Principal Study Conducting 1

The Principal Study module is the central locus of your learning, and will support you in developing a firm, but flexible and responsive conducting style that demonstrates musical individuality and technical assurance. Your lessons will form part of an ongoing cycle of individual practice and reflection, and will require you to devote a substantial amount of time to independent learning. Alongside this individual activity, there will be time allocated to taught and/or supervised group work, including conducting ensembles across a range of contexts and repertoires.

Module aims

This module is designed to:

• Foster technical and expressive mastery as a conductor
• Develop a mature musical personality and provide opportunities for its projection in-and-through practice
• Develop a knowledge base that supports understanding and facilitates the solving of complex musical problems
• Enable you to acquire the skills to pursue and sustain fulfilling, lifelong learning leading to informed performance at a professional level
• Develop perception, listening skills and self awareness and their application through responsive leadership in rehearsal and performance

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• LO1 Demonstrate technical and expressive mastery in conducting
• LO2 Project a mature musical personality in-and-through conducting
• LO3 Employ a range of knowledge and understanding in-and-through the process of making music

Assessment

Assessment 1: Portfolio (100%)

Work in this module is assessed by means of a submission of a portfolio of video recordings totalling 35-40 minutes, negotiated with the specialist teacher and agreed through Student Outcomes. Further information on submission requirements is detailed in the Assessment Specifications.

Assessed LOs: 1, 2, 3.

Assessment criteria

Assessors will look for:

LO1 – Demonstrate technical and expressive mastery in conducting

• imagination and command
• an understanding of and an ability to balance textures
• an understanding of orchestral colour and scoring
• perceptive listening
• knowledge of score
• technical competence
• melodic shaping, line and structure
• rhythmic control
• knowledge of instruments
• sense of performance

LO2 – Project a mature musical personality in-and-through conducting

• stage presence
• use of body language, eye contact and gesture
• committed, communicative and engaging response to the music
• imagination and creativity in performance
• confidence in performance
• consistency and reliability
• projection of ideas

LO3 – Employ a range of knowledge and understanding in-and-through the process of making music

• a knowledge of repertoire
• a knowledge of conductors and their style
• an appropriate choice of repertoire
• ability to structure and order a programme
• understanding of role in varying contexts
• knowledge of the characteristics of instruments
• knowledge of the capabilities of the orchestra as an instrument
• awareness of panoply, context and trend

Feedback

You will recieve regular formative feedback from your tutor in your lessons, and a written report twice a year. In some departments the tutor report will take the form of a mutually constructed feedback session.

You will receive a written feedback report on your assessed portfolio.

Resources

Essential

Key resources will be recommended by principal study tutors.

Summary details

Module title	Principal Study Conducting 1
SCQF level	11
Credit rating	80 SCQF (40 ECTS)
Total notional student effort hours	800
Status	Core
Module coordinator	Head of Department
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	Supporting Studies 1
Anti-requisites	None
Next steps	Principal Study Composition 2 or MA Negotiated Study
Learning modes	Indicative hours
Scheduled study	30 (minimum)
Independent study	770 (maximum)
Total notional student effort	800