COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL 2014
Lecture: 9:00-9:50am MW
CONDUCTING I
MUS 30502
School of Fine Arts
Professor: Gary Stewart
Phone:
740-245-7087
Email:
gstewart@rio.edu
Office:
FA 127
Office Hours: 8:30-9:00am MW, 1:00-2:00pm MW, 5:00-7:00pm TH
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The first semester of this conducting course covers fundamentals such as
beat patterns, baton techniques, transposition, clef reading, score reading, cuing, subdivisions fermatas,
and releases. The class will function as an ensemble, and each student will conduct assignments
approximately one each week, or as frequently as possible as the assignments become longer near the end
of the semester.
PREREQUISITES: none
CREDIT HOURS: 2
TEXTBOOK, BATON, AND OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS: The Art of Conducting. Second
Edition. Hunsberger-Ernst
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES--The following outcomes have been adopted for the
degree program for which this course is required:
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate comprehensive capabilities in their major performing area, including the ability to work
independently to prepare performances at a level appropriate to their concentration.
2. Demonstrate their understanding of the common elements of music including rhythm, melody,
harmony, musical forms and organizational patterns.
3. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of music history through to the present time.
4. Use technology to document their accomplishments as a musician throughout their college career, and
prepare a professional electronic portfolio.
5. Demonstrate growth in their major performing area every semester of attendance.
6. Perform both solo and ensemble literature in a public concert.
7. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of piano performance including the ability to play major and minor
scales, perform a short solo piece, read from 4-part music, harmonize a simple melody at sight, perform
a simple accompaniment, perform simple songs.
COURSE OUTCOMES: The following outcomes have been adopted for this course. All outcomes listed
below have direct relevance to course material. Upon completion of this course students are expected to
demonstrate competence in these areas:
Be able to conduct short excerpts of standard ensemble repertoire, giving clear entrances, curs,
beat patterns, releases, interpretative indications, and whatever else may be required for a good
performance.
1. You must have a thorough knowledge of the score, make a detailed diagnosis of the performance, and
use effective rehearsal methods to make improvements.
2. You will become more aware of how other conductors conduct, details of their technique, how they
interpret, and how they rehearse.
3. The class will study transposition and how it relates to concert pitch.
4. Musical terminology will be studied in depth.
5. The class will view online presentations as well as a video that demonstrates the abilities of some of the
world’s famous conductors.
6. The class will rehearse and conduct the University Symphonic Band in a piece of music chosen by the
student with guidance from the instructor. One student may be asked to conduct the group on an
upcoming concert.
GRADING POLICIES/TESTING/ASSIGNMENTS/ATTENDANCE/EXPECTATION
Attendance:
200 points (10 points off per unexcused absence)
Conducting Exercises: 400 Points (four exercises @100 points per exercise)
Written assignments: 200 Points (four assignments@ 50 points)
Final Exam:
200 Points (combination of written test and conducting by sight)
GRADING SCALE: A=1000-900, B=899-800, C=799-700, D=699-600, F=599 and below
Extra Credit Project(s): Extra credit may be awarded during the semester by students attending a live
professional performance and write an observation of the conductor’s performance. For example, the Ohio
Valley Symphony concerts or any performance approved by the instructor as being highly professional.
ADA POLICY: If a student wishes to be identified as having a physical, mental, or learning disability, that may
or may not require reasonable accommodation(s), he/she must register with the Office of Accessibility. These
registered students should identify themselves to their instructors and provide a written statement from the
Accessibility Office that indicates the appropriate accommodations. The process of a student self-proclaiming
the need for accommodation should occur as early in the semester as possible. The Office of Accessibility
phone is 245-7339 and is located in Rhodes Hall, Room 116, University of Rio Grande.
FERPA: The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are committed to fully respecting
and protecting the rights of students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These
rights generally include the right to inspect, review and seek amendment to the student's education records and
the right to provide written consent before personally identifiable information from education records is
disclosed. Under FERPA, students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education
concerning alleged failures to comply with FERPA. Please see the Student Records Confidentiality/Rights
Under FERPA section of the Student Handbook for details and more information.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Standard university policies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.
WITHDRAWAL: Standard university policies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.
Final Exam: