[Menvi-discuss] conducting

Thu Sep 8 16:31:44 EDT 2011

Julie, Many teachers are very hesitant to actually touch a student.   
If you want a "hands on" experience, you might need to give permission  
for such help.  I am an "old-school" teacher and found it difficult  
not to touch my students when trying to show them how to hold an  
instrument  or stand properly.  Sounds weird I know, but singing,  
playing and learning music is a physical activity and sometimes it is  
almost impossible to teach it without the human touch.
Sue Binks
On Sep 8, 2011, at 10:42 AM, Julie McGinnity wrote:

> Hi.
>
> Thank you for all of the ideas so far.  It's funny that you all keep
> encouraging me to take the class and work with the instructor.  I
> actually had convince my department chair that I could take the
> conducting requirement just like everyone else with accomidations.
>
> I had an idea that it might be good for me to perhaps sit in on a
> conducting class or two before I actually have to take it.  That way I
> could tell the instructor exactly how he can help me.  I honestly
> don't think he is opposed to teaching me, but I do think he needs a
> lead from me.
>
> I didn't know that the dictionary contained a conducting diagram.
> I'll look into that.  Are there extra signs and things that I will
> need to learn?  How do you deal with conducting something that you are
> sight reading?  I would think that would be impossible.  These are the
> kinds of questions that I have been asked by my department chair.
>
> Sorry for all the questions.  I'm trying to gather a plan that I can
> take to my advisor, the department chair, and the professor of the
> class.
>
> On 9/8/11, Teresa Haifley <dthaifley at iowatelecom.net> wrote:
>> Julie,
>> I took conducting in college quite successfully.  The teacher  
>> explained
>> verbally to everyone in the class what the motions should look like  
>> anyway,
>> then he worked with me by standing behind me and moving my arm in  
>> the proper
>> motions so I could get the feel for it.  Each of us had to take our  
>> turns
>> conducting the class.  He ended up using me as an example to the  
>> others
>> because I was focused and giving all the entrances and other cues  
>> correctly,
>> knew the music well  and they weren't all able to do that.  Of  
>> course there
>> were a few who resented that but I had the teacher's respect and  
>> that of
>> most of the class.  So, don't let anyone push you aside.  Take the  
>> bull by
>> the horns and tell the teacher how to teach you and if you need  
>> extra help
>> outside of class be sure to get it.  And yes, you do need to know  
>> how to
>> conduct, whether or not you plan to use it in the future.  Learn  
>> all you can
>> now; you never know when you might need it later.  I never thought  
>> 30 years
>> ago when I took conducting that I would ever go that route, but  
>> today I
>> conduct a choir.
>> Good luck,
>> Teresa
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
>> [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 11:42 PM
>> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
>> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] conducting
>>
>> Hi everyone.
>>
>> As part of my degree in vocal performance, I have to take at least  
>> one
>> semester of conducting.  The professor is not sure how to teach me,
>> and I'm not sure how I am going to learn.  I was thinking that being
>> in the class would not be benificial to me because I will not be able
>> to see the patterns and things that are shown to the class visually.
>> I imagine that I would be behind.  My school is thinking of offering
>> me some kind of independent study option.  Is this a good solution?
>>
>> This is only the half of it though because the professor of the
>> conducting classes honestly has no idea how to teach me.  I would
>> really like to learn.  I think conducting would improve my rhythm,  
>> and
>> depending on what I choose to study in grad school, it might be
>> useful.  I know there are blind people who have taking conducting;
>> what have you done?  How have you learned?  Any suggestions would be
>> great.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --
>> Julie McG
>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>> Eyes for the Blind
>>
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Julie McG
> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
> Eyes for the Blind
>
> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
> life."
> John 3:16
>
> Thank you for subscribing to MENVI.  Should you wish to unsubscribe,  
> change your delivery, or set any other options available to you,  
> please view the list information page below.  Should you have any  
> questions, please contact the owner of the list.
> _______________________________________________
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> http://mail.menvi.org/mailman/listinfo/menvi-discuss_menvi.org

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