Fundamentals of Rehearsing Music Ensembles 

Introduction

What Do We Do in Rehearsals?

What Skills Do We Need?

Calibrating Your Ears

Serving as the Composer?s Advocate

A Choral Perspective: The Rehearsal Process

An Orchestral Perspective: Three Categories of Conducting

Introduction to Conducting

Basic Set-Up

Conducting without a Baton

Baton Grip

Basic Patterns

Active and Passive Beats

Starting Pieces

Ending Pieces

The Ensembles that Appear in this Course

Macro-Micro-Macro: The Basic Process

Examples of Macro-Micro-Macro: Breaking Things Down

A Choral Perspective: Teaching Notes

Rehearsal Demos: Macro-Micro-Macro

Conclusion

Module 1 Quiz

Introduction

Finding Quality

Choosing Repertoire: The Musical Meal

A Choral and Orchestral Perspective: Repertoire

Count-offs: Additional Ways to Begin a Piece

Rehearsal Examples: Starting on Various Beats within a Measure

Stopping the Group

Changing the Size of the Pattern Based on the Music

Introduction to Rehearsal Segments

Directing People's Attention in Rehearsal

Who, Where, What / Measure Numbers / "Count with Me"

Using "I" and "We"

Insisting on What You Want

Strategies for Communicating Musical Ideas

Communicating with Various Modes of Instruction

A Choral and Orchestral Perspective (Multiple Topics)

Conclusion

Module 2 Quiz

Introduction

Introduction to Left Hand Technique: Statue and Mirroring

More Left Hand Technique: Statue, Mirroring, and Independence

Demos of the Left Hand in Rehearsal

Showing Dynamics and Dynamic Changes

The Importance of Technique as a Foundation

The Rehearsal Toolkit: Rhythm

Teaching Subdivision: Filling in the Rests

Thinking in Rhythmic Subdivisions

?Playing? without Sound: Active Resting and Handoffs

Working with Contrasting Rhythmic Layers

Cleaning Up Sloppy Entrances

Rests as Elements of Expression

Rushing

Meter, Accents, and Perception

Rhythmic Compression

A Choral and Orchestral Perspective: Rhythm

Multi-Purpose Techniques

Rehearsal Demos: Bopping Part I

Rehearsal Demos: Bopping Part II

Rehearsal Demos: Using Singing

Rehearsal Demos: Slowing Down the Tempo for Rhythm and Accuracy

Rehearsal Demos: Slowing Down the Tempo for Intonation and Balance

Rehearsal Demos: Slowing Down the Tempo for Articulation and Style

Conclusion

Module 3 Quiz

Introduction

Score Study

Applying Your Score Study

A Choral and Orchestral Perspective: Score Study

Applying Score Study to a Rehearsal

Cues

Conducting Articulations: Legato

Conducting Articulations: Two Variations on Legato

Conducting Articulations: Staccato and Accents

Conducting Fermatas and Rubato

Specific Choral Conducting Techniques

Specific String Conducting Techniques

Review: Two Themes of the Course

Exaggerating Style and Expressive Details

The Vocabulary of Articulation

Articulation: Accentuation through Emphasis and De-Emphasis

Bopping for Articulation

Developing a Legato Style

19th-Century Style with 21st-Century Ensembles

Additional Articulation Techniques

A Choral Perspective: Articulation and Diction

An Orchestral Perspective: String Articulation and Bowing

Balance and Tone

A Choral & Orchestral Perspective: Balance and Tone

Working with Dissonance

Using the Piano to Demonstrate Complex Harmonies

Where to Begin When You Don?t Know Where to Begin

Conclusion

Module 4 Quiz

Introduction

Score Marking

An Orchestral Perspective: Score Marking

Caesura Fermatas

Release-in-Tempo Fermatas

Continuation Fermatas

Introduction to Phrasing

Conducting Phrases

Phrasing: Shaping a Melody

Shaping an Accompaniment

Four-Measure Phrases

Phrasing and Accentuating Rhythmic Accompaniment Lines

Trade-offs: Matching Style and Musicianship

Smoothing Melodic Leaps and Developing a Legato Sound

More Phrasing Ideas

Chamber Group Mentality within the Large Ensemble

Orchestral Perspective: Phrasing

Working on Dynamic Contrasts

Emphasizing Style and Dynamic Changes

Dynamics vs. Orchestration

Conservation of Dynamics: Creating the Illusion of a Longer Crescendo Through Micro Crescendos

Bringing Out Melodic Details: Contrapuntal Dynamics

Improving Crescendos and the Subito Piano

Refining the Fortepiano

A Choral and Orchestral Perspective: Dynamics

Conclusion

Module 5 Quiz

Introduction

Planning Rehearsals

Communicating the Rehearsal Plan to the Group

Using Recordings in Rehearsal

Accompanimental Conducting

An Orchestral Perspective: Accompanimental Conducting Issues

Additional Issues for Conducting Soloists: Float & Drop, Over-conducting!

Working with an Accompanist

Overtones, Temperaments, and Drones

General Tips for Improving Intonation

Addressing Intonation Issues

Additional Rehearsal Techniques for Improving Intonation: Part I

Additional Rehearsal Techniques for Improving Intonation: Part II

Additional Thoughts About Intonation

A Choral Perspective: Intonation

An Orchestral Perspective: Intonation

Set-up Strategies

Using Your Voice in Rehearsal

Health issues: Protecting Your Ears

Podium Talk

Conclusion

Biographies

Additional Resources

Module 6 Quiz