In The Beat Stops Here: Lessons on and off the Podium for Today's Conductor , master conductor Mark Gibson addresses the technique of conducting as an extension of intimate knowledge of the score to the hands and arms. He employs a variety of everyday activities and motions (brushing the dog, Tinkerbelle, the "door knob") to describe the physical aspects of the role. He advocates a comprehensive, detailed approach to score study, addressing major works bar-by-bar in terms of both musical analysis and conducting method. Finally, Gibson explores the various roles a conductor plays, as a teacher, a scholar and a member of the musical community. His writing is highly focused, with an occasionally tongue-in-cheek, discussing everything from motivic development in Brahms to how to hold a knife and fork in public. In short, The Beat Stops Here is a compendium of style and substance in the real world of today's conductor. "Filled with fabulous imagery, an insightful book from a master teacher!" -- Neil Varon, Professor of Conducting, at the Eastman School of Music Director of Orchestral Studies at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Mark Gibson enjoys a teaching and conducting career that spans four decades and three continents. Among his former students are many of today's up and coming maestros, including Xian Zhang, Tung-Chieh Chuang, Annunziata Tomaro and Olivier Ochanine. Mr. Gibson is a native of New Jersey.