Perhaps it is a cherished dream of any musician to stand at least once in his life at the conductor's stand. However, the path there is long and thorny. Not many of the great acting conductors are ready to undertake to teach anyone else this art, most difficult one of all.

There is only one school in the world that teaches conducting ? a systematic, logical and harmonious course of conducting education founded by prof, llya Musin, an outstanding lecturer who had been nurturing his brainchild in the Leningrad/St. Petersburg Conservatory for over 60 years until it became a "school" in the strictest sense of the word. He has been organizing it during 60 years in the Leningrad/St. Petersburg Conservatory bringing up the whole galaxy of conductors, who enjoy their popularity all over the world. Among prof. Musin disciples are S. Bychkov, V. Chernushenko, 0. Dimitriadi, J. Domarkas, V. Gergiev, A. Katz, K. Simeonov, V. Sinaysky, Yu. Temirkanov and many others.

This book by "Compozitor Publishing House ? Saint-Petersburg" (Rus. for "composer") is an unprecedented edition of a complete course of conducting lessons supplied with a six-hour DVD video featuring prof. Musin explanations. The film was shot during the period of 1997-1999 at the lessons and open classes of llya Alexandrovich in the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The book has been prepared as a digest of prof. Musin's three main works on the subjects during his life and describing the whole process of educating young conductors. The video supplement is priceless as it has prof. Musin himself illustrating almost all of his theoretical theses and practical hints. Particularly interesting will be his presenting various examples of conducting that abound in the film, his analysis of Tchaikovsky's, Beethoven's etc. orchestral works, the explanations of errors and mistakes student-conductors do in the film, and countless hints, clues and advices he generously gives out during any of the lessons shot.
The edition has been designed as a learning tool for student conductors, mature musicians who want to master conducting technique on their own, and for professional conductors desiring to improve their technical level.