This session explores practical strategies that clarify conducting gestures and strengthen visual communication, while inspiring greater connection with the ensemble. Using lecture, demonstration, and audience participation, the clinician will provide approaches to conducting that encourage listening, ensemble precision, and assessment through non-verbal cues. Other topics covered in this session include: conducting during the “warm-up” period, using beat placement to influence time, and methods for watching conducting videos to self-evaluate. Attendees will learn techniques that can be applied in their very next rehearsal.
Target Audience
High School Band Directors
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
John Zarco
University of Texas at San Antonio
John Zarco is Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His responsibilities have included conducting the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and University Band, in addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, wind literature, and music education.
Prior to his appointment at UTSA, Dr. Zarco served as Director of Bands at Millersville University in Pennsylvania and as a public school instrumental music teacher at Saratoga High School, in Saratoga, California. He received a D.M.A. in conducting from the University of Minnesota as well as B.M. and M.M. degrees from California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Zarco was recognized with distinguished membership as a “Friend of the Arts” by Sigma Alpha Iota and has been awarded honorary memberships in the national organizations of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.