Conducting: A Hands-On Approach: Book & Online Audio

Maiello strips away the mystique from baton technique without sacrificing depth. The inclusion of over 100 recorded exercises means your students hear exactly what they're aiming for, eliminating guesswork about tempo, style, and musical intent. What sets this apart is its honesty about conducting as a craft that develops through deliberate practice, not inspiration.

Conducting class instructors working with wind, string, or choral ensembles at any level will find this indispensable. It also works beautifully for conductors returning to the podium after time away, offering a structured pathway to rebuild confidence and technique.

• Work through the exercises in order rather than jumping ahead. Each one builds on the previous technique, and skipping steps will leave gaps in your students' foundational understanding.
• Use the recordings during rehearsal so students can match their conducting gesture to the ensemble's response. This immediate feedback loop accelerates learning.
• Have advanced conductors revisit earlier chapters as a refresher. Maiello's approach reveals new layers of nuance the second time through.
• Assign specific exercises as homework and have students conduct them in front of a mirror or camera. Self-observation catches habits the instructor might miss.

Adopt this as your core conducting text for a full semester or year-long course, moving through the book at a steady pace with ensemble participation built into each session. It also serves wonderfully as a required resource for any director working with student conductors or preparing musicians for leadership roles within your organization.

• Baton grip, posture, and fundamental conducting patterns (4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8)
• Expressive conducting techniques including dynamics, tempo control, and stylistic shaping
• Score preparation and communication of musical intent to ensemble members
• Problem-solving strategies for common conducting challenges
• Listening skills and adjustment of conducting gesture based on ensemble response