ConductIT – Choral conducting, level 2 (VCI205)

ConductIT - Choral conducting, level 2 is a course for students who already have substantial experience in the field of music performance, for instance as performers, educators, or conductors and who seek a course in choral conducting. The course of study involves several different topics, e.g. conducting practice, conducting technique and theory, as well as entrepreneurship and career development.

The conducting practice will consist of UiS-organized sessions on-campus and home assignments where students are expected to facilitate access to their own conducting practice at home, organized by the student. This is resolved either by the student collaborating with local ensembles, or by organizing small practice ensembles. The number of such sessions is to be set by agreement between teacher and student. Many students are already conductors of one or more choirs, in which case using them as a home practice ensemble is a good solution.

The website http://www.conductit.euwww.conductit.eu contains a wide array of study materials on conducting. In this course the students will study selected chapters of the material and will be required to submit associated assignments.

The course of study may include work in the following subjects:

• Conducting/instruction
• Practice (on-campus and with the students’ own group/ensembles at home)
• Knowledge of ensembles
• Knowledge of the voice
• Knowledge of using the piano or other supporting instruments in reherasals
• Aural training
• Music theory
• Score study, including text analysis
• Knowledge of history and music history
• Knowledge of repertoire
• Knowledge of the music business and career opportunities
• Leadership and management

After completing and passing the examination for the course, candidates will have acquired the knowledge, skills and general proficiency that will enable them to:

General proficiency

• display a broad understanding of the conductor’s role and function in rehearsal and concert situations and as a director and organizer
• display a broad understanding of assessing quality in ensemble performance
• set goals for their own learning and development as a conductor
• set goals for ensemble development

Knowledge

• broad knowledge of key repertoire
• broad knowledge of score reading and analysis
• broad knowledge vocal technique and of the voice as an instrument

Skills

• demonstrate good conducting skills
• demonstrate good skills in the study and understanding of scores

General qualification requirements for admission to the ConductIT study program:

• Higher Education Entrance Qualification ("Generell studiekompetanse")
• English language proficiency

Required prerequisite knowledge for ConductIT - Choral conducting, level 2

Applicants will be reviewed by the faculty conducting audition committee to determine if their prerequisite knowledge qualifies for admission to this specific course. This evaluation is based on the applicants’ submitted audition materials such as their documented educational background, CV, application text, and videos.

To qualify for the course ConductIT - Choral conducting, level 2 the applicant must normally have completed and passed the course ConductIT - Choral conducting, level1. The submitted application material should include a motivation letter that outlines the applicant’s personal development goals. The application should also briefly outline a plan for how the student will organize access to their own ensemble(s), as required in this course (see below). It is possible to grant admission to students who have not completed ConductIT - Choral conducting, level 1, provided that they can document that they have acquired prior learning and work experience which is similar (Norw. "realkompetanse"). In such an evaluation the applicant must show that they have substantial general musicianship training and prior experience in the choral music genre, for instance through prior training or education or through practice as a performer, educator, conductor, composer or similar. The submitted video should be representative of the applicants’ current level of conducting. In the evaluation process the committee will assess if the applicant successfully can engage in and complete this course.

In order to register for the exam, the student must have been present at the on-campus sessions, lessons, and must have completed the assignments.

In situations where the student is unable to participate in compulsory activities or has challenges with self-study, alternative work requirements can be agreed directly with the course coordinator to the extent that this is practically possible and deemed academically justifiable.

Fagperson(er)

Course coordinator:

Study Adviser:

Language of instruction:

English and Norwegian (Norwegian language knowledge is not a prerequisite for the students)

Forms of work

The course consists of the following forms of work

• Participation at on-campus weekend sessions.
• Individual on-line lessons based on video recordings of students own conducting practice (recordings from weekend sessions, students home assignments and/or any other relevant practice).
• Self-study of content at http://www.conductit.euwww.conductit.eu and other relevant material
• Conducting practice "at home" with the students’ own ensemble(s)
• Participation in discussions and submission of assignments

Course assessment

Procedures for student assessment within the course have been drawn up by the faculty and adapted for this type of performance course. The course assessment is in accordance with the University of Stavanger’s quality system.