Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Advanced Instrumental Conducting (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 4350-01

Course: MUSC 4350-01
Credits: 2
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11824

Course Description

Course Objective

The primary objectives of this course are to continue to develop psychomotor techniques for clear and expressive conducting and to develop the fundamental rehearsal skills and knowledge necessary for leading a musical organization. The purposes are to dissect a musical score to the point where you can conduct as if you had written it. To define the mastery of effective musical gestures. To develop a nature gastrula vocabulary in order to reveal the music to the instrumental ensemble. To learn about group dynamics and rehearsal technique(s). The course content is appropriate for all music students in instrumental or vocal who have wishing studies in advanced instrumental conducting. The course will have videotaping sessions during the class and students will analyze their conducting on the videotape with the instructor and individually.

Catalog Description

An upper-division course designed to teach advanced baton techniques, score preparation, and basic rehearsal procedures for instrumental ensembles. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Prerequisite(s): MUSC 2140 and MUSC 2350 and MUSC 3070 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required Textbook: “The Art of Conducting” by Donald Hunsberger and Roy Ernst Second Edition. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education ISBN: 0-07-031326-1. I have reserved this textbook in SUU Bookstore; you should have it in the beginning of semester. Additional materials will be provided by the instructor. You also need to have your own notebook, staff paper, conductor’s baton, and your video recording device, it will be needed for your own conducting often.

Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcome:

  • Mature professional attitude towards practice and performing regarding instrumental conducting. Through consisting of daily exercises for improving specific techniques and performance opportunities, students will
  • Identify the score and familiars of score studies, and learning conducting skills, as a conductor to work with orchestral instrumentalists (including most of orchestral instruments such as woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings etc. literacy based on the Western music traditional and academic repertoire.
  • Demonstrate the understanding and skills to represent musical ideas such tonal structure, rhythm, harmonic and musical emotional expressions of human beings.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of some basic artist's materials, e.g., accuracy in score reading, music conducting, counting music, intonation, timber/tone color and ability of sight-reading music.
  • Demonstrate the abstract beauty and music expression through different periods and styles of orchestral music by rehearsal and performance.
  • Demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of as an instrumentalist artistically and academically demonstrate a foundation for the development of further music art studies.

Course Requirements

Class Format: All the students of this class are expected to conduct and rehears in class. However, outside the classes exercise are very much encouraged. We will observe some well-known master-conductors through You Tube and other reading materials which are suggested by the instructor. Class assignments will include practical conducting exercises and score reading, transposition studies, rehearsal strategies, leadership in instrumental ensemble, as well as other basic knowledge in orchestral and band music. During the videotaping sessions you will also analyze your video recordings and those observations will be placed in your evaluation forms.

Class discussion and peer review: In this class, class discussion and peer review will be big part of this study. Students are expected to observe and share comments to each other. Please be prepared and use critical thinking ALL TIMEs!

Final conducting project: As an important part of this class, we will have a final conducting assignment in the last two weeks period of April. Students will be expected to conduct the actual orchestra and band. Repertoire includes standard orchestral, band music and new composition created by student composers. Conducting work will be signed up based on the discussion between the student and instructor. Dates will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Grading: Grades will be based on assigned work, quizzes and exams. You are responsible for any work or assignments missed. The final project will be performed with either the SUU String Ensemble or SUU Orchestra during their regular rehearsal hour. Please plan accordingly.

  • 40% Attendance and Class discussion
  • 20% Quizzes and assignments
  • 10% Midterm Exam
  • 30% Final Conducting Project

Course Outline

Course Schedule for Spring 2026 (Jan. 8- April 17)
Week 1. Jan. 8
  • Review Chapter 1 to Chapter 4
  • Basic principles and techniques and Patterns
Week 2. Jan. 12/14
  • Chapter 5 “Score Study Clefs and Transpositions”
  • Including Reading exercises, Multi-staff Vocal Score and Condensed Instrumental Score (P. 54- 69)
  • Useful Terminology on Instruments (P. 70-72)
  • Rehearsals: Planning, Procedures (P. 73- 76)
  • Assignments on the Text-book from 1- 5 (P.77)
  • Assignment on actual conducting:
    Please indicate how many tempo changes in this section? What is your idea to do the tempo changes?
  • I believed that this chapter (Chapter 5) is the foundations of knowledge in Instrumental Conducting. I encourage you spend more time truly study this chapter in the beginning of this class.
  • Here is the links I recommended to you watching:
    (with Chorus)
  • However, you are encouraged to find your own recording for your conducting practice.
Week 3. Jan. 21
  • Chapter 6 Subdivision of Beats and Entrances on incomplete beats (p. 82-90)
  • Assignments 1. and 2. (p. 91)
  • Performance excepts for Chapter 6 (p. 226-249)
  • Please think about questions like What are the conducting patterns? What the tempi you want to take on your conducting? What are the dynamics you want to take?
  • Additional study martials on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6gnoTZ0xJ4
Week 4. Jan. 26/28
  • Read and study Chapter 7 Dynamic Accents; Tempo Alterations and Fermatas
  • Practice Excerpts of chapter 7 (P. 260-284)
Week 5. Feb. 2/2
  • Read and study Chapter 8 Asymmetrical Meters
  • Practice Excerpts of chapter 8 (P. 292-308)
Week 6. Feb. 9/11
  • Read and study Chapter 9 Sustaining Gestures; Pattern Modification and Conducting Supermetric Patterns
  • Practice the Excerpts of chapter 8 (P. 312-338)
Week 7. Feb. 18
  • Read and study Chapter 11 Conducting the accompaniments
  • Midterm Exam
Week 8. Feb. 23/25
  • Special topics and Techniques of Contemporary music
  • Read and study Chapter 12 Contemporary music
  • Practice Excerpts of chapter 12 (P.361-371)
Week 9. Mar. 2/4
  • Special topics and Techniques of Rehearsals
  • Chapter 5 P.73-77
  • Observing rehearsals of Band and Orchestra
  • Writing assignments of your observations of rehearsals
  • Planning for conducting finial project
Week 10. Mar. 16/18
  • Special topics and Techniques of Rehearsals (Continuing)
  • Planning for conducting finial project
  • Score study for final project
Week 11. Mar. 23/25
  • Individual practice for final conducting project with coach
Week 12. Mar. 30/ Apr. 1
  • Preparing for final conducting project with Band and Orchestra.
  • Sign up time for Practice with Band and Orchestra.
Week 13. Apr. 6/8
  • Practice with Band or Orchestra.
  • It will be any time between Monday to Thursday at 1:00 or 3:00 p.m.
Week 14. Apr. 13/15
  • Finals of the Conducting project!
  • Time: It will be any time between Monday to Thursday at 1:00 or 3:00 p.m.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

You are responsible for any work or assignments missed.

Please note: any exceptions to the requirements set forth in this syllabus because extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis to the satisfaction of the instructor.

Attendance Policy

Attendance: Regular class attendance is necessary if you are to acquire the information and feedback needed to become a skilled conductor. Absences will be excused for health reasons when verified by written documentation from a health professional. An absence may be excused for other legitimate reasons if the instructor is notified in advance. You are allowed a maximum of three excused absences per semester. Each unexcused absence will lower your grade.

Course Fees

Instruments: This course will be as a conducting lab or workshop setting. Consequently, for those students who play the instruments you will need to bring your instrument with you for nearly every class period. Singers and pianists who play a secondary instrument should plan to do so. Talk to me if you need an instrument.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.