Score and Rehearsal Preparation: A Realistic Approach for Instrumental Conductors

Very helpful for aspiring conductors. Breaks down the score study process very articulately.

Product came in perfect condition and the content is incredible. A very slim book, maybe a 1/4 inch thick and about 100 pages, but the material is one in a million! So glad I bought this. Even includes a re-usable “Score & Rehearsal Preparation Worksheet” This text covers everything from opening the score for the first time, study of compositional structure, preparation, interpretation and approaching the first rehearsal! 10/10. This book is geared toward classical music conductors, but I work in musical theatre and it’s been a tremendous help for me.

Every instrumental conductor, whether young or old, should take time to read this book. The methodical approach to score study and preparation (as suggested from Stith) are both very informative and thorough. Personally speaking, I found this book convicting as a music educator. I believe good educators ask themselves, "Have my students done all they can to be successful?"; and I believe GREAT educators ask, "Have I done all I can to ensure my students are successful?". Score and Reheasal Preparation: A Realistic Approach for Instrumental Conductors will challenge you as an educator to spend time doing your "homework" before asking the students to do theirs. I will never step-up to my podium again without having prepared as this book suggests. As a result, I believe my students will learn to love music more and see that I am helping them to become a better musician.

I read this book in one day over winter break and look forward to applying its practical, realistic, and strategic methods for our upcoming Festival/Contest season. The text is clear and easy to understand (not dry or dated at all!). As a JH/HS band director I believe the whole book actually applies to me and my students within the modern public school setting. Definitely recommend.

As an educator, this book and the resources provided within it have been instrumental in my rehearsal preparation over the last year. After reading this book I found myself feeling inspired to 'dig deeper' with the pieces I present to my ensemble. The Score Preparation Worksheet is an invaluable, time saving tool that provides a critical outline for the score study process. This worksheet is reproducible, and I now find myself keeping spare copies in my rehearsal folder and at home where I can easily begin studying a new score in great detail. After using the worksheets and going through the process, I file the worksheet inside each score. Storing the worksheets will allow for a quick review of the score when I choose to perform the piece again in the future.Mr. Stith's method is very thorough without being overly time-consuming. He guides you through the process step by step, using a popular concert band score in his examples. This text is incredibly useful to music educators who direct large ensembles, and would be a fantastic text for collegiate Instrumental Methods courses. In fact, I wish this text was presented in my Instrumental Methods course many years ago! After reading the book twice, it now remains on my desk at school where I refer to it at least weekly.

Had the opportunity to sit in a session Mr. Stith did at Midwest 2012 and he mentioned this book - so I picked it up. Thorough, detailed, easily understandable, well-organized and most of all HELPFUL. He is also straight to the point, so it isn't a large book. You will probably need to read it 2-3 times to get everything out of it. Wat I'd like to see him also have is an electronic version of his chart/checklist online, but I can make one myself in Word.I highly recommend this book to old directors, new directors and aspiring directors alike.

I used this text in my instrumental conducting class and my students found it very helpful. The book's introduction contains a brilliant metaphor, comparing the tip of an iceberg to conducting a piece of music. The iceberg's largest section, located underneath the surface, is compared to the vast amount of score study necessary prior to that first rehearsal. Gary Stith then takes this concept and develops a systematic approach to score analysis, dividing the process into three phases. He outlines each phase, further breaking the sections into concrete steps every conductor will want to follow. This book provides the tools that will help ensemble directors maximize rehearsals and yield fruitful performances. I heartily endorse it!

Simply Amazing! A must have for any serious music educator. Mr. Stith follows well in the foot steps of his legendary father Marice Stith, who was a gifted professor at both Cornell and Syracuse University.

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