Baton Basics Communicating Music through Gestures

Baton Basics offers a unique approach to teaching conducting based upon the concept of conveying weight, resistance, and energy in order to communicate a better concept of musical sound to the musicians. Featuring many detailed drawings and access to over 60 video examples on the companion website, Baton Basics guides conductors away from simply marking beat patterns, and towards a nuanced and phrased musicality that can be communicated to a group of musicians. Baton Basics is a key foundational text for the student and experienced conductor alike, and is a must read for anyone interested in improving and expanding their vocabulary of conducting gestures.

Diane Wittry has conducted orchestras throughout the United States and Europe and is known for her engaging audience rapport and her innovative concert programming. She is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Allentown Symphony, PA. She is also the author of the book Beyond the Baton about artistic leadership for conductors of regional orchestras. Diane Wittry is recognized international as a conducting teacher through the conducting workshops and seminars she has taught in the United States, Bulgaria, and Ukraine.