Conducting Seminar Summer Sessions

While nothing will replace the moments and memories you could have made with your choir this school year, you can still surround yourself with like-minded peers and great choral music this summer!
Immerse yourself in great choral literature
by learning to CONDUCT it!
All sessions will be taught by D.C. al Fine's Program Director, Melodie Henderson, and will be held over Zoom. Participants can attend 1, 2, or 3 summer sessions. Session A is especially intended to be an introduction to conducting for students with limited experience - giving more time to practice between meetings - though all experience levels are welcome to attend any (or all) session(s).
Join our Summer Sessions via Zoom!
No experience required.
Melodie Henderson is a visionary, a master conductor and pedagogue. Her bright intellect, engaging musicianship, and passion for developing young artists is without peer.
 - Dr. Stan Engebretson, Director of Choral Studies at GMU
​ Artistic Director, The National Philharmonic Chorale

Session A
4 weeks total duration, 2 meetings per week
Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 16 - July 9 
3-4 pm or 8-9 pm (EDT)

A focus on "Lunar Lullaby" by Jacob Narverud

Session B
2 weeks total duration, 4 meetings per week
Tuesday - Friday, July 14-24
3-4 pm or 8-9 pm (EDT)
A fun frolic through "Jabberwocky" by Sam Pottle

Session C
2 weeks total duration, 4 meetings per week
​Tuesday - Friday, August 11-21
3-4 pm or 8-9 pm (EDT)
An in-depth look at "The Awakening" by Joseph M. Martin
I truly improved as a conductor. Melodie's class prepared me for more success in my college conducting, and gave me a head start on learning how to conduct. I use the conducting skills that I learned from the D.C. al Fine conducting seminar on a regular basis for my career as a music educator and church music director. I highly recommend participating in D.C. al Fine!
- Julia Stubbs, Conducting Seminar participant 

Sample Session Outline

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Introduction of session piece, text analysis
Marking the score for your conducting gesture
Review of score marking for conducting gesture
Marking the score for singer success
Review of score marking for singer success
Marking the score for form and phrasing
Review of score marking for form and phrasing
Putting it all together: Performances and Feedback
What does a conductor do, exactly?
​Bringing your choir in effectively
Body mapping, conducting patterns, entrances
The style of your conducting
Conducting fermatas, melding
Conducting dotted rhythms
Left hand independence
Putting it all together