CONDUCTING TRAINING
docente: Massimiliano Caldi
direttore assistente e pianista: Stefano Ligoratti
november 2021 - june 2022
MaMu Cultura Musicale association is honored to present the Conducting Orchestra course under the guidance of Maestro Massimiliano Caldi and with the participation of Maestro Stefano Ligoratti. The course aims to prepare musicians for conducting and it's part of the training activities that our institution pursues, promoting the sharing and practice of music.
WHAT IS CONDUCTING TRAINING
This practice look at providing an approach as direct as possible to the orchestral score, to the conductor gestures and to the orchestra itself.
With a gradual and progressive process of approach, in our course we propose tools to develop an immediate awareness of a practice that has been idealized for too many decades and sometimes even mythologized but on whose real nature and purpose it hasn't been said much.
THE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR
The figure of the conductor is the last to be born in the universal history of music: someone has identified the first, true example of "modern" conductor - as we mean today - in Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy who, l March 11, 1829 in Berlin, he performed "St. Matthew's Passion" by J.S.Bach, starting (unwittingly!) the figure of the conductor-interpreter also of other authors.
Subsequently Arturo Toscanini (1867-1857) and Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989), with different goals and outcomes, perfected and codified this role, bringing it to excellent levels and to results that, in certain aspects, have still remained unsurpassed.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Music teachers form any order and degree, educators and musical operators, composers who want to expand their knowledge of conducting, graduate students with degrees in any m usical discipline or who have completed musical studies in the past. It will also be possible to participate in the course as AUDITORS, with the possibility of "getting on the podium" during the studying sessions when symphony orchestra will be playing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY PLAN
The course is developed in 6 modules made of 12 hours each, Saturday and Sunday (h 10,30 - 13,30 /15 - 18), from November to June on a monthly basis. During the first 2 sessions, reading basical theory, analysis and interpretation of the score will be tackled first, starting from the most obvious comparison with the piano score. At the same time, the basics of gestural technique and the main directorial patterns will be examined. We will work more practically on the functionality of the conductor gesture, thanks also to the support of the pianist who will play piano transcriptions of the music that students had previously chosen, together with the teacher.
In the second part of the course we will move on to the practical phase of the direction, first with the support of a string orchestra, then with the support of a chamber orchestra (strings and 4 wind instruments), finally getting to the so-called "Beethovenian" symphony orchestra, composed of 8 woodwinds, 4 brass, timpani and strings.
The lessons of this second phase of the course will end with one or more lessons / concerts open to the public.
PROGRAM AND CALENDAR
Each of the 2 theoretical modules (period November/ December) will be dedicated to the setting up of the work that will subsequently be carried out during the next 4 modules (January / June) with the instrumental groups, following the path traced by the pieces chosen by the students (download musical programme).
PART I: THEORY, STUDY AND TRACK ANALYSIS (WITH PIANIST)
Reading of the score, conducting technique and practical lessons of conducting with the support of the pianist. The student will select a maximum of two pieces, as follows:
- November 6-7: study of the repertoire for string and chamber orchestra;
- December 4-5: study of the repertoire for chamber and symphony orchestra
PART II: THE PRACTICE OF THE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTING
The gesture, the concertation, the management of the rehearsal time, the team spirit, the motivation. The student will select a maximum of two pieces, which he will prepare by observing the following program:
- January 29 - 30: repertoire for string orchestra;
- March 12-13: repertoire for chamber orchestra;
- May 7-8: repertoire for symphony orchestra
- June 11 -12: repertoire for "Beethovenian" symphonic orchestra. Final exhibition open to the public.
ADMISSION
It is necessary to send a short biography, titles / title of study or communicate the musical studies still in progress (see "WHO CAN APPLY"). A video is also required at the head of an orchestra or a piano duo (or even just a piano) or a choir or even just singing what he is conducting. The materials can be sent by writing to:
On the basis of this documentation, the Conductor and the associated teacher will reserve the right to convene the selected students at the Milan headquarters of Magazzino Musica for a preliminary interview or, in the case of residence abroad or outside Milan, to agree for a video interview "online."
The Director and the associated teacher, in case of proven talent highlighted by the video sent, in the face of total lack of technical / managerial bases, reserve the right to suggest a small package of individual lessons at the Milan office or even "online" to be done before the beginning of the course.
MUSICAL PROGRAM
>> Download our musical programme here
ACCOMPANYING
During the 2 appointments with symphony orchestra there will be the possibility of having the collaboration with one or more piano soloists to work on the accompaniment of songs for soloist and orchestra.
N.B .: Aspiring participants are advised to start identifying at least a couple of compositions for each group and to start preparing them. During the first lessons, the teacher and the assistant, evaluating the general situation of the students, will organize in detail the study plan of each student, until the end of the course.
REGISTRATION AND COSTS
The cost of participation in the course is € 2000, including the membership fee.
For auditors there is a registration fee valid for 1 weekend, € 100 in addition to the membership fee.
To participate, it is necessary to send the requested documentation and the receipt of payment by 20 October2021.
>> Download application form and conditions here