 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2003-01-17 23:50
I'm bringing out the champagne right now. (Figuratively because I'm underage, but still...) My band director has caught wind of my "experience" with composition and has asked me to arrange some of my pieces for our high school band to play for a public concert! I'm ecstatic! But I'm also a little nervous because I'll have to direct my band whilke we're playing and I don't know that much about directing large ensembles. Sure, I can wave my arms in the right patterns, but There's a leadership quality that I'm having trouble with.
Can I get some pointers on effective band directing? What <i>do</>s and <i><b>not</b> do</i>s are out there?
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Author: Mitch A
Date: 2003-01-18 00:17
I love a director that makes eye contact a beat or two before an important "emphasis point" in the music. Section cues are valuable, etc.
KNOW THE MUSIC, DEMMIT!
Don't swim in mid air, direct - I like to know where 1,2,3 and 4 are at all times.
At the end, bow graciously and acknowledge the performers.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-18 01:35
1. Come prepared - do your homework beforehand
2. Have a plan and a goal for each rehearsal
3. Get your head out of the score
4. Your musicians are what makes you look good - acknowledge their efforts.
5. An ensemble plays to the body language of the conductor. Imprecise direction and sloppy appearance yields the same result from your band.
6. It's only music - not open heart surgery, enjoy it! ...GBK
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-18 02:04
"I'm bringing out the champagne right now. (Figuratively because I'm underage, but still...) My band director has caught wind of my "experience" with composition and has asked me to arrange some of my pieces for our high school band to play for a public concert!"
bravo dave!!!!
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-18 20:18
Keep the gestures clear and give a precise downbeat....make eye contact with players and try to engage them in a musical experience....have fun and work on tuning and timing....have fun....watch out for players who play too loud or not loud enough...allow the melody to emerge in the music...watch dynamics closely and give precise statements as to what you want as conductor...
Good Luck !!!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-01-19 05:47
Mitch A wrote: "Don't swim in mid air, direct - I like to know where 1,2,3 and 4 are at all times."
Wow, that is great advice. The meter pattern in the air should be produced so that it will be unmistakable to any player who happens to glance up at any time. Which is just what a lot of them will do, glance up and look back at the music. I have performed under one conductor who bounced the baton so much on each beat that if you happened to look up half a beat later, you had no idea what was happening or where in the measure you were supposed to be. This is nice and flashy, but not much help.
On the other hand, The Berlin Philharmonic was likely the best orchestra on Earth when they were under direction of Herbert von Karajan, and he always appeared to be almost comatose.
So do whatever works best for you, David. This sounds like quite an opportunity.
Regards,
Joh
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