My HS son is interested in conducting. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any conducting opportunities or study programs for HS students in our area (Chicago). He is a talented cellist but not interested in cello performance (he knows he is not willing to put in the time on the cello as he has other interests.) He also composes and really loves music theory and has perfect pitch. If conducting is something he would like to pursue, are there any non-conservatory programs that offer a track for this? He does not want to go to a conservatory like Julliard, Colburn, Curtis, etc., but wants something more like Northwestern or UofMichigan. Thank you!
Most conducting programs are at the graduate level. I would recommend performance, but if that’s not his focus, then perhaps composition, music ed, or a more general BA in Music (e.g. Michigan offers a BA in Music Theory, NW has BM in Music Studies or BA in Music)
1 Like
Music Institute of Chicago can provide conducting lessons for high school students. And if they do really well, sometimes they get to conduct the Academy chamber orchestra in rehearsal.
The only undergrad conducting program I know about is Oberlin, though it is kind of a hybrid program and I think you end up with master’s at the end of it.
Most music schools allow (or even require in some cases) undergraduates to take conducting classes.
I would look for a program that will allow him to have the freedom to mix and match his musical interests. It’s very easy to do a combined music theory and composition program in a lot of places, but adding the conducting part will require a school with some flexibility.
1 Like
My son (also a cellist, and a singer) got a bunch of conducting experience in the music education program at UNT. He was a choral music ed major. They have a choir composed of all the choral music ed majors that acts as a conductor’s chorus for their conducting practice. My son took his conducting classes as soon as he could fit them in and was able to conduct the UpFront choir every semester after that.
UNT also offers instrumental and choral conducting workshops for teachers every summer. They also have an excellent composition program if that’s of interest.
Nearly all conducting programs are graduate level, and at least at UNT, the grad conducting students generally have years of teaching or other experience before being admitted.
Look at music ed programs and course catalogs at his schools of interest and see what sort of conducting classes are available, and then ask questions of the music departments. We did not know the UpFront choir existed at UNT until freshman orientation, when my son was upset to discover he had to sing in this choir, which was extracurricular and required-no course credit. It ended up being one of his favorite undergrad experiences.
1 Like