Fundamentals of Instrumental and Choral Conducting

Providing a thorough introduction to both choral and instrumental conducting, this textbook offers a complete package of teaching, study, and assessment materials to support a single-semester foundational conducting course.

The book is designed to address the needs of students and instructors in mixed-discipline classrooms, giving equal weight to the conducting skills and repertoire of instrumental and choral ensembles. The 22 chapters are intended to fit comfortably into a single-semester course with two weekly classes. The authors cover key topics including conducting body alignment, breathing, the conducting box, baton use, cutoffs, left-hand use, conducting patterns, conducting styles, conducting subdivisions, accents, syncopation, score preparation and score reading, transpositions and clef reading, ensemble familiarity, error detection, rehearsal planning, and rehearsal techniques.

This textbook and its accompanying supplemental materials are uniquely designed for the instructor to achieve an efficient and readily organized class, and for the students to receive essential fundamental conducting skills on both instrumental--including orchestral and band instruments--and choral ensembles. Addressing the conductor’s role, basic conducting skills, makeup of instrumental and choral ensembles, and solutions to common issues, the text prepares all students to engage in higher-level conducting courses.

Selim Giray is Director of Orchestral Studies at University of Mississippi, USA, and conductor of MYSP Repertory Orchestra. Giray performed as cover conductor for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and conducted California High School All-State String Orchestra. Giray is the author of String Methods for Beginners (2020).

Michael Hanawalt is Director of Graduate Choral Studies at Florida State University, USA, where he conducts the Chamber Choir and teaches courses in conducting and choral literature. He is also the Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus