The Beat Stops Here

In The Beat Stops Here: Lessons on and off the Podium for Today''s Conductor master conductor Mark Gibson addresses the technique of conducting as an extension of intimate knowledge of the score to the hands and arms. He employs a variety of everyday activities and motions (brushing the dog Tinkerbelle the door knob) to describe the physical aspects of the role. He advocates a comprehensive detailed approach to score study addressing major works bar-by-bar in terms of both musical analysis and conducting method. Finally Gibson explores the various roles a conductor plays as a teacher a scholar and a member of the musical community. His writing is highly focused with an occasionally tongue-in-cheek discussing everything from motivic development in Brahms to how to hold a knife and fork in public. In short The Beat Stops Here is a compendium of style and substance in the real world of today''s conductor.