Klarinet Archive - Posting 000461.txt from 2005/03

From: "David McClune" <dmcclune@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] OT: conducting without a baton;
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:59:46 -0500

Since you quoted me, I might as well respond. I have conducted college
bands for 25 years and have played professionally for nearly 30. 99% of
the time I prefer a baton as a conductor and player. With proper
training, a baton can be very expressive, melding between keeping clear
time and being expressive. There is a movement in the teaching of
conducting teaching to use the body movement ideas and techniques of
dance teacher Rudolf Laban. I won the innovative teaching award at the
university last year by using Laban techniques throughout the semester
of instrumental conducting. The musicality of the student's conducting
gestures was vastly better than any semester the past 20 years.

I believe that the foundation of conducing is an expressive right hand
and baton. The left had can add considerable musicality through a wide
variety of gestures, used to cue, change dynamics, articulations, shape
phrases, cut offs, etc. The left hand, right hand/baton, body language
and the often forgotten expressive face work as a team to convey our
musical intentions to the ensemble. Do not tell the band..show them.

American brass players are carefully trained to produce incredible
dynamic volumes which can easily overwhelm string and woodwind sections.
So yes, the left hand sometimes become the dreaded "the hand" to calm
them down

Now...it's back to work and get ready for tonights band concert!

Dave

Dr. David McClune
Professor of Woodwinds
Director of Bands
Union University-1862
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

Office-731-661-5294
dmcclune@-----.edu
www.mcclunemouthpiece.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org