Conducting Artistry

4 best sources for quality repertoire and how to use them

1. Repertoire lists

• State lists & festival lists
• Teaching Music Through Performance Comprehensive List (2019) - Band, Orchestra & Choir
• Frank Ticheli's List in the MBM Times Magazines
• Best Music for High School Band (book)
• Best Music for Young Band (book)
• World Association for Symphonic Bands & Ensembles
• Tim Reynish (UK Conductor)

2. Member-contributed content sites

• Windrep.org
• Band Directors Facebook Group

3. A shortlist of quality publishers (not the usual suspects!)

• Brolga Music Publishing (Australia)
• Maecenas Music (UK)
• Piles Music (Spain)
• Manhattan Beach Music (USA)
• Bandquest - American Composer's Forum (USA)
• Windependence - Boosey & Hwakes
• FJH Music (US)
• Grand Mesa Music (US)
• C Alan Publications (US)
• G&M Brand (UK)
• Barnhouse (US)
• DeHaske/Amstel (Europe)
• Bravo Music (Japan)

4. Self-published composers

• Steven Bryant
• Michael Markowski
• Jodie Blackshaw
• James Stephenson

Template for your own repertoire list

4 do's and don'ts of researching repertoire

1. Don't just research pieces and composers you already know
2. Don't just listen to one recording
3. Do listen all the way through
4. Do look at the score

Action Steps

1. Start your own repertoire list. Download the template and start entering pieces you've done and pieces you're considering for your ensemble.
2. Visit a publisher you haven't heard of before and go through the detective process. Select a piece you don't know that's at your ensemble's level and listen through with the score. Add it to your repertoire list.

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The shape, arc and drama of our performance determines the audience's experience.

How to structure a concert

• What is the emotional arc of the performance?
• How do you want the audience to feel?
• Engaging the audience from (before) the first note

Transfigured Night - Norwegian Chamber Orchestra (YouTube video)

Completing The Circle - Considerations for Change in the Performance of Music, Bud Beyer (book)

Methods for planning the shape of a concert

• Using playlists to plan transitions
• Common pitfalls in concert sequencing

Download the Concert Shapes Inspiration PDF

Action Step

1. Take music you have already selected for a performance. Write the titles on small pieces of paper. Play with the different orders of pieces. Draw a shape of the emotional journey of the concert for each different program order.

Share your action step with us on Instagram! Take a photo or screen shot, tag us @conductingartistry and use hashtag #conductingartistryinaction

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A great program, like a memorable meal, has variety and balance.

Elements to consider when creating balance and contrast

• Style
• Duration
• Tempo
• Key
• Historical Period
• Form
• Volume/Dynamic
• Technical Variety
• Emotional Content
• Narrative Content

Chef's Table (Netflix)
Download the Balanced Program Checklist

Strategies for selecting a balanced program

• Starting with a key piece
• Filling slots by genre

Action Steps

1. Select one key piece you'd like to program. Select two more pieces that balance and contrast with it, using the criteria discussed.
2. Find and listen to two pieces for your ensemble by composers you've never heard before

Share your action steps with us on Instagram! Take a photo or screen shot, tag us @conductingartistry and use hashtag #conductingartistryinaction

Keep on learning!

Check out our blog, resources and courses at ConductingArtistry.com

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When you select appropriate repertoire, you can make real music in every rehearsal.

8 common ensemble problems caused by repertoire choice and how to avoid them

1. Low student engagement
2. Low teacher engagement
3. Slow rehearsal pace/progress
4. Urgent rehearsal pace
5. Student's can't play the music
6. It just sounds bad!
7. Persistent areas of weakness/lack of development
8. Poor student retention in ensembles or music program

The 80/20 rule for choosing repertoire at the right level for your group
Selecting achievable repertoire so you can make real music faster.

Action Steps

1. Look at your list of repertoire you have planned to program (or a past concert program). Put a '?' next to all the pieces that are in the '20' category (or are just too hard). Is it 80/20?
2. Find one new piece that fits the '80' category for your ensemble

Share your action steps with us on Instagram! Take a photo or screen shot, tag us @conductingartistry and use hashtag #conductingartistryinaction

Keep on learning!

Check out our blog, resources and courses at ConductingArtistry.com

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Why repertoire selection is important

We discuss:

• How repertoire forms the basis of the teaching and learning that goes on in our rehearsals
• How repertoire communicates what we value as educators
• How this may be our musicians' only exposure to this genre of music

Setting Musical Goals

• The importance of planning a year ahead
• The impact of setting long, medium and short term goals
• Where is your ensemble now? What skills do they currently have?
• Where do you want them to be in 12 months?
• What skills do they currently have?
• What skills & knowledge do they need to build to progress to the next ensemble or their next destination (college, community, music advocate/appreciator)

Where are they at now? Making A Skills Inventory

Download the Yearly Skill Development Planner Template and and fill it out for your ensemble!

How to inventory the incoming skills and abilities of the ensemble across 6 areas:

1. Musical - technical skills (keys, dynamics, rhythms etc), theoretical knowledge
2. Ensemble - internal pulse, intonation, balance, blend
3. Listening - balance, blend, knowing how and where to listen
4. Human - communication within ensemble, constructive feedback
5. Behavioural - attentional control, not playing/speaking over others, concert etiquette, presentation skills
6. Life Skills & Knowledge - attitude, perseverance, confidence, performance under pressure

Where do you want to go? Setting Long to Short Term Goals

• Set long term goals for your ensembles for the end of the year
• Plot backwards from one year in the future to now
• Scaffold skill development from Point A to Point B

Creating Your Performance Calendar

Download the Performance Calendar Template

• Add Performance details - date, venue, context, audience, music needed
• Add in rehearsal schedule - how many rehearsals for each performance, beware overlap between performances, public holidays, time between performances, special events
• Progress Accelerators - rehearsal camps, extended rehearsals, tours, contests, honor bands, workshops, guest clinicians
• Progress Decelerators - academic exams/testing/assessment, public holidays, snow days, emergencies, illness periods eg. winter, holiday periods, breaks between rehearsals
• Add in musical goals - allow buffer room, be ready to perform at least one rehearsal earlier than you think you should, have non-performance elements ready at least 2 rehearsals before the performance

Benefits of this process:

• No surprises!
• Always being prepared for each performance (both you and the ensemble!)
• Build in contingencies for common issues
• Monitor progress throughout the year - keep track of where you are
• Know at a glance where you are at any point in the year

ACTION STEPS

1. Download the Yearly Skill Development Planner Template and fill it out for your ensemble/s
2. Download the Performance Calendar Template and fill it out for your ensemble/s

Share your action steps with us on Instagram! Take a photo or screen shot, tag us @conductingartistry and use hashtag #conductingartistryinaction

Keep on learning!

Check out our blog, resources and courses at ConductingArtistry.com

Follow us on Instagram

Join the community on Facebook

Check out our videos YouTube