VOICE STUDIO SYLLABUS AND APPLIED LESSON POLICIES
Jamestown College Music Department
Fall 2008
Dr. Richard Walentine
Phone: 2026
rwalenti@jc.edu
Office Hours as posted: Reiland Fine Arts Center 131
Objectives
Students will learn about and discover techniques for:
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Breath Management
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Tone Production
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Diction
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Communication
These four objective areas will occupy the student for his/her entire college career and beyond. It is expected that the student will gain a greater breadth and depth of these areas each semester of study. It is impossible, however, to quantify exactly how much growth will occur. Thus, the student should expect that there will always be forward progress and that the measurement of that progress will come from self-assessment and a formal performance assessment.
Secondary Objectives
Students will gain knowledge and insight about:
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Music performed in the studio, i.e. composer, poet, musical and poetic structure
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Other singers and their performances
It is incumbent on the singer to realize that he/she is responsible for understanding a song in its entirety and that such an understanding informs a performance of the piece. Thus the student will be expected to study and research each piece they learn. It is also important for a singer to listen to other singers who have successfully mastered those skills which are being studied. Students will be required to attend recitals (both student and professional) and to listen to recordings of singers.
Texts/Music
You must purchase music for lesson use. See the chart (Voice Studio Repertoire Standards and Guidelines) at the end of the syllabus for what music you are to purchase each semester. The best online source for music I have found is TIS Music: http://www.tismusic.com. Please let me know if there is something you need and it is not there. An optional text to help you in with written assignments is: A Short Guide to Writing About Music by Jonathon Bellman which is available in the bookstore.
Studio Policies
Lesson Attendance
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The lesson time will be considered a regular weekly appointment between the student and the instructor.
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I must be notified in advance of the lesson time if an absence is to be considered as excused. An excused absence is the result of illness or certain college designated activities.
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Unexcused absences will lower your final grade. Unexcused absences will result in the student receiving a grade of “F” for that week’s work. After three unexcused absences, the student will be asked to drop lessons for that semester.
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I will make up lessons as time and scheduling permits.
Music Performance Seminar (Mus 100)
This class serves as a laboratory for your applied lesson. Although it is 0 credits, it carries a pass/fail grade and attendance (or non-attendance) will affect your studio grade. You must perform at least TWICE per semester. - if you do not, your lesson grade will be lowered by one letter grade. If you miss Mus 100 more than three (3) times, your applied lesson grade will be lowered by one letter grade.
Recital Attendance
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You must attend live performances in accord with the Music Department policy issued at the beginning of each semester.
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Failure to attend the required number of performances will result in the lowering of your applied lesson grade by one letter grade.
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A record of recital attendance will be maintained by each applied teacher. In order to receive credit for a recital attendance, YOU MUST TURN IN A SIGNED PROGRAM (SEVERAL OF YOU MAY PUT YOUR NAMES ON THE SAME PROGRAM IF IT IS MORE CONVENIENT) IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR ATTENDANCE. DO NOT RELY ON SOMEONE "TAKING ATTENDANCE" AT THE EVENT. THIS APPLIES TO ALL NON-JAMESTOWN COLLEGE EVENTS AS WELL. The number of recitals you must attend will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
Publicity for student recitals and other department events will be on display throughout the music department.
You will also receive a schedule for the semester indicating those events for which you may receive credit.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE WITH LITTLE NOTICE.
Lesson Recording
Your lesson will be digitally recorded each week. Recordings will be placed in a folder with your name in my own L Drive folder (rwalenti). You may then burn it to a CD or mp3 players. Lesson files will be deleted every 3 weeks.
Practicing - PLEASE NOTE I WILL BE UPDATING AND EXPANDING THIS SECTION THROUGHOUT THIS SEMESTER
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You will be expected to invest a sufficient amount of practice time to master each assignment.
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You may be assigned a student pianist to assist you and you may be able to take advantage of the Smart Music Program located in the Practice Room 135.
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During your practice sessions you should accomplish the following kinds of things:
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learning the score (notes, rhythms, etc.)
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IPA of the text
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translation of the text
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fact finding (composer, poet, style period, etc.)
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anything else that facilitate a musically productive lesson.
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For a detailed overview of how to learn a song see Song Preparation
NB: You will benefit more from the quality of your preparation than from its quantity.
Repertoire
I will select most of the literature and number of pieces to be studied in accord with normal college-level repertoire standards. Your input is always welcome, but final decision for repertoire will be my responsibility.
When I assign specific materials to be read, learned and/or practiced for the next lesson, you will be expected to complete those assignments by the next lesson time.
Assignments and Exams
Repertoire Profiles
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Each VOICE MAJOR will fill out a song profile for each song assigned (VOICE MINORS will only fill out 2 each semester). You’ll need to do some research for these - so plan ahead (not everything can be found on the web) - but in the long run you will be far more informed about what you are singing. If you need help, just ask!!!!! See Assignment and Due Date Sheet for more information and due dates.
Listening
I am going to do something entirely new with listening this semester. See Assignment and Due Date Sheet for more information and due dates.
Mid-term Exam
Half of your learning/memorization requirement must be completed by midterm week. In addition, all song profiles for the semester are due by your midterm lesson. Your progress will be assessed at your midterm lesson.
Final Exam
This is also known as a “jury.” You will perform at least one and probably more of your memorized pieces. You may also be engaged in discussion about your piece by the faculty. Refer to the Voice Studio Repertoire Standards and Guidelines to see how many songs you must memorize each semester.
Assignment Chart (who has to do what)
Non-majors and minors do not have to do quite what majors do - so to keep track, here is a handy-dandy chart.
|
|
Majors |
Minors |
Non-Majors |
|
Recital Attendance |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Song Profiles |
yes: 1 for each song |
yes: at least 2 /semester |
yes: 1 /semester |
|
Mid-Term |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Final Jury |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Grading
Your final grade will reflect your overall technical improvement and musicianship over the course of a semester. Lessons will count for at least 55% of your overall grade. Your Midterm and Final will count for 20%. The remaining 25% will come from Song Profiles and Listening Assignments.
Voice Studio Repertoire Standards and Guidelines
The number of songs learned and memorized in any given semester may be altered at your teacher’s discretion if you are making significant progress toward a recital or performing a MAJOR role in the Fall Musical.
Click on the TISMUSIC Links or on the picture of the book to take you a website where you may purchase the music.
PLEASE CHECK WITH ME BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANY NEW MUSIC!
Freshman Year
1st Semester
121v(1Cr) You must learn 4 songs and memorize 2
131v(2Cr) You must learn 5 songs and memorize 3
Music to purchase
30 Italian Songs and Arias: Book and CD (medium high voice)
30 Italian Songs and Arias: Book and CD (medium low voice)
First Book of Soprano Solos: Book and 2 CDs (you may also choose to purchase this without CDs)
2nd Semester
122v(1Cr) You must learn 4 songs and memorize 2
132v(2Cr) You must learn 5 songs and memorize 3
The Singer's Musical Theater Anthology Vol. 1 (various voice types)
A great bargain for the number of songs you get. You may purchase it with or without CD accompaniments.
The book alone will cost you $18.95, the book with CDs will cost you $37.95
Sophomore Year
1st Semester
221v(1Cr) You must learn 4 songs and memorize 2
231v(2Cr) You must learn 6 songs and memorize 4
Music to purchase
THESE ARE NEGOTIABLE - PLEASE CHECK WITH ME BEFORE YOU BUY!!
Art Song in English (available in Low and High Voice - no accompaniments)
This will cost you $23.70 from TISMusic
The Lieder Anthology (available in High and Low Voice)
A collection of German language songs. CD accompaniments are sold separately. You are not required to buy the CDs.
Books are $18.95. CDs are $14.20
L'Aria Barocca (The Baroque Aria) ed. by John Glen Paton (available in Med High and Med Low - no CD accompaniments)
This will cost you $8.50
OPTIONAL
The Singer's Musical Theater Anthology Vol. 2 or 3 or 4 (various voice types)
A great bargain for the number of songs you get. You may purchase it with or without CD accompaniments.
The book alone will cost you $18.95, the book with CDs will cost you $37.95
Soprano - Vol. 2 Book - Vol. 2 Book w/CD - Vol. 3 Book - Vol. 3 Book w/CD - Vol. 4 Book - Vol.4 Book w/CD
Mezzo - Vol. 2 Book - Vol. 2 Book w/CD - Vol. 3 Book - Vol. 3 Book w/CD - Vol. 4 Book - Vol.4 Book w/CD
Tenor - Vol. 2 Book - Vol. 2 Book w/CD - Vol. 3 Book - Vol. 3 Book w/CD - Vol. 4 Book - Vol.4 Book w/CD
Baritone- Vol. 2 Book - Vol. 2 Book w/CD - Vol. 3 Book - Vol. 3 Book w/CD - Vol. 4 Book - Vol.4 Book w/CD
2nd Semester
222v(1Cr) You must learn 4 songs and memorize 2
232v(2Cr) You must learn 6 songs and memorize 4
Junior Year
321v(1Cr) You must learn 5 songs and memorize 5
331v(2Cr) You must learn 7 songs and memorize 5
Music to purchase
The French Song Anthology (Available in High and Low Voice)
A collection of French language songs. CD accompaniments are sold separately. You are not required to buy the CDs.
Books are $18.95. CDs are $14.20
PLEASE CHECK WITH ME BEFORE ORDERING - WE MAY DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE STUDENT
A Volume of Handel Arias (3 vols. in High and Low Voice - no CD Accompaniment available)
You will only need to get one volume - check with me before you buy!! The books vary in price for some reason but are around $15.
Other music may be assigned in preparation for a recital
2nd Semester
322v(1Cr) You must learn 5 songs and memorize 5
332v(2Cr) You must learn 7 songs and memorize 5
Senior Year
421v(1Cr) You must learn 6 songs and memorize 4
431v(2Cr) You must learn 8 songs and memorize 6
Music to purchase
The Oratorio Anthology (available in various voices - no CD accompaniment available)
A collection of oratorio arias in several languages and from different historical time periods.
This will cost you $18.95
Other music may be assigned in preparation for a recital
2nd Semester
422v(1Cr) You must learn 6 songs and memorize 4
432v(2Cr) You must learn 8 songs and memorize 6