Noyam eBooks

This work on Basic Conducting Skills is an innovative, practical and pioneering textbook that provides basic approach procedures and material for the conducting class of beginners. It is gratifying to note that students, colleague bandmasters and band instructors and lecturers (a corpus of an experienced team of choral conductors) have unreservedly responded positively to the coming out of this book, and with its clearly stated objectives coupled with its user-friendly, and performance assessments approach, I recommend you grab a copy for yourself or a friend. 

This book considers major aspects of musical conducting including practical and on-the-job advice on how to conduct different ensembles i.e. (brass, choral, pop, and orchestra), and a little history of conducting. In all, it is designed for the lay student who wants an overview knowledge about the world of conducting and for potential students as well. It is sensed that the beginner, with some form of help from a friend or his or her teacher, can start his training with this as a textbook, whilst the mature musician will re-examine his or her thinking and possibly revise his conducting skills. 

In Ghana, every music student must learn how to play the piano, which the author finds appropriate. However, the art of conducting music is largely a matter of discretion to the student, as he or she has to seek this path (acquire this knowledge) on his or her own. Due to this, students graduate from music schools without having the fundamental training in conducting. Looking at the rate at which chorale ensembles have developed in churches, civil society and private groups, the writer supports the assertion that conducting lessons should be made either compulsory or one of the core subjects in music institutions. It is against this background that this book has been authored to help develop these skills (Hukporti 2014, p.274). 

It is required of every conductor, be it advanced or intermediate level, to at least have a background in music theory, history of music, music appreciation and the understanding of gestures. This book provides students with simplified explanations of the concepts of conducting, with a step-by-step approach to baton technique, timing, cueing, tempo, etc… and could be used as preparatory material for a career in professional conducting. 

Based on my training and on-the-job experience as a Bandmaster and Choirmaster, I attest that this book looks at various forms of conducting techniques, including Military Band (Regimental Band), Choral and Orchestral, with a user-friendly approach; suitable for wind, string, percussion and choral students taking conducting lessons. As I have already referred, based on a step-by-step approach to conducting, (this book) YOUR GUIDE TO BASIC CONDUCTING deals with a clear analysis of conducting techniques, which is of great importance to students taking conducting as a venture. 

Obviously, music plays a central role in worship, especially in the Christian denomination, where people are inspired to compose in various forms. As a Choir/Band Director, It is quite certain that many composers, upon making use of this book, would also get this inspiration and be filled with the desire to conduct. To start with, one needs to build self-confidence to enable him or her to improve on new skills. Conducting is more of an individual performance skill than a mere knowledge acquired academically (e.g. music theory or history), and it is more effectively learned through personal (one-on-one) coaching and tutoring. However, the most successful conductors in history began as performers, scarcely with prior training in the technique. 

As stated earlier, since conducting requires a little background in Music Theory and History, this book provides a detailed explanation to students with more comprehensive explanations of what to do as a conductor. It further emphasises the fact that for one to ensure the understanding of conducting as a gesture, a technical approach should be complemented with musical insight. These carefully written guidelines cover baton timing techniques and show the relationship between time, speed and motion. It is also designed for the layman, who wants to take up conducting as a venture as well as for potential music students. Having studied these notes, the student should be able to apply these embedded principles, methods and suggestions to solve future challenges which may not actually be spelt out in this book. 

Frank Kwashie Hukporti 

University of Bayreuth 

8th July, 2014