Note-Taking as Assistant Conductor

A shorty as an audience member approached me after a recent performance about my baton grip. How do you hold your baton? All About Chaowen Ting 

In today's episode, I spoke with Dr. Rachel Kim, the current Director of Education and Social Impact at the Oakland Symphony and Co-founder and pianist for the Curium Trio.I was a part of Rachel's study group for her dissertation on Asian American Women in Classical Music Leadership for her Ph.D. at Teacher College, Columbia University. Her article (derived from the dissertation) on AAW leadership just came out in Journal of Transformative Learning. This is a heavy loaded conversation on the challenges faced by minorities in the classical music field, but one that's long overdue! All About Chaowen Ting 

All About Chaowen Ting 

Joshua Palkki (he/him) is Associate Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where he leads the Chamber Choir and Glee Club and Founding Artistic Director of We Resound, a new LGBTQA and ally youth chorus in Atlanta. He is the co-author of Honoring Trans and Gender-Expansive Students in Music Education (Oxford University Press, 2021).In today's episode, we discussed Josh's background, teaching and conducting experiences with choirs, and his research in LGBTQA choral experiences.Learn more about Josh at joshpalkki.com or follow him @drpalkkimusicAll About Chaowen Ting 

In today's episode, I will be sharing how I take notes as an assistant conductor when working for an ensemble - both instrumental or vocal, or in an opera production.RELATED EPISODES - check them out if you haven't already!Season 1: LIVE: Assistant Conductor Positions with Michelle Di Russo and Michelle RofranoSeason 3: Ask Me Anything with Orchestra Conductors [panel discussion in 2024]𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹, 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence & former Assistant Conductor, Memphis Symphony𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼, Dudamel Fellow, LA Philharmonic; Associate Conductor, North Carolina Symphony𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮, Assistant Conductor & Diversity Fellow, Buffalo Philharmonic𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗫𝗶𝗮, Associate Conductor, Seattle SymphonyAll About Chaowen Ting 

Dana Fonteneau is a former concert cellist and now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, performance consultant, and founder of WholeHearted Musician™ and Dana Fonteneau Consulting, LLC. I worked with Dana during 2023-24 when she was one of my coaches. She helped me gain clarity of my WHY, who I am as an artist, and learning how mind and body connects.To learn more about Dana's work, visit her website at danafonteneau.com. You can also read her book It’s Not (JUST) About the Gig: A Musician’s Guide to Creating the Mindset Which Leads to Career Success AND Fulfillment which is available on AMAZON, or Book a Complimentary & Confidential Discovery Session with her.All About Chaowen Ting 

In today's episode, I will be answering a question posted on instagram - choral vs orchestral conducting.The essence of all conducting is to convey your understanding of the music to influence and support the musicians' music-making.When we have different ensembles, it's important to look at different needs of choral singers, and to adjust the height of your conducting gestures, and to show phrasing and support breathing.All About Chaowen Ting 

Dr. Marcus Norris is a composer and conductor, who has orchestrate several songs for Beyoncé's 2023 Dubai return to live performance and served as Music Director for Tina Knowles-Lawson's 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Marcus founded South Side Symphony in 2020, which he describes as "like if Quincy Jones grew up on 90s R&B and Rap." I had the privelege to conduct Marcus' opera Forsyth County is Flooding (with the Joy of Lake Lanier) after he won the 96 Hour Opera Project organized by the Atlanta Opera. It's a great conversation in which we spoke about Marcus' musical journey, new project with South Side Symphony, and entrepreneurship.Learn more about Marcus and his music, visit www.MarcusNorris.com and www.SouthSideSymphony.org or @MarcusNorris on IG.Watch the world premiere of Marcus' opera Forsyth County is Flooding on Atlanta Opera Streaming Site with a free account, production conducted by Chaowen Ting.All About Chaowen Ting 

Welcome back to Season 4 of the Conductor's Podcast. You will hear interviews with some great people whom I think are really really cool, and also solo episodes with me answering questions about conducting study, rehearsal, or the industry. Happy listening!All About Chaowen Ting 

Do you also use recordings to help your score study process? Today I am going to share a few things that I do with recordings!1. See the many interpretational possibilities regarding tempi, balance, or conducting patterns.2. Check what I might have missed in your score study (dynamics, chord change, important lines, or bringing out a different layer)3. Memory check when memorizing the score4. Know what might need rehearsals5. Help visualize the score6. The choreography of conducting gestures,7. Bowings consultanceAll About Chaowen Ting