June 28, 2004

Wadsworth Publishing

Prospectus for Conducting Textbook by Bingham Vick,Jr.


Market and Audience

All colleges and universities offering a music degree require at least one course in conducting for music majors. Typical is an Introduction to Conducting course, which deals with conducting fundamentals (conducting patterns, basic rehearsal technique, musical analysis, podium attitude), which is followed by more specific work in either "choral" or "instrumental" conducting applications.
Throughout my 34 years of teaching conducting, both the introductory and the advanced choral courses, I was never able to find a textbook that provided all the information I felt necessary to develop clean, clear conducting skills. While there are good textbooks available, none of them is complete in dealing with all the skills and knowledge necessary for the development of a successful conducting career.
My solution throughout these years was to ask the student to create a Notebook, which combined the best information on each of the necessary subjects.
My textbook, Conducting – What Matters Most, is the result of my personal collection and digestion of the important information necessary for conducting instruction.

Students taking these conducting courses include three broad groups:
(1) music majors who are required to take both the introductory and advanced courses for their degree in Music Education; (2) music majors who are required to take only the introductory course for their degree; and (3) music and non-music majors who are interested in conducting (church choir, school choir, etc.) and who have good basic skills in music, and who consider conducting to be a secondary vocational goal.

The teaching of conducting involves several important areas of instruction:

1. musical analysis with an eye toward bringing the music to life with an ensemble performance;
   
2. clear understanding of the "psychology of motion" and how the basic conducting gestures can be most effective in communicating musical ideas;
   
3. basic understanding of "group dynamics" and techniques to elicit musical response – i.e. rehearsal techniques;
   
4. understanding of musical style – combining knowledge of music theory, music history, individual vocal and instrumental performance technique;
   
5. developing the skill and insight to choose repertoire wisely
   

The current textbooks do not speak to all these areas appropriately.



My Idea

My textbook, Conducting – What Matters Most, approaches conducting in a logical and thorough format. The student learns the background, the theory, the application, and the success of conducting technique.
My textbook is specifically designed to speak to the normal, two-course sequence of basic conducting study (course 1 is introduction to conducting, course 2 is advanced choral conducting). The introductory chapters, Part One, in my book speak equally to instrumental and choral students. Part Two is designed for choral conducting students, and will be of great use to instrumental conductors as well, when they deal with choral works.
Conducting – What Matters Most also includes appendices of information for further, more advanced study. The selected list of choral-orchestral works is the result of my personal work in performance with these masterworks.

Contents
PART ONE
Conducting, an introduction (brief history of conducting)
Chapter I - conducting mechanics and technique
        Conducting psychology – personal qualities of successful conductors
        Conducting mechanics – general conducting guidelines
        Conducting motions – stance, patterns, principles of gesture
        Conducting Examples:
excerpts from basic literature to serve as conducting exercises
Chapter II - score study and musical analysis

PART TWO
Chapter III – choral rehearsal technique
Chapter IV – vocal-choral issues
        Rehearsal seating, choral vs. solo singing technique, rehearsal discipline
Chapter V – choral repertoire
        Criteria for selecting repertoire, balanced choral diet
Chapter VI – working with instruments
Techniques and guidelines for "choral conductors" when working with
Instrument

Appendices:
        1 – information on selected choral-orchestral works (26 major works)
        2 - translation and pronunciation of "Kyrie" and "Gloria"
        3 - selective list of reference materials
        4 – annotated bibliography of topical readings
        5 - basic personal library for young conductor

In addition to the collegiate instructional purpose of the book, it will serve as a valuable
"refresher book" for experienced conductors who wish to review their conducting knowledge and techniques.