Category Archives: Conducting Education

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Conducting Classes 27 October to 1 December 2012

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Teachers are invited to take a short series of Conducting Classes in Term IV culminating with a video session with podium time in front of the Boroondara Symphonic Band.
The classes are for teachers and community band/orchestra directors wanting to establish the basics in conducting technique. The teaching will be based on the principals of the Saito Conducting Method.
Roland Yeung is the clinician. More information about Roland’s conducting credentials can be found on this web site.
The compulsory dates are introductory class Saturday mornings 27 October and 1 December, and video session Friday 30 November 7.30pm – 10.00pm in Kew.
A minimum of another 2 class dates are subject to negotiation to cater for busy teachers. Numbers are limited.
The application form can be downloaded by clicking here.
This is most suitable for beginner and experienced conductors.

The Conducting Classes will cover the following fundamental topics for establishing a strong basis for conductor development:

  • Conducting stance for maximum presence and minimum effort
  • Centring and focussing conducting gestures for improved communication
  • Standard beat pattern shapes for basic articulations
  • Learning movement between the beat points with constant speed, acceleration and deceleration
  • Best hand shape for baton hold for comfort and best look
  • Making gestures that are predictable and easy to understand by players
  • Achieving flow and phrase shapes
  • Moving with minimum effort and maximum clarity
  • Score analysis and preparation for conducting
  • Different ways of thinking about conducting music
  • Podium etiquette
  • Review of video to improve self-learning
  • Pathways for continuing professional development.
This series classes is the first of a series that further the learning of the Saito Conducting Method and applying it to concert band and orchestra repertoire.

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Conducting Classes at ANBOC 2012 Brisbane

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ROLAND YEUNG will give two Conducting Classes as part of the Australian National Band and Orchestra Conference ANBOC 2012 schedule. The classes will be repeated once. He will also give private conducting lessons.

SAITO CONDUCTING CLASSES I & II

The two conducting classes will focus on conducting gestures using principles of the Saito Conducting Method.

How can a conductor lift the confidence of the musicians so they will play in time?

How can a conductor show the expressive elements whilst maintaining the traditional conducting patterns?

How can a conductor show expression and maintain the musical flow?

How does a conductor reduce the strain in the neck and shoulder?

The first class, through practical activity, will introduce the key concepts of the method. Saito analysed conducting gestures and discovered that clarity and artistry in gestures is dependent various parts of the motion, namely the beat point, secondary point, and movement between these using acceleration and deceleration. Conductors will be able to reflect on their own conducting referenced to the three basic conducting gestures in simple quadruple time. How these gestures in the various parts of the motion influence changes in articulation, dynamics and tone colour are illustrated.

The second class will revise the three Saito gestures learnt in the previous class and introduce other gestures in the Saito Conducting Method. Saito categorized gestures by the relation of the secondary point to the beat point. Those which there is an acceleration leading to the beat point, are called into-point motions. Those bursting gestures, which decelerate to the following beat point, are called from-point motions. By combining the two motion types conductors can clearly show phrasing without interfering with the rhythmic flow of the music.

By understanding how to control the secondary point, conductors allow the performers to anticipate when the beat will occur and to envision the ideal sound. Having the ability to predict gives performers the confidence to control timbre, tuning, articulation and ensemble blend. Of the dozens of methods used to teach conducting worldwide, these concepts remain unique to Saito’s method.

To each session conductors should bring their own baton if they are comfortable using one. Some notes and worksheets will be made available.

Make an appointment by sending an email message or posting a reply. The Conference runs between 5 – 8 July 2012. Details of the conference can be found here.

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