.
Right arm exercises: Conduct an exercise from Phillips, McEl-
heran or any other standard textbook. Repeat with both arms.
Left hand exercises: Sing a Bach chorale, or any hymn from a
hymnal, while utilizing the left hand. Make sure to use the left
hand when needed. For expressive purposes, entries and cutofs
onlyno pattern. Repeat with both arms.
Study and perform your repertoire as a conductor in a perfor-
mance, not as a teacher but solely as a conductor.
On weekends and teacher work days: Take up a new chal-
lenge such as a standard composition, whether you are likely
to conduct it or not. Study and prepare the score, and practice
conducting. Utilize this time to improve on your skills and fnd
new and more difcult challenges.
Scale Exercises, Trust and Communicating With Our
Ensemble
Avoiding student auto pilot susceptibilies with scale exercises.
It is an established practice to start a rehearsal with scales,
especially in elementary and secondary education. It is among the
most efcient ways of teaching your ensemble to follow you, and
www.ostowob.co
work on your clarity of conducting gestures. Lets take a rote two
octave G major scale. You will have a score: Quarter note equals
MM 60 in common time using one note per bow. Crescendo
through the ascending portion of the scale, comma without a
pause, and decrescendo through the descending portion of the
scale. Ten, add a second layer of difculty. Alter the tempo with
specifc accelerandos and rubatos, and then change the comma
with a caesura, with an extra prep. Next, replace the caesura with
a fermata. Afterward, change the placement of the commas,
caesuras and fermatas. Start your rehearsals with these exercises
every day, all the while increasing the difculty level both for
yourself and for your ensemble. Use cutofs and pauses on weak
beats, show accents on unexpected weak beats, and show diferent
articulations. Introduce diferent meters, including the compound
and uneven meters. All of these variables will reveal your entire
conducting vocabulary to your ensemble, and improve trust.
Furthermore, you can utilize any exercise from your conducting
classes or lessons.
Using the Left Hand For Demonstrating Expression
Left-hand technique for string instruments can be summarized by
the following: scales and arpeggios, shifting, double-stops, trills
and vibrato. We utilize our left hand both for technical and ex-
pressive functions. Similarly, in conducting, our left hand is used
for both for technical and expressive means. In short, we need the
appropriate use of the left hand in all technical and musical com-
munication: cutofs, entrances, and help with dynamics. When
you think about what the left hand is capable of, it becomes
apparent what a waste it is to revert to the dreaded mirroring. In
reality, mirroring does not enhance your right hand, but simply
ties up your ability to communicate more efectively. Also, the
overuse of mirroring is much like crying wolf: in order for your
ensemble not to be desensitized, you have to extremely limit its
use. If you truly limit yourself to mirroring only in the case of
considerable accelerandos or rubatos, then you will get the most
attention with this gesture. Furthermore, given the fact that you
are already accustomed to be expressive with your left handas
in vibrato and portamentoyou will truly appreciate the endless
possibilities that your left hand provides on the podium.
General Strategies in Improving Our Skills as a Conductor
Guest conduct non-string ensembles: band and choir.
It is an efective strategy to put yourself in an unfamiliar
environment, such as conducting a musical, to improve your
conducting skills.
Record your rehearsal.
Open the sound fle in a music editing program, where you can
distinguish between music and speech in the graphic form and
compare the two by percentage. How well did you do? Can you
challenge yourself to decrease the amount of speech for the next
rehearsal?
Ask a colleague to help with role playing and conduct.
Role playing is an exercise that conducting instructors utilize:
While the student is conducting, the teacher sings. However,
when asking your colleague to do this role playing exercise, you
can ask him or her to perform as your students would. Rush the
technical passages, drag the cantabile ones, and hesitate to come
in at the scary entrances. How well do you react?
Sight-reading sessions with your ensemble.
It is a great challenge to sight-read with your ensemble. How-
ever, it is a greater challenge to sight-read in front of an ensemble
that knows the work. How about sight-reading with your col-
leagues ensemble, close to its performance date? It is a wonderful
way to test your ability to think on your feet, and to prove your
communication skills in conducting.
It is an invaluable strategy to think about the parallels be-
tween the craft of string playing and conducting. It is apparent
that none of us has unlocked the secrets of string instruments
overnight, and without challenges. However, as our relentless
training proved successful as string players, our knowledge and
determination will prove successful once again in conducting.
We will improve our skills and serve our students as best we can.
Endnotes
1
Leonard Atherton, Vertical Plane Focal Point Conducting (Muncie: Ball State University,
1989), 3.
Bibliography
Atherton, Leonard. Vertical Plane Focal Point Conducting. Muncie: Ball State University, 1989.
Bowen, Jos Antonio, editor. Te Cambridge Companion to Conducting. Cambridge: Cam-
bridge University Press, 2003.
Braithwaite, Warwick. Te Conductors Art. London: Williams and Norgate, 1952.
Farberman, Harold. Te Art of Conducting Technique: A New Perspective. Miami: Warner,
1997.
Gehrkens, Karl W. Essentials in Conducting. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1919.
Green, Elizabeth A. H. Te Modern Conductor. Englewood Clifs: Prentice-Hall, 1981.
Grosbayne, Benjamin. Techniques of Modern Orchestral Conducting. Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 1956.
Linton, Stanley. Conducting Fundamentals. Englewood Clifs: Prentice-Hall, 1982.
McElheran, Brock. Conducting Technique: For Beginners and Professionals. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1966.
Phillips, Kenneth H. Basic Techniques of Conducting. New York: Oxford University Press,
1997.
Rudolf, Max. Te Grammar of Conducting: A Practical Study of Modern Baton Technique. New
York: Schirmer, 1950.
Saito, Hideo. Te Saito Conducting Method. Edited by Wayne J Toews; translated by Fumihiko
Torigai. Tokyo: Min-On Concert Association, 1988.
Scherchen, Hermann. Handbook of Conducting. Translated by Michel Dimitri Calvorcoressi.
London: Oxford University, 1933.
8oll Glroy ls ulroctor oI orcoostros oou ossocloto
roIossor oI vlollo oou vlolo ot llttsbcr 8toto
uolvorslty, oou coocortostor oou osslstoot
Cooucctor oI too Oolo Llot Ooro. kocootly, Glroy
lotorvlowou |llot Cooo Ior !|c $toJ. uo rocoruou
o CD, tltlou Jcr|lso Vcslc Ior vlollo 8 llooo
(ulstrlbctou by Noos oou Aozoo}, oou oo oultou
8oyco's vlollo coocorto Ior loorcslc. lo 1oocory,
Glroy orIorou o rocltol ot too Coroolo uoll
oou wlll tocr cuoost, lstoobcl, Ascocloo, oou ol|lo. As o uoctorol
coouluoto ot too |lorluo 8toto uolvorslty, Glroy stculou wlto |llot
Cooo, Ioror Coocortostor oI too Now or| lollooroolc Orcoostro.
8oll Glroy orIors oo o vlollo ouo by Aotoo krctz. |or oro
loIorotloo, looso vlslt www.solllroy.co.