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The International Conductors Institute of the Masterplayers International Music Academy , is an extraordinary organisation in conception and achievement. Absolutely topnoch instruction and advice in the best possible way for aspiring young conductors in a warm, sympathetic human atmosphere. Since 1981 conductors from all over the world have studied with Maestro Richard Schumacher.
The conducting art of Richard Schumacher
The conducting art of Richard Schumacher, as demonstrated in his teaching, focusses not on the mere beating of geometrical figures, but instead on the mystical and emotional components of musical expression.For Schumacher, a visual memorization of the work, to be performed is, counterproductive. More importantly, emotion, character and sonorities of the work must be memorized and completely integrated in the mind, in order for the conductor to give the most appropriate gesture to the orchestra. The right gesture must be combined with the attitude, charisma, right breathing and mime, to achieve the most expressive results. It should be evident that this quality and intensity of preparation makes the highest demands on the conductor, however, this gives him or her the greatest authority before the orchestra, the most expeditious results in rehearsal, and the greatest possibility to realize his interpretatives ideas.
For many years Maestro Schumacher has been explaining these principles in mastercourses worldwide. As words spreads of his impressive results,-conductors come from all over the world to study with him.
Each class has a maximum of ten active participants, to preserve the intensity of the experience, but listeners are eventually allowed. The first part of each course proceeds without orchestra and without piano. Maestro Schumacher refuses to use piano because this instrument can not give the conductor the sustained sonority, the phrasing, the true expression of real orchestra. Each student conducts a line or a phrase of music without score before the Maestro while the other students observe in absolute silence. It is an intense collaboration of like minds in complete silence, as each imagines to himself the music. This creates an almost mystical empathy among the participants, which intensifies the learning experience. Following this intense period of empathetic and collaborative concentration by all, there is a period of constructive discussion and analysis. The goal: each participant realizes his unique being as his instrument of expression; his body is a soundboard through which he imagines in silence the sonority of a perfect professional orchestra. Therefore he is able to express perfectly what he wants.
This intense silent process, without ensemble, guarantees on the one hand, a close and expansive ambience for affirmation, progress and criticism. On the other hand, it creates a constantly moving horizon fort he student, without violating his intrinsic conception of music. This intensity builds until the last few days of the class, when the orchestra is added, and the each student can then explore, in sound, this evolved and highly expressive technique of conducting.- Judith Musafia, San Luis Obispo Telegram Tribune, California USA
One can learn charismatic power. Schumacher’s goal is authoritarian and imperative: the conductor must play on his orchestra as a pianist on his piano. He must know exactly what he wants and he must convey to each musician that he or she is an instrument of the conductor’s will. Sitting in Schumacher’s classes, one hears an absolute silence that is surprising. The developing despots conduct a perfect imaginary orchestra, without a brutal piano to disturb their imagining. Each conductor must find and develop within his imagination his own conception of sound: in consequence, discussions arise between the maestro and the students about the meaning and the relationship of these sounds required by the score.. Mathis Huber, Kleine Zeitung, Austria
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