Course Proposal

Course Number: Music 170A

Course Title: Lab Orchestra
Meeting Time: Once per week, 3 hours (e.g. M 7-10P)
Meeting Location: 320 Hertz
Instructor: David Milnes
Prerequisites: Music 161A, Music 161B, Music 70, or consent of instructor.
Course Description: The Lab Orchestra is conducted by students of the Orchestral Conducting
program under the supervision of David Milnes, and gives both the student conductors and
student musicians the opportunity to learn major works of orchestral repertoire while working
each week with Professor Milnes and/or special guests. It typically meets weekly on Friday
mornings and performs once each semester. Because participation in Lab is voluntary and
requires a major time commitment beyond regular orchestral studies, members of the orchestra
may be approved to take the course without the prerequisites required of conducting students.
Course Syllabus:
Class Participation: 60%
Concert Participation: 30%
Writing Assignment: 10%
A typical weekly class will include one hour of score study and analysis. The goal at the end of
the semester is for all conductors enrolled to be able to conduct all movements of all pieces on
the concert. Topics of analysis will include advanced Roman numeral harmony, orchestration
techniques, linear/counterpoint analysis, form analysis, twentieth century techniques, etc.
(depending on the work studied). Score study sessions will also discuss history and
historiography of composers and works discussed, as well as efficacy of analysis techniques for
various selections of the repertoire. Readings will be assigned out of course texts. This will
culminate in each student (both conductors and instrumentalists) submitting an analysis of a
single movement or work studied over the course of the semester (e.g. scheme of a sonata form
or Schenkerian graph).
In addition, each class will also have two hours of rehearsal with the orchestra. All rehearsals
will be video recorded for individual student analysis. Classes will alternate weekly between
Professor Milnes giving active lessons on the podium and Professor Milnes observing
independent rehearsal technique. The goal for rehearsals is to both learn and apply practical
rehearsal technique for larger ensembles, as well as prepare the orchestra for the end-ofsemester recital. In addition, while not required for grading purposes of this course, it is
expected for all students to attend all UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra rehearsals and
concerts.
There will be one concert featuring each student conductor, conducting one movement of a
large work or a shorter work each. Works will be chosen from masterpieces of the standard
repertoire, with an emphasis on works commonly seen on conducting auditions. In addition,
based on student interest, there may be individual emphasis placed on operatic or
contemporary literature.

Course materials:
Baton
Scores (works to be determined based on student enrollment and interest)
Anatomy of the Orchestra by Norman Del Mar
The Classical Style by Charles Rosen
Seminal orchestral recordings (to be distributed by Professor Milnes as files on bCourses)
GSI Requirements:
There will be one graduate student instructor (GSI) assigned to the class. The responsibilities of
a Lab Orchestra GSI combine administrative tasks (such as taking attendance and collecting
materials to be graded), as well as presenting historical and analytical backgrounds of works
during certain score study sessions.
Concert Requirements:
Students are expected to be tuned and on stage for designated warm-up times. Concert dress
is identical to requirements of UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra.
For women: all black, with either dresses extending below knees when seated or pants.
For men: tuxedo or black suit with white shirt and black bowtie.
Practice parts will be distributed at the beginning of each semester. Any original parts borrowed
by members of the Lab Orchestra must be returned at the end of the concert.