[Menvi-discuss] conducting

Thu Sep 8 16:34:29 EDT 2011

Yes, teachers are nowadays told not to touch students for fear of being sued for sexual harassment.  Can't even hug a little first grader!!

On Sep 8, 2011, at 3:31 PM, susanbinks5354 at att.net wrote:

> 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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