The auditorium falls to a hush. You grip your baton tightly. You know your
professor is in the audience, and the performance you're about to conduct
will be a big part of your grade. Conducting students face situations like
this every week.
Programs in conducting are all offered at the graduate level. That
means you need an undergraduate degree in music first. It's even better if
you specialize in musical performance in your bachelor's degree.
Conducting students can specialize in choral conducting, orchestra conducting,
marching band leading or conducting a particular type of ensemble, such as
string quartets. Different specialties are available at different schools.
In the U.S., more than 30 universities offer graduate training in conducting.
Master's degrees in conducting are usually two-year programs. Most
programs lead to a master of music degree. At some schools, a PhD program
is also available. Doctoral students usually want to teach conducting in a
university setting, or just study the theory behind it further.
Getting into a conducting school can be tough. Most schools require
at least a 70 percent average for incoming students. Tapes of conducting performances
are often required. Many schools also require an audition.
High school music courses are important, and so is any extracurricular
experience.
"Try to find a good conductor. Become their assistant, even if that means
getting them a coffee or a towel," says Horst Buchholz, orchestra director
at the University of Denver.
A conductor is often the leader of an orchestra outside the concert hall,
too. That means you could do a lot of public relations work to promote your
show. So, marketing and arts electives are also important.
Conducting courses can be challenging. For example, you could be asked
to write an analysis of a musical piece from a conducting point of view, then
conduct the piece under supervision.
Expect to read over long scores of music and notes closely. You
will need to learn every musical piece inside out.
Paul Phillips is a professor and orchestra director at Brown University.
He says learning languages is also important. Many of the great composers
such as Bach and Handel were German, for instance, so that's a good language
to learn. French and Italian also help.
Often, you will review a videotaped version of your performance with your
supervisor. "Students would have a live performance in front of student groups.
We would videotape it and talk about it later," says Phillips.
A thesis and a lengthy conducting performance are required by most schools
in order to graduate.
Music scores and textbooks can be expensive.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Musicians,
Singers and Related Workers
Classical Net
Books about music conducting
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