Stanford provides instruction for students who have never conducted as well as for students with all levels of experience. Our conducting students often serve as music directors of campus musical theater productions and as assistant conductors of large Department of Music ensembles, with opportunities to conduct rehearsals and performances. Music majors concentrating in conducting present capstone projects that may include a full-length conducting recital, a lecture demonstration, conducting a shorter work in concert with accompanying conductor’s analysis, or a thesis demonstrating original research.
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Lessons & Courses
Courses in the Spotlight
MUSIC 130B. Elementary Instrumental Conducting
Theory, technique, and practice of instrumental conducting and the art of physical gesture. Studies in clef reading, transposition, and structural analysis of orchestral scores. Topics include baton technique, rehearsal procedure, working with soloists, singers, and composers. Training in conducting symphonic works as well as concertos, oratorio, opera, and Broadway musicals. Selected repertoire from the Baroque through contemporary periods.
MUSIC 130C. Elementary Choral Conducting
Techniques specific to the conducting of choral ensembles: warm-ups, breathing, balance, blend, choral tone, isolation principles, recitative conducting, preparation, and conducting of choral/orchestral works.
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