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Students
of the Saito Conducting method develop extraordinary
technique which allows them to express their musical
ideas with clarity and artistry. As a student in Germany
and principal cellist of the NHK orchestra Hideo Saito
took the opportunity to analyze the gestures used
by the most outstanding European conductors. The resulting
method has developed during the past fifty years at
the Toho Gakuen School of Music whose alumni include
Seiji Ozawa and Kazuyoshi Akiyama.
The method uses compositions which are rich with conducting
challenges. From the first lesson, students learn
how the motion of their arm elicits sounds. Training
of the arm begins with a swinging motion to improve
precision and to indicate internal rhythms and subdivision.
Students are taught to make "Into-point"
and "From-point" motions to expand their
technical and expressive capabilities. Training of
the arm is always accomplished in a musical context.
Demonstrations and descriptions facilitate and accelerate
technical development.
The method provides a comprehensive study of all major
aspects of conducting as a foundation for further
study. Students are challenged to express their own
interpretations and empowered to apply gestural concepts
to new music. Students learn how to make the eight
types of gestures and how to choose those which will
best express their ideas.
Students receive group and individual instruction
from Wayne Toews. The students follow a detailed course
of study, based upon the Saito Conducting method textbook,
and each is given a block of time to work with the
teacher. Students also have the opportunity to observe
during the lessons of other students. During the lessons,
students conduct duo pianists who act as the "ensemble"
and who respond accurately and sensitively to the
conductor's gestures.
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Saito
conducting students learn by doing, by observing
and by responding. The workshop is best suited to
those musicians who have advanced musical training
especially in theory, ear training and style.
Video
recordings will be made of each participant and
copies will be given to participants on request.
I'm
pleased to offer this opportunity for conductors
to develop gestural excellence. Thirty years of
study, practice and teaching of the method means
that I am both effective and efficient in instructing
and helping students. More than 70 conductors have
already benefited from my instruction. The workshop
is designed for musicians who have excellent listening,
music reading and interpretive abilities and who
have a keen desire to develop or to improve their
gestural skills. It is not necessary for the participants
to have studied conducting.
instructed
by Wayne Toews
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for course information
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for information about the University of Saskatchewan
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for information about Saskatoon
For
further information contact:
Wayne Toews
1610
Morgan Avenue,
Saskatoon,
SK.,
Canada,
S7H 2S1
Telephone:
(306) 373-6408
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