As a fundamental component of music making, expression should be taught
during the beginning stages of conducting study. Most authors note a
problem in teaching conducting students to be expressive, yet few
address teaching the domains of expression until technical issues such
as basic techniques of gesture have been learned. This document
recommends infusing expression into the gesture at the beginning stages
of conducting. To achieve this, the theories of Rudolph Laban are
examined as a means to assist the new student to learn expressive
conducting. In addition, a handbook for first-semester conducting
students is presented using those movement theories. This handbook is
designed to accompany The Modern Conductor, seventh edition, by
Elizabeth A. H. Green, and uses examples from the Norton Anthology of
Western Music, fourth edition.