ABSTRACT
To return to basic principles: just as swimmers need to feel comfortable in the water, so will choral conductors in the conducting situation - rehearsal and performance. Body language gives such a lot of information that is not and cannot be put into words. Those involved in teaching will know how to read a student's attitude, often by means other than the spoken word. Despite the importance for a conductor to understand the many elements that go into good conducting, many people who conduct, whether in churches, schools, or in the wider community, have had no formal training in conducting. Conductors also have the capacity, however, to damage people physically, psychologically, and emotionally. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book derives essentially from practice, the author's own and others: reflection on successes and failures, the examination of strategies for dealing with particular problems, trial and error.
