I'm Ben and I'm a musician and teacher living here in London in the UK. I hope you enjoy this class. It covers:
-An introduction to conducting. Why is conducting an important skill? What can we do to get prepared for that first rehearsal?
-Beat patterns (including 4/ 2/ 3 & 8). We start the course with a look at the most common beat patterns, four in a bar, two in a bar, three and eight in a bar.
-Shaping and emphasising musical phrases. I will show you how to shape musical phrases and keep your singers and instrumentalists attentive and engaged.
-Showing dynamics effectively. Dynamics are very important in a musical performance. We will discuss how to show your singers or players musical shapes, dynamics etc.
-Encouraging good ensemble in your group. One of the key skills to master is how to encourage your players to perform with good ensemble - we will discuss key strategies here that can encourage good ensemble..
-Top tips for conductors. I've saved the best for last and include some absolute top tips for conducting and how you can be the best in the room and get the best results form your performers. Also, there is an interview with a very special guest right at the end of this course to inspire you to achieve greatness in conducting!
- Concluding thoughts and I send you on your way with the very best of luck
Ben Lewis-Smith, London 2023