Practicing Conducting

Sound fundamentals! Make sure your grip and stance are correct.

Stick to the Basics

Marcato, legato, and neutral patterns for 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4.

Prepared cues with eye contact on 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Conduct right hand pattern while left hand indicates measured crescendo and decrescendo. Bonus points if the size of your right-hand pattern matches the volume indicated by the left hand.

Practice daily, often while doing something else. This will improve your hand independence and muscle memory.

For every gesture, ask yourself “what do the musicians need?”

Use a mirror – video is even better, although it requires large amounts of alcohol afterwards.

Videotape yourself from the front but also from the rear so you can see what the audience sees.

ThomasPalmatier.com

You may also like:

Techniques: Demystifying Trombone Legato A Simple Approach Percussion Performance: The Drum Stroke Vote Now for 2014 Best Tools for Schools Percussion Performance: Timpani Teaching Musical Literacy: Developing the Independent Choral Singer