Book excerpt: A primer of the basic principles required for excellence in Choral Conducting. Author Donald Brinegar along with Primer editor Dr. William Belan and contributors Dr. Christopher Gravis, Dr. Joseph Schubert, and Dr. John St. Marie examine seven (7) principles of learning to be a choral conductor. Here is what the Professionals are saying-"This text (Conducting Primer) should be a requirement for all graduate conducting students. The questions presented in the text provide the reader an opportunity to self-assess and reflect upon their current approach to scores, rehearsal technique and podium time."--Nicholle Andrews, Director of Choral Studies, University of Redlands. "One might be tempted to say what else can be said about conducting that hasn't already been explored ad nauseam? On the contrary, Donald Brinegar and his fellow contributors have written a consequential resource that, in my opinion, will greatly influence the philosophy and application of undergraduate and graduate conducting curricula for many generations to come. But don't be fooled, this resource is not just for the university conducting classroom. The truth is, if you find yourself responsible for leading an ensemble, you will greatly benefit from the wealth found in Don's seven principles."--Michael Murphy, Stephen F. Austin State University "In Conducting Primer: Seven Principles of Choral Conducting, Donald Brinegar has coalesced several of the most important concepts pertaining to conducting pedagogy in one beautiful source. The guidebook is an absolute must for serious students and teachers of conducting. I absolutely would buy this book if only for the information held within Principle 7: Space and Time - -Fermatas. Nowhere in the conducting pedagogy literature is such a concise yet impactful collection of thoughts and applied techniques pertaining to the enigmatic musical idea of the fermata."--James Bass, University of California, Los Angeles. "In my first choral seminar class with Donald Brinegar, in the Three-Summer MM in Choral Conducting Program at Cal State LA, he finished his initial lecture and asked the class, " Questions?, Comments?, Suggestions?, Epiphanies?" In this book, Professor Brinegar leads the reader through a refreshing process for score study, preparation, and gesture. When a conductor begins to study a score they come to the score with questions or asking questions. Those questions guide the study until comments are stated, potentially argued or countered, or found true. Through questions and comments, the score begins to suggest context and meaning, and an audiation is forming. Then, the conductor arrives at epiphanies of context and meaning through audiation, allowing for all musical elements to be accounted for and seen in one's conducting gestures. This book is a significant contribution to choral conducting and pedagogy; It will encourage its readers to explore all musical elements at a depth that opens up audiation, imagination, musicianship, and gesture."--Alan Davis, Music Educator "Finally, the book you didn't know you have been waiting for! In Conducting Primer: Seven Principles of Choral Conducting, the brilliant professor Donald Brinegar and his colleagues unpack the 'big ideas' of choral conducting that we all should be eager to digest. The principles of this text are essential for any self-respecting conductor who wishes to put musical gestures before physical gestures, musicianship before conducting, and art and others before the self."--Davy Chinn, Director, Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale"Donald Brinegar and his colleagues at CSULA, in Conducting Primer, rattle traditional assumptions and conducting methodologies, and through seven laser-sharp principles, creates THE most comprehensive book/study on this subject available to date. Required reading for the serious conductor.-- Z. Randall Stroope, Regent's Professor and Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Chair, Oklahoma State University.