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Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 2350

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Beginning Conducting

Semester Approved: Spring 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2024
End Semester: Fall 2024

Catalog Description: The fundamentals of baton technique are addressed, as well as the basics of score preparation. Students will be introduced to the application of theoretical formal and historical knowledge to the process of conducting and musical problem solving.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0

Justification: This course satisfies the basic conducting requirement for music majors and provides nonmajors with an opportunity to learn basic conducting techniques that can be used in a variety of community or religious functions. Utah four-year college music departments expect this course to be taught in the two-year colleges.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will master basics of posture, and meter patterns. This will be assessed via classroom practicum and written assignment.

Students will learn basics of score preparation.  This will be assessed through observing classroom conducting assignments and written assignments.

Students will understand and demonstrate various musical styles as they relate to conducting.  This will be assessed via classroom practicum and written assignments.

Students will understand and demonstrate preparatory gestures and cueing.  This will be assessed via classroom practicum and written assignments.

Students will learn appropriate left-hand gestures.  This will be assessed via classroom practicum and written assignments.

Students demonstrate dynamic changes. This will be assessed via classroom practicum and written assignments.

Students develop a vocabulary of useful conducting terms.  Written final


Content:
Students will study methods of conducting vocal and instrumental scores using appropriate meter patterns, cues, and baton techniques. They will also study notation, musical vocabulary, and instrument transpositions.

Key Performance Indicators:
Written student assignments 30 to 40%

Classroom practicum 30 to 40%

Classroom observations 20 to 30%

Written final 10 to 20%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Hunsberger and Ernst. The Art of Conducting. current edition.


Pedagogy Statement:
The course is delivered through a combination of direction instruction, demonstration and modeling, student research and presentations, written assignments and final.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 25
Optimum Class Size: 18