Episode

S1E4: The Concert: Creating An Emotional Journey

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

S2E4: Plan, Reflect Adapt - How to Make Progress in Rehearsal

How can we set ourselves up to listen better in rehearsals? What can be planned in advance, and when do we need to adapt our plans? What tools can we use to make our rehearsals more efficient? What does good feedback for players look like, and how can we deliver it in a sensitive way? We tackle all these questions and more as we explore the nitty gritty of middle rehearsals.

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S2E3: First rehearsals - trust, expectations and listening like crazy

It's the all-important first rehearsal! What is needed from both conductors and players in the first rehearsal? How does stress play a role? How do we navigate the dynamics of conducting professional versus educational orchestras? How can understanding attention help us set more reasonable expectations for ourselves, and the musicians?

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S2E2: From paper to performance - score study, imagination & listening like crazy

How do you effectively prepare and study a score before rehearsals? How do you create your own vision for the piece? Should you listen to recordings? What about MIDIs? How do you prepare for a world premiere where no recording exists? We tackle all the curly questions to help you boost your score preparation.

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