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The Saito conducting
method was developed by Hideo
Saito after he analysed the
gestures of outstanding conductors in
Europe and Japan in the 1920s and 30s.
Saito was a cellist who
studied in Germany where he observed the
outstanding conductors of that time. He
became principal cellist of the new NHK
orchestra under founding conductor Joseph
Rosenstock. The new orchestra was
conducted by famous guest conductors
from all over the world. Saito was left
wondering why it was easier to follow
and make music with some of the
conductors and more difficult with
others.
Rosenstock, who had
admirable technique, became Saito's
conducting teacher. Saito came to
understand the ways by which gestures
elicit and shape music.
Saito was one of the
founders of the Toho Gakuen School of
Music where he taught the method. Morihiro
Okabe, who was in the first
conducting class, became Saito's
teaching assistant and helped to create
a textbook from Saito's teaching notes.
Seiji Ozawa and Kazuyoshi
Akiyama were early graduates of
the conducting program. The method has
been refined by Messrs. Okabe and
Akiyama. The original text was
translated into English by Fumihiko
Torigai and edited to include
Okabe's revisions by Wayne
Toews. It was published
in Tokyo in 1988.
After first studying
the method in 1974 in Courtenay, B.C. Wayne
Toews traveled to Tokyo in 1983 to
study with Morihiro Okabe. Toews used
Saito's method in his daily work for
more than 40 years and taught it at
national and international conventions,
in university classes and to private
students. He enjoys the reputation as a
first rate musician and teacher. He has
broad experience with orchestras,
choirs, wind ensembles and jazz groups.
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This animation
demonstrates a fundamental gesture in
the Saito method called
Shakui (Shah-kwee).
Notice how this
swinging motion shows a precise beat
point making each beat clear and
allowing each to be anticipated with
ease. It is an example of an into-point
motion. It is made by controlling
the acceleration and deceleration of the
arm. This gesture can be varied to show
different articulations, timbres,
subdivisions, and dynamics. In
combination with from-point motions it
provides conductors with the means to
shape musical phrases.
Click here
to get the details about the workshops
for orchestral, choral and band
conductors. The annual workshops that
began in 2006 have been outstanding
successes. Read HERE.
Join others who want to communicate
clearly and musically.
Empower
your gestures with clarity and
artistry.
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