Basic Conducting Technique
- What it Means to Be a Choir Director
- Why Technique Matters
- Proper Arm and Hand Position
- Proper Stand Position
- Basic Patterns
- Preparatory Beats
- Cut-offs
- Fermatas
- Dynamics
- Phrasing and Articulation
Proper Stand Position
Unlike when one is singing or playing an instrument, the top of the stand should lay flat, rather than angling upward away from the body. (This is why the stand or podium is often referred to as the conductor's "desk.") The top of the stand should sit at about navel level – no lower than the waist, but not higher than the elbows when the arms hang at your sides. Some conductor's prefer to turn the stand so that the lip is at the back, away from, rather than close to the body. This positioning of the stand allows the music to be high enough to see without obstructing movement of the arms, and maximizes visibility to both singers and instrumentalists, who are often seated.
