Muhamad Yusri

Basic to Advanced Conducting Technique

When you read, you begin with? A, B, C. When you conduct, you begin with proper baton hold and basic conducting patterns. The baton is an extension of your hand and whatever your brain tells your hand to do will affect the way you move your baton. It’s all connected. But what does your brain say? This is the advanced part of conducting. The brain sends messages to the hands after having understood what is the desire and message of the composers. This part take years to fine tune but for some, it is easier than others. Musicians can tell straight away if a conductor is a beginner or someone with much experience.

So what is WYCW all about?

It is an opportunity for beginners and mid to advanced conductors to participate in an exchange of musical ideas and knowledge to enhance their own individual skills under guidance from another conductor or conductors who provide information on baton technique and different musical ideas and perspectives.

Singapore does not have many opportunities for young and amateur conductors to participate in a conducting workshop. In recent years, we have had conducting masterclasses with Maestro Douglas Bostock and Professor Rodney Winther and I recently took part in a conducting masterclass with Maestro Tsung Yeh, hosted by the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra. I truly enjoyed the learning through practice and observations. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate.

The WYCW is my little contribution to fuel the aspirations of young and amateur conductors here in Singapore and the region. Hosted by the Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS), we are able to keep cost low as the opportunity also provide RPWS with the opportunity to learn and engage in musical learning and contribute to the musical growth of musical talents.

This year, WYCW is honoured to have a guest conducting tutor from Thailand to join us. He is bringing with him his arrangements and compositions of some Thai traditional music and years of experience conducting wind bands and symphony orchestras. A friend of 20 years, COL Prateep is a gem of a musical talent and he is excited to share his knowledge and joy of music with this year’s participants.

For more information on this year’s edition and how to register for the course, please click here: https://goo.gl/Rp8mXS