Voice Syllabus
Fall 2004
Dr. Daniel Newman
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Phone: 836-4122
Email: newmandr@uwec.edu
Studio Dates
September
24
October
22
November
19
December
Attendance Policy
Within a 14 week semester, if you are earning 1 credit for voice, we will meet only 14 times for lessons. These lessons are only a half hour in length. It is then imperative that you are present for ALL LESSONS! Studios are part of the course requirements and will greatly affect your studies by providing you with opportunities to perform and learn from others performances. I will email a schedule of when you will be expected sing as soon as all of the students are registered.
Field trips are excused absences only if I am told ahead of time. Make up lessons will be scheduled as time permits.
Grading
Grading lessons is difficult at best because I don't want to be subjective. Therefore, attendance, preparation of the music; notes, rhythms, words; obvious rehearsal with your accompanist; having the assigned literature prepared as assigned and memorized and completing the song study guides on time will positively reflect the semester grade. A break down of the grading is as follows:
Repertoire Memorization/Completion 30%
Vocal Jury Performance 20%
Studio Class Performance (3) and attendance 15%
Lesson Preparation (lesson grades) 15%
Song Study Guides 10%
Performance Paper 10%
Performance Paper
One performance paper from a departmental voice recital, faculty or student is required each semester. An example of this form is attached.
Accompanists
You must provide an accompanist for your lessons. That person should have ample opportunity to learn the accompaniment and the two of you must have practiced together before appearing at my door. Your accompanist should be at every other lesson.
Lessons
You will be assigned 6-8 songs in different languages and style periods, which you must complete by the end of the semester. For foreign language songs, I will say the pronunciation of the text for you if you provide a cassette. I also want you to record your lessons and review the previous week's lesson during the week.
153 BME,BA A minimum of 6 songs memorized
153 BMV A minimum of 6 songs memorized
353 BME,BA A minimum of 8 songs memorized including one aria.
353 BMV A minimum of 8 songs memorized including 2 arias.
All 353 students must perform on at least one performance class each
semester or tryout for opera workshop.
It is expected that you practice at least 1 hour every day to prepare for the coming lesson. This time can be in 2 half hour segments, three 20-minute segments or a full hour in one setting. Practicing for two or three hours just prior to your lesson is counter productive in that you will appear at my door vocally tired and be unable to really concentrate well. Repetition is a very important part of the learning process.
I will review what we have covered during the lesson towards the end of the lesson and tell you what I want you to practice for the next time. I expect that you will make notes in pencil on your music for corrections and suggestions that I might have. I welcome questions and discussions about the literature and any related musical ideas.
You should be working on all of the
literature assigned but concentrating on the specific weekly assignments. I
want a completion schedule (dates) as to when you will complete each song. This
schedule is due to me by your lesson time next week.
If you have other concerns for which you believe that I could help you, please request another appointment so that we are able to accomplish as much as possible in your lessons.
.
Repertoire
You are assigned 6-8 songs each semester. They are chosen with the following in mind:
1. Where is the student in his/her development?
2. Language requirements as set down by the Voice Division
3. Style Period exposure.
4. Degree requirements
5. Lower and Upper Level requirements.
We need to provide you with enough experience in the style periods so that you have a basic understanding of them.
Expectations
Me of you...
You must learn your music outside of the lesson time.
You must rehearse with your accompanist on the assigned songs before the two of you come into the studio.
You should record each lesson and review the tape during the week to remember and reinforce what we covered during the lesson.
You of Me
I must explain as clearly as possible the vocal techniques that we are studying.
I will be honest with you about what I hear as you sing and give you valid incites into how you are best able to enhance your vocal abilities.
That the grade you earn is arrived at fairly.
It is expected that you attend faculty and student recitals and turn in a short review of the recital. I will provide a form for you on line.
Performance Paper Form
1. You may write performance papers on Department faculty and student recitals.
2. Format:
Length: At least one but no more than three typed and spell-checked pages.
Submission: By email attachment to me.
Last date I
will accept any papers is Dec.10, 2004
Copy and use this header for your paper:
Performance Paper
Your name______________________ Date_____________
Performers names ______________________________________________
Date of recital______________ Time of Recital______ Location of Recital__________________
Address the following in your paper:
Vocal Tone – resonance, size, evenness and focus. Was there adequate expansive support?
Dynamic Variety -Is there dynamic contrast? Does the tone change when the dynamics change?
Flexibility – Does the voice move easily? Are scale passages clear and precise? Does the singer slide or scoop for effect or style?
Diction – Are you able to understand the text?
Interpretation – Did the singer communicate to you?
Overall Impression – What was your impression of the total recital or production?