Do’s, Don’ts & Pitfallsof
Theatre Conducting
A Clinic Session Presented toThe 89th Annual Iowa Bandmasters Conference
Thursday, May 12, 2016 – 4:30 P.M.Des Moines Marriott Downtown
Sioux City RoomDes Moines, Iowa
Carl [email protected]
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D.M.A. – University of Iowa, 2016M.A. – Tennessee Technological University, 2013B.M. – Simpson College, 2009
Carl Rowles is the newly appointed Director of Bands at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, where he will conduct the Sym-phonic Band, assist with the Marching Pioneers, teach conducting and instrumental music education courses, and supervise student teachers.
As an active theatre conductor, Carl has music-directed and conduct-ed more than a dozen shows at the community theatre and university levels. His credits include: Striking 12 (University of Iowa); Sweeney Todd, Company, Hair, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Jesus Christ Su-perstar, Rent (City Circle Acting Company of Coralville); Peter Pan, Cinderella (Nolte Dance Academy); Guys and Dolls, Big-The Musical, Wizard of Oz, Anne and Gilbert (New Minowa Players); Footloose (New Hampton High School); and Wonderland (Simpson College Stu-dent Opera Workshop). In April 2015, he received the “Best Musical Direction” Award from the Iowa Community Theatre Association for his direction of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Carl has held memberships and leadership positions in a number of organizations, including: Iowa Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, Iowa Music Educators Association, Tennessee Music Education Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi (Honorary). Carl was a finalist for the National Band Association’s Young Conductor Mentor Project in 2011 and 2013. In addition, he has been a two-time finalist for conducting positions with the United States Air Force Bands and interned with the USAF Band of Mid-America (St. Louis, MO) in June 2015.
Carl Rowles
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Organizing the OrchestraRehearsal Schedule Set BEFORE contracting musicians
Distribute Music ASAP Arrives 6-8 in advance of show Include reference recording (YouTube, Reference CD from company, Cast Album) Score Changes Periodically send out updates (once a week) if before rehearsal sequence Tempo markings if not in parts Vocal Cues (Tobias: “Ladies and Gentlemen” last time at m.7”)
Communicate Regularly You cannot over-communicate any information
Reducing Instrumentation Ask the licensing company Keep basic rhythm section (Set, Aux. Perc., Keys, Bass) Principle Winds/Largest Books Double vocal melody Melody in dance breaks and underscoring Strings? - Ask about a keyboard reduction OrchExtra “Laptop Musician” Fills out orchestra in addition to acoustic performers
Physical Set Up - Be Logical Strings/Brass/WWs/Percussion/Keyboards near their respective families Symphony Orchestra as basis for groupings Brass Considerations Trumpets & Trombones are directional Horns should have a deflected sound Percussion is loud - ALWAYS Small Pit Strings to the left Woodwinds in middle back Brass to the right Keyboards in front center, or back right Percussion back right
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The RehearsalKNOW THE SHOW Attend multiple rehearsals Learn pacing, tempos, score changes, etc.
Establish seating arrangement in first orchestra rehearsal
4-Rehearsal Model Act 1 (3 hours) Act 2 (3 hours) Run of Show (3-3.5 hours) Sitzprobe with Cast and Production Team (4 hours) Include Director and Audio Engineer
Provide cuts/changes in succinct manner, ASAP “Cut from m.32 to m.64” “Play 3x”
Rehearse at performance tempo
Sing along! Gives vocal cues to orchestra Helps you establish correct tempo
Expect mistakes First rehearsals always rougher than you expect Scores are riddled with errors
Treat the orchestra according to its type Students = Learning opportunity (more rehearsals involved) Community = Less teaching, more direct rehearsing
Style usually biggest issue - accents/articulations, space
Break it down Rhythmic motor, harmony/counter melody, melody
Send Rehearsal Notes Send throughout dress rehearsals Review before each dress rehearsal as necessary
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The RehearsalTypical Tech/Dress Rehearsal Schedule Sunday: Sitzprobe (afternoon) /Tech of Act 1 (NO ORCHESTRA) Also: first actor mic check Monday: Tech of Act 2 (NO ORCHESTRA) Tuesday: Dress Rehearsal 1 Wednesday: Dress Rehearsal 2 Thursday: Final Dress
BE ORGANIZED Community members appreciate efficient use of time DO NOT WASTE THEIR TIME DO NOT TAKE THEM FOR GRANTEDSweeney Todd Tech Week Guide Page of 3 5
TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 2016
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 2016
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tech Notes
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM BREAK
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Tech Notes
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM BREAK
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Stage PrepMic check, costumes and make-up
CAST AND CREW CALLED
7:30 PM -10:30 PM DRESS REHEARSAL #1
10;30 PM - 11:00 PM PRODUCTION NOTES CAST AND CREW CALLED
11:00 PM END OF DAY
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tech Notes
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM BREAK
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Tech Notes
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM BREAK
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Stage PrepMic check, costumes and make-up
CAST, CREW CALLED
7:30 PM -10:30 PM DRESS REHEARSAL #2
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM PRODUCTION NOTES CAST AND CREW CALLED
11:00 PM END OF DAY
Sweeney Todd in Concert, Tech Week Schedule, City Circle Acting Company
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Conducting: Back to the BasicsConducting is... ... a series of preparations ... a game of opposites Are you moving? Stop moving. Are you stopped? Move. Is your pattern big? Be small. Is your pattern small? Get big.
“What can I do, through gesture, to help the ensemble?”“Can I do anything that would be clearer? Ask the musicians!
Ability to start/stop ensemble Actions must have defined beginning/ending point Preps & Releases Prep beats must come from a place of stillness
Meters/Patterns Avoid vertical rebounds Conducting 3 in 1
Transitions Rules for Subdividing 1) Don’t. 2) Only if one of the following conditions is met: a. Rate of Change is unpredictable b. Tempo is too slow to do so otherwise Tempo Changes Weight/increase size to ritard Lightness/smaller size to accel Fermatas Continuous Timed Release Release with caesura Fermata with fractional re-start
Gesture of Syncopation (GOS) Helpful for accents and entrances Full stop the beat prior (Place of Stillness) The intensity of the GOS is proportional to the proximity of the entrance. The sooner the entrance, the more intense the GOS must be.
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Conducting: Back to the Basics
Vamps & Safeties Safeties: Use only if needed Vamps: Intended to be used, set change, staging, etc. Predetermined number of times vs. Open Use gesture to navigate!
Recitative Show ALL beats Stops & Preps
& 44 œ œ œ œU œ œ ˙
& œ œ œ œU , œ œ ˙
& œ œ œ œU " œ œ ˙
& œ œ œU œ œ œ œ ˙
&9
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
&22
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
&26
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
&30
∑ ∑
Score
Continuous
Timed-release
Release with caesura
Release with a fractional re-entrance
Fermatas
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SweeneyTodd
INCONCERT
OrchestraRehearsalScheduleOrchestraRehearsalsThefollowingrehearsalswillbeheldattheReginaCatholicInter-ParishEducationalCenter(Thanks,TomNelson!)Address:2150RochesterAvenue,IowaCity,IA52245.EnterthroughDoor#10,closesttoDan’sShortstop.Bandroomisdownthathall,left,thenthedoubledoorsonyourleftlabeled“bandroom.”Sunday,Jan17 1p-4p ActI–orchestraonlySunday,Jan24 1p-4p ActII–orchestraonly
• reviewsfromActIasneededSunday,Jan31 1p-4p ActI&II–orchestraonlySunday,Feb7 1p-4:30p ActI&II–orchestraandcast,sitzprobe*Iwillonlyusetheentirerehearsaltimeifneeded.Oncewe’redone,we’redone!DressRehearsalsDressrehearsalsandperformanceswilltakeplaceattheCoralvilleCenterforthePerformingArts,13015thStreet,Coralville.Forthosenewtothecenter,parkinthebackinthelowerleveloftheparkinggarageandenterthroughthebigREDdoortothegreenroom/stageentrance.Tuesday,Feb.9 7pm OrchestraMicCheck 7:30p DressRehearsal#1Wednesday,Feb.10 7pm OrchestraSpotCheck 7:30p DressRehearsal#2Thursday,Feb.11 7pm OrchestraSpotCheck 7:30p FinalDressRehearsalBecauseofthelimitedrehearsalschedule,CityCirclehasdecidedNOTtodoaninviteddressonThursdayevening.Performances–pleasearrive15-20minutesbeforecurtainFriday,Feb.12 7:30pCurtainSaturday,Feb.13 7:30pCurtainSunday,Feb.14 2:00pCurtain
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Peter Pan, Nolte Dance Academy, August 2015
Cinderella, Nolte Dance Academy, August 2014
Guys & Dolls, New Minowa Players, June 2010
