Conducting and Rehearsal Skills in Preservice Music Education: A Review of the Literature

Preservice music educators are expected to develop a variety of skills throughout their undergraduate program to prepare them for the challenges of classroom instruction. One of the most complex tasks is to learn how to effectively conduct and rehearse large ensembles. Preservice music educators often struggle with conducting gestures, balancing verbal and nonverbal instruction, and error detection. Researchers have explored these and other aspects of conducting and rehearsal skills development and offered suggestions concerning undergraduate music education curricula. The purpose of this review of the literature is to synthesize research related to conducting and rehearsal skills development and offer suggestions for improving preservice music educators’ related skills.