Kennesaw State University
Department of Music
Spring 2009
I.
MUSI 3350 Advanced Choral Conducting and Literature
Course Description Prerequisite: MUSI 2222 and MUSI 3331
Advanced elements of conducting including baton technique, score reading, cueing,
expression, interpretation and rehearsal skills with an emphasis on applying these
techniques through choral literature in practical conducting experiences involving choral
ensembles. Required laboratory component.
II.
Instructor
Dr. Leslie Blackwell
Music Room 104
(770) 423-6153
Office Hours: TBA and posted
Email: lblackwe@kennesaw.edu
III.
Class Meetings
TBA
IV.
Required Materials
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
V.
Survey of Choral Music, Homer Ulrich, Schirmer Press.
Choral Music, Ray Robinson,
Conducting Baton
Blank Videotape/DVD
Metronome
Mathematical Drafting Paper
Goals
The student will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for eliciting a musical
performance from a choral ensemble through appropriate choral literature in conducting
gestures, score reading, and rehearsal techniques.
VI.
COURSE CONTENT AND REQUIREMENTS:
1. Overview of the Choral Art – philosophy, goals, motivation, communication, and personal
traits.
VII.
2.
Performance Practice and Rehearsal techniques - style characteristics of Renaissance,
Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century.
3.
Choral gestures and techniques specific to each period of music through major choral works.
Objectives
At the end of the course each student should be able to:
1. Discuss the qualifications necessary to be a successful choral conductor.
2. Demonstrate appropriate body posture, arms, hand, and wrist movements necessary for clear and
expressive conducting
3. Demonstrate preparatory beats for music starting on the first, second, third, fourth beats and uneven
beats with various tempos, dynamic levels, and styles (legato, staccato, etc.)
4. Conduct advanced patterns of one, two, three, four, and six beats, clearly exhibiting the ictus for each
beat and the rebound after each beat.
5. Conduct sub-divided beat patterns.
6. Conduct various meters using articulations such as legato, staccato, marcato, etc.
7. Conduct uneven and compound meters, such as five, seven, nine and twelve in various tempos and
articulations.
8. Master independence with the left hand and demonstrate effective use of the left hand in cueing,
phrasing, and dynamics.
9. Conduct literature that contains frequent meter changes.
10. Score study and analyze the conducting scores of choral master pieces.
VIII. Assignments
Written Mid–Term/Conducting Mid-Term
Conducting Final
Quizzes
Conducting Assignments/Videos including
Critique of Conducting Videos
25%
25%
20%
300%
VIII. Grading
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
0-59=F
1. COURSE OUTLINE
Week1
Week 2 -4
Week 5-7
Week 8-9
Week 10-12
Week 13-15
Overview, Communication, Conducting Assignments
Performance Practices-Renaissance-Mass and Motet
Performance Practices-Baroque-Madrigal, Chanson, and Mass
Performance Practices-Classical-Requiem Mass
Performance Practices- Romantic-Part songs, and
Orchestral/Choral works
Performance Practices-Modern
Week 16
Review
Turn in notebook
2. Grading Procedure
30%
Test on Performance Practice-Renaissance and Baroque with conducting
assignments and project.
30%
Test on Performance Practice-Classical and Romantic with conducting
assignments and project.
25%
Test on Performance Practice-Modern with conducting assignments and
project.
15%
Final Project (notebook)
The final project will be a notebook/binder containing classroom notes,
quizzes, handouts, readings, repertoire cards, concert program, plus all other
assignments. All notes must be typed.
3. Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend class. Unsatisfactory attendance is missing more than 3
classes. On the fourth absence the grade will drop one letter grade from the final grade. The fifth
absence will result in two letter grades off from the final grade. At the sixth absence the student
will fail the class. Tardiness, will also affect grades. Three tardies will equal one absence.
DIVERSITY:
A variety of materials and instructional strategies will be employed to meet the needs of the different
learning styles of diverse learners in class. Candidates will gain knowledge as well as an understanding
of differentiated strategies and curricula for providing effective instruction and assessment within
multicultural classrooms. One element of course work is raising candidate awareness of critical
multicultural issues. A second element is to cause candidates to explore how multiple attributes of
multicultural populations influence decisions in employing specific methods and materials for every
student. Among these attributes are ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, giftedness,
disability, language, religion, family structure, sexual orientation, and geographic region. An
emphasis on cognitive style differences provides a background for the consideration of cultural context.
Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and accommodations for persons defined as
disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990. A number of services are available to support students with disabilities within their academic
program. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the Office of Disabled
Student Support Services (770-423- 6443) and develop an individual assistance plan. In some cases,
certification of disability is required.
Please be aware that there are other support/mentor groups on the campus of Kennesaw State University
that address each of the multicultural variables outlined above. For more information contact the Student
Life Center at 770-423-6280.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct,
as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of
Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding
plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials,
misrepresentation/falsification of University records of academic work, malicious removal,
retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities
an/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic
misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary
Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a
grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of
Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.