On the Principles and Practice of Conducting
Markand THAKAR

On the Principles and Practice of Conducting is a practical manual for building musical understanding and physical skills, intended for anyone who stands on a podium with the intention of helping an ensemble make music. The four main chapters address the major obligations of the conductor: 1) bringing the musical tones to life in the most expressive way possible; 2) clearing the mind in order to fully hear the tones; 3) ridding the body of unnecessary tension; and 4) successfully connecting the physical gestures to the sounds

Each chapter begins with a summary of the underlying principles, going on to present real-life applications and offer exercises for developing skills. Video demonstrations of the exercises as well as downloadable scores and parts are available on a companion website. The parts, in multiple transpositions, allow for hands-on experience where standard instrumental complements are unavailable.

Markand Thakar is music director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and a member of the graduate conducting faculty at the Peabody Conservatory. A protégé of the legendary Sergiu Celibidache and former assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, his annual conductor training programs draw hundreds of students from around the world.