Cantate Domino, Part 1
Yikes, this assignment was the hardest yet. I was relieved to read that at least of couple other members of the class felt it was challenging, but it made me realize just how unbalanced my teaching skills are. I feel quite comfortable talking in front of people and using my voice to lead, but the hands are a mess. I need to dig out my egg and spend a lot of time with the mirror.
The video was helpful, though, in that I discovered the root of a problem. I kept losing the downbeat after entrances. The video revealed that I was often motioning upwards on beat 3 for a breath to bring in the choir, so my hand would naturally follow through down on beat 4. I had discovered that in my practice and thought I corrected it by motioning outwards for a breath on 3 and then sweeping up on 4, but I didn't correct it as well as I thought. Even conducting in 2 tripped me up.
It was pretty frustrating, actually, because I practiced a great deal. I'm a passable pianist, a good dancer, and fairly athletic overall. Why am I so uncoordinated with conducting? It might just take a while to sink in, especially because I'm 27 and just now learning conducting basics. I'll practice harder for this week and hope my hands cooperate this time around.
Comments
Hanna
Conducting is one of those things that will all of a sudden click. It is different than dance in that you are not re-acting to music, but actually creating it. This piece is difficult b/c it is syncopated. As a young conductor it is very tempting to want to conduct with the syncopation, but one must really conduct just the beats of the music. Keep working, it will click.
Posted by: Matthew Mehaffey | October 18, 2007 04:45 PM
Hanna,
I remember your issue with the pattern. It may be helpful - in more situations than just this one - to think of a breath that expands out or even down, rather than only an up gesture for breath. Notice what happens to your own breathing as you gesture out, across, down, and up.
Posted by: Andrew Crow | October 19, 2007 07:25 AM