UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC SKILLS LAB VII:
BASIC CONDUCTING / ARRANGING
FALL 2024
INSTRUCTOR MEETING TIMES
Andrew Keiser –
[email protected] Volpe 101
Rehearsal Center Rm. 127
Office Hours by Appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course in basic conducting and arranging is designed to acquaint the student by
application, with the basic beat, patterns (symmetrical and asymmetrical), preparatory
beats, releases, dynamics, fermati, tempo changes, elementary score study, and rehearsal
techniques. Elements of practical arranging will be explored as students arrange excerpts
for their specific skills ensemble that address areas of conducting technique.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The role of a conductor is to lead, teach, and inspire an ensemble. This is achieved
through an intimate knowledge of the musical score and the use of non-verbal gestures.
Principles of score study will be discussed along with various non-verbal gestures
available to a conductor. These include, but are not limited to, baton technique, left hand
independence, & facial expressions. Students will be given multiple opportunities to
conduct the members of the class in a variety of different musical styles. While not
conducting, students will perform on their primary instruments.
Students will also learn how to arrange for both wind and string instruments. The art of
arranging or transcribing for winds and strings requires years of study, practice, trial,
success, and experimentation. The studies and assignments for this class are designed to
prepare a strong foundation for the basic arranging and transcribing skills that are
required of today’s working musicians. Each student should successfully complete this
course armed with a fundamental knowledge of the wind and string instruments along
with the motivation and desire to continue the practice and art of writing music for
various ensembles.
TEXT
Readings and conducting round excerpts will be assigned and posted on Blackboard
MATERIALS
Baton
Primary instrument
Scores/Parts for Conducting Rounds
GRADING POLICIES
Conducting Rounds - 20%
Conducting Reflections - 15%
Arranging Projects - 20%
Other Assignments - 10%
Participation - 10%
Final Exam (conducting and arranging) - 25%
LATE POLICIES
Reflections – Reflections are due the class day following their conducting round (for
example: conducting round on Monday, reflection is due on Wednesday). If students fail to
submit their reflection by the following conducting round, 10% will be taken off the assignment
grade per week.
Arranging Projects and Other Assignments – Projects and assignments are due by the
beginning of class as assigned per the syllabus. Assignment grades will be reduced by 10% each
day if they are late.
Absences
*An absence is defined as missing half the class period or more
2 unexcused absences = 5 points off final average
4 unexcused absences = 10 points off final average
6 unexcused absences = Failure of course (as per FSOM policy)
Tardies
Every 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence
HONOR CODE
Students will be bound by the University of Miami Honor Code
(https://doso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/honor-council/honor-code/index.html)
DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing,
etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the instructor and the Office
of Disability (http://www.umarc.miami.edu) at the beginning of the semester."
TUTORING
The Academic Resource Center is available throughout the year to all members of the
University community. Peer and online tutoring is available. For more information, visit
their website at http://www.umarc.miami.edu or call 305/284- 2800.
CLASS RECORDINGS
Students are expressly prohibited from recording any part of this course. Meetings of this course
might be recorded by the University. Any recordings will be available to students registered for
this class as they are intended to supplement the classroom experience. Students are expected to
follow appropriate University policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access
recorded lectures. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not in the class, or
uploaded to other online environments. If the instructor or a University of Miami office plans
any other uses for the recordings, beyond this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be
notified to request consent before such use.
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION
MIP 407 is offered as an In-Person class. Students must attend each class in person to
receive attendance credit. Should a student be instructed by the University to attend
classes virtually (quarantine, isolation, etc.), zoom links will be provided for the duration
of the physical absence. Conducting assignments can be altered or rescheduled as needed.
ACADEMIC RESILIENCY PLAN
In the event that the University of Miami’s campus closes unexpectedly for an extended period
of time due to a hurricane, pandemic, or other emergency situation that prevents this course from
meeting in person, students should be prepared to continue their learning through other means as
determined by the instructor. In the most likely scenario, instruction would be delivered remotely
through Blackboard and other platforms. Students are expected to check their UM email account
and course Blackboard sites regularly for communications from their instructors, and to the
extent feasible, continue their participation in their courses from their off-campus location by the
alternate means determined by the instructor.
CREATE Throughlines
The Frost School of Music faculty
and administration believe that
preparing you for your future
career in music means that
multiple skills need to be
developed throughout your time
here. The CREATE acronym was
developed to remind students and
faculty that threads of knowledge
can be developed across classes
and from one semester to the next.
You gain expertise through
repeated, distributed experiences
(practice) in varying contexts. In this class, we will work to improve your expertise in the
areas indicated by a check mark (Create and Analyze). Create will be evaluated through
the arranging projects. Analyze will be evaluated through the preparedness of conducting
rounds (e.g., score study), and the thoroughness of the reflection assignments. Refer to
the Grading Policy for specifics.
CONDUCTING GROUPS
GREEN ORANGE
Isabel Bu Maya Kallins
Natalie Colegrove Ben Novotny
Eamon Comiskey Abigail Peel
Ellen Dahlstrom Rachel Petrovich
Daniel Fernandez Amilyah Robinson
Patty Hernandez Noah Teer
*Daniel Oczko
COURSE SCHEDULE
*This schedule is subject to change
Day Class Topic Assignment Due (start of class)
Week 1 -Syllabus Overview
August 19 -Discussion
-Movement Intro
-Baton show and tell
August 21 -Movement continued
-Starting/stopping the ensemble
Week 2 -Score study – technical
August 26 -Starting/stopping the ensemble
August 28 -Score study - interpretive and guided class exercise
-Starting/stopping the ensemble
Week 3 NO CLASS - LABOR DAY
September 2
September 4 -Share analysis of Serenade No. 12 in C minor, Mozart Analysis of Serenade No. 12 in C
-How does interpretation manifest in motion? minor, Mozart
Week 4 Conducting Round 1: Chester (Green)
September 9
September 11 Conduct Round 1: Chester (Orange) Reflection (Green)
Week 5 -Round 1 debrief Reflection (Orange)
September 16 -Movement within a pattern
September 18 -Changing meters and tempi
Week 6 Conducting Round 2: Horkstow Grange (Orange)
September 23
September 25 Conducting Round 2: Horkstow Grange (Green) Reflection (Orange)
Week 7 -Round 2 debrief Reflection (Green)
September 30 -Arrangement Intro - instrument ranges and transpositions
October 2 -Discuss transposition worksheet 1 Transposition worksheet
-Discuss Arranging Project 1 (brass) and homogeny of
sound
Week 8 -Share and discuss Arranging Project 1 Arranging Project 1 Due
October 7 -Introduction to Laban
October 9 -Discussion of style 3 Laban examples in music
-Share Laban examples
Week 9 NO CLASS – FALL BREAK
October 14
October 16 Conducting Round 3: Wagner/Gounod (Green)
Week 10 Conducting Round 3: Wagner/Gounod (Orange) Reflection (Green)
October 21
October 23 -Round 3 Debrief Reflection (Orange)
-Discussion of Arranging Project 2 (ww), discuss
examples of excellent ww writing
Week 11 -Share Arranging Project 2 Arranging Project 2
October 28 -Discuss Cueing
-Discuss Final Project
October 30 Conducting Round 4: Holst (Orange)
Week 12 Conducting Round 4: Holst (Green) Reflection (Orange)
November 4
November 6 -Round 4 debrief Reflection (Green)
-Share Arranging Project 3 Arranging Project 3
-Intro to fermati
Week 13 -Discuss conducting fermati
November 11
November 13 Conducting Round 5: Bach Chorale (Green)
Week 14 Conducting Round 6: Bach Chorale (Orange) Reflection (Green)
November 18
November 20 Final conducting (conduct arrangement, Green) Reflection (Orange)
Print Draft of Final (Green)
Week 15 VIRTUAL
November 25
Week 16 Final conducting (conduct arrangement, Orange) Print Draft of Final (Orange)
December 2
December 6 FINAL EXAM DUE (ARRANGEMENT PORTION)
