When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Tutor Giannis Giannopoulos
  • Course Code W24CCLK01B
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

A practical course focusing on the building of a clear and reliable conducting technique, with the opportunity to conduct a volunteer orchestra. This course runs for 9 weeks with 2 sessions per week: one theory session on Friday evenings and one practical session on Saturday mornings.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Conduct the main beats patterns in 1,2,3 and 4
  • Subdivide those patterns
  • Understand how to adopt the patterns to irregular metres
  • Understand how to mark up and read a full score
  • Demonstrate and communicate efficiently with the musicians of an orchestra
  • Prepare a score thoroughly

Class format and activities

Learning the use of the body in conducting. Learning and practicing the main, subdivided and irregular beat patterns; learning to mark up scores. You will be conducting the orchestra during the term. You will need to follow and contribute to discussions in English. Music Study can include the use of digital resources such as listening to recordings, watching videos online, using appropriate mobile applications and following Moodle -Morley's virtual learning environment- to enhance your learning inside and outside the classroom. Music study also offers a range of benefits including being an enjoyable way to enhance wellbeing. Music practice at Morley can also serve to enhance skills relevant for employment including developing creativity, developing high-concentration levels, building self-confidence, working to deadlines, being able to control nerves and working as part of a team.

Entry requirements

Good knowledge of music notation and standard musical terms and symbology Good understanding of clefs and transposition Ability to follow an orchestral score. Good basic knowledge of harmony.

What you need to know before you enrol

Conducting is a very physical activity requiring quick score-reading abilities and bodily coordination. Excellent attendance and punctuality is required from all students. This course requires study/completion of activities outside of class time. Orchestral sessions this term will be all-day workshops on 4 and 11 October, and 15 and 22 November.

What you need

Baton, notebook

What you can do next

Orchestral Conducting runs throughout the academic year. You may also be interested in any advanced conducting courses or summer schools; working with orchestras and bands. You may also be interested in any composition course Morley College offers, such as 'Composition Workshop' and 'Orchestration and Arranging '. Morley College also offers instrumental courses from beginners to advanced. You tutor will advise you individually.