Instructor: Gianmaria Griglio

Pass the baton A new perspective on conducting technique

Take your conducting to the next level by learning how to break patterns in a logical and practical way: you will learn how to look at a score from a different point of view, building your technique from the music itself, and becoming much more effective in your conducting. Content:

• Body, baton placement and baton grip; pulse.
• B​asic baton strokes and strokes to be avoided.
• 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 patterns
• The left hand:​ cues, solos, dynamics, color change; practical examples: Tchaikovsky's Symphony n.6 and Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
• Cueing: ​preparation and release
• Tempo ​choices and tempo changing: accelerando, rallentando, and unexpected tempo changes.
• Upbeat and mixed meters​; starting an orchestra on an off-beat. Practical examples: Beethoven's Symphony n.5 and Copland's Appalachian spring.
• Breaking the patterns - part 1:​ how to create your technique while analyzing a score based on the length and character of the notes, dynamic regions, orchestration, pitch registration
• Breaking the patterns - part 2 (​two videos ​ ): ​Beethoven's Symphony n.1, Mozart's Symphony n.40, Tchaikovsky's Symphony n.6, Mahler's Symphony n.6
• Rehearsal talk: ​how to address an orchestra

11 videos, practical exercises, actionable tips, and side-by-side scores for a detailed analysis