Conducting
(and Leading!)
with Empathy
Jason Fettig
The dynamic between a conductor and ensemble—and the leader and led— is one of the most important aspects of the rehearsal and performance process. And it is also one of the most fragile and difficult to establish and maintain! This masterclass will explore techniques and experimentation in leadership, communication, and collaboration, and their inherent connection to our physical gestures and the effectiveness of our conducting.
Conducting inspired by empathy can help deepen your relationship with your students and colleagues and empower them to be more vulnerable and trusting with each other. Along the way, this ethos has the potential to supercharge the music-making experience for both conductor and each player in the ensemble.  Jason shares some perspective on this process through his unique career working with the professionals of “The President’s Own” for a quarter century and now at one of the top collegiate music schools in the nation.
Topics:
- The Venn Diagram between we want (need) from the conducting experience and what the musicians want (need) from their participation
- Matching communication with gesture/presence
- Finding vulnerability and fostering experimentation
- Balancing clarity and inspiration in your gesture
- Exploring ensemble empowerment
- Connecting the approach to leadership on and off the podium
Meet Your Professor
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Jason K. Fettig is the current Director of University Bands at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He leads all aspects of the historic band program, conducts the flagship Symphony Band and directs the comprehensive graduate program in wind conducting. Prior to joining the faculty at UofM, Fettig was the 28th Director of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington, DC, where he served as Music Advisor to three U.S. Presidents. He conducted the inaugurations of Presidents Donald Trump and Joseph Biden and the State Funeral of President George H.W. Bush. He has appeared in concert performances in 49 states and abroad at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, Chicago Symphony Center and the Kennedy Center, and live performances under his baton are frequently heard on National Public Radio. While leading the Marine Band, Fettig took the ensemble to international festivals in Japan, the Czech Republic, Austria, and The Netherlands, and spearheaded several internationally recognized programs and projects including ten produced albums, and the re-recording of the complete marches of John Philip Sousa, accompanied by free publicly available performance editions. He has commissioned and/or conducted the world premieres of more than 50 works for winds and has collaborated with world class artists ranging from pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and violinist Joshua Bell, to pop superstars Gloria Estafan and Lady Gaga.
Throughout his career, Fettig has been deeply involved in music education, and has served as a clinician or visiting instructor at over 40 colleges and universities and countless secondary schools across the nation. He implemented several educational resources through the Marine Band, including the popular "Digital Rehearsal Hall" series. Fettig currently serves as the President of the National Band Association and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including membership in the American Bandmasters Association, the 2023 Medal of Honor from the Midwest Clinic, a New York Emmy Award, and an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from his alma mater, UMass.  Â