By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

Dr. J. Robert Gaddis, professor of music at Campbellsville University, has published a new ebook titled "Artistic Conducting Through Sequential Skill Development."

The book is a textbook for beginning or advanced conductors of choirs, bands and orchestras. It is available for Apple iPads, Apple computers, Amazon Kindle readers and Barnes and Noble Nook readers.  The book is linked to these suppliers from Gaddis' webpage at  www.jrobertgaddis.com. 

The textbook takes advantage of today's technology with instructional videos demonstrating key gestures (Apple iBook edition), photo galleries, figure illustrations and practice musical notations, specifically written for the topical exercises that are easily played on piano by even the most inexperienced players or on various instruments in the classroom.  For novice conductors or for the expert wishing to have a resource for teaching, the book contains practical content developed from a life-long pursuit of excellence in the art and craft of con�ducting.

The book was written as a promise to Elizabeth A.H. Green, professor emeritus in music at the University of Michigan, who said about the book: "What a great contribution to the teaching profession! Its analysis of the stages of development in acquiring a fine conducting technique is superb! Every teacher (and student) should be made conscious of its contents."

Gaddis began the project while on sabbatical in 1989, and it was recently finished while on sabbatical in fall 2013.

He has been a professor at Campbellsville University since 1982. He was named as Distinguished Professor at Campbellsville University in 1999. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Kentucky Music Educators Association in 2003.

He also has been listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education and Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

He has taught applied conducting, conducting classes, conducting seminars and clinics in Brazil, Taiwan and South Korea.

Gaddis was the guest conductor of the Busan (Korea) Symphony Orchestra in June 2005 and has served as guest conductor of various honors bands and choirs in Kentucky. He was recently guest conductor of the Tainan University of Technology Symphonic Winds in Tainan, Taiwan and guest conductor of the International Youth Music Festival in Tainan, Taiwan.

Gaddis has also toured with various ensembles in Europe, Japan, South Korea and Brazil. 

He plans to retire from teaching in June 2015. This academic year is his 41st year of teaching and his 32nd year at Campbellsville University. 

"I want to thank all my students who through the years have taught me new ideas, concepts, techniques and people skills in my attempts to teach them musical skills and life skills. It has been an honor to be your teacher. There is no better reward in life than to touch so many lives as a teacher."

Gaddis can be reached at [email protected] or (270) 789-5269.