Minor in Conducting: Contemporary Track
The conducting minor is an organized program of courses for students interested in conducting. The minor in conducting will consist of 12 credit hours, including core courses in conducting, orchestration, and specialized advanced electives, as well as opportunities for individual instruction (Directed Study in Conducting). Students will decide on one of three tracks: contemporary conducting, music education, or choral conducting.
The contemporary conducting track provides the broadest, overall preparation for both instrumental and choral conductors. The techniques presented will provide the general principals for use for the concert stage, recording studio, scoring stage (film), orchestra pit (Broadway shows) and other situations.
Students will have the opportunity for experience in dealing with the diversity of musicians in mixed ensembles, such as classical, jazz, and rock, as well as musicians in other stylistic genres. Repertoire in this track will be representative of these many diverse areas. Students in this track will take specific conducting classes as well as additional studies in style analysis and orchestration.
Students must complete the conducting core before beginning the minor and follow the regular declaration of minor procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This minor is managed by the Composition Department. The following courses comprise the conducting core:
- COND-211 Conducting 1 or COND-216 Conducting 1 with Live Keyboard Ensemble
- COND-212 Conducting 2 or COND-217 Conducting 2 with Live Keyboard Ensemble
- analyze and transcribe music scores in a variety of styles for a variety of ensembles (e.g. chamber orchestra, chorus);
- demonstrate the ability to prepare a score for rehearsal;
- demonstrate the ability to rehearse musicians in preparation for a public performance or recording session;
- conduct public performances and recording sessions;
- synthesize and apply knowledge of repertory in developing concert programs; and
- synthesize and apply knowledge of orchestration techniques to score preparation, rehearsal, and performance.
Required Courses (3 credits)
- COND-498 Directed Study in Conducting (1 credits)
- MLAN-311 Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music (2 credits)
Required Orchestration Course (2 credits; choose one from the following)
- CM-231 Instrumentation and Score Preparation (2 credits)
- CM-341 Scoring for Strings (2 credits)
- CW-445 Contemporary Orchestration (2 credits)
- FS-340 Dramatic Orchestration for Film (2 credits)
Elective Courses (choose two from the following)
- COND-221 Choral Conducting for Music Education Majors (2 credits)
- COND-222 Instrumental Conducting for Music Education Majors (2 credits)
- COND-311 Advanced Conducting Seminar with Live Orchestra (2 credits)
- COND-321 Choral Rehearsal Techniques for Music Education Majors (2 credits)
- COND-322 Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques for Music Education Majors (2 credits)
- COND-351 Advanced Conductor's Workshop with Live Keyboard Ensemble (2 credits)
- COND-355 Conducting Small Ensembles (2 credits)
- COND-361 Conducting for Film and TV Production (2 credits)
- COND-421 Advanced Rehearsal Techniques (2 credits)
- COND-498 Directed Study in Conducting (1 credit)
Note: COND-498 may be taken a second time for elective credit.
Six courses are required for completion of the minor, for a minimum of 10 credits.