Voice Class & Studio Syllabus

MUS 396-03/397-03; Fall 2008

M 3:00-4:30CAB 1088; T 3:30-4:45; Recital Hall; Private Lesson, TBA

Nancy King, Instructor

Office 1062 CAB; Phone:  962-3398

Office Hours:  By Appointment Only, see posted schedule

email:  kingn@uncw.edu

Expectations and Requirements:

  • Attendance:  Please be prompt to voice class, private lessons, Masterclass and Tues. performance seminar.  Inform professor in writing concerning excused absences (faculty mailbox or email).
  • Practice/Preparation for Lessons:  Evidence of vocal improvement through regular practice.  At least 45 minutes a day, five days a week!  All translations/IPA must be in your score; you must have completed the appropriate Song Study/Role Study sheet upon presentation of new song at your lesson (available online http://www.uncw.edu/music/kingn/MUS195/SongStudySheet.htm. Completion of a weekly practice journal, which will be reviewed at the beginning of your lesson.
  • Repertoire:  Preparation and memorization of songs and arias, as required in weekly classes, seminars and juries.  All repertoire must be learned by week 10, no exceptions!
  • Private Lessons: 396/ 397-one hour lesson/week.  Please be prepared; if you are not, your lesson will be terminated and you will receive a failing grade for that lesson.  If you are ill, please notify the professor by phone/email (not in person!), and make an effort to trade your lesson with a colleague.  Although faculty is not required to make up lessons which students cancel, every effort will be made to accommodate “justifiable reasons” (illness, death, personal conflicts).  Make-up lessons will be given for lessons that the professor misses due to illness or professional engagements.  All voice lessons and coachings MUST BE RECORDED.
  • Monday Masterclass: All 396/397 voice students are required to attend Monday Masterclass.  Students will be given a schedule for performing in class at the beginning of the semester.  All music must be memorized (except chamber and oratorio selections).  If you are ill, please make arrangements with colleagues to switch performance times.  Please remember: the Masterclass environment calls for active participation of class members; be considerate of your colleagues, and base your comments on what you notice, rather than personal criticism.
  • Tuesday Seminar: All voice students are required to attend Tues. seminar.  Starting the third week of classes, each student must sing a new song from memory every week.  Please present yourself professionally, with the appropriate attire.
  • End of Month Departmental:  Attendance is required.  The recital will feature the best performances of your music department colleagues.  Tuesday Seminar attire is appropriate for student performers.  You will be notified by your teacher if you have been selected to perform, and will be responsible for providing Prof. King with a translation.
  • Concert Attendance/Reports: Voice students must attend all voice recitals.  Attendance of a minimum of  8 approved concerts/events per semester. Lack of attendance will result in lowering of your class work grade.  In extreme cases, the professor will accept two written critiques of classical voice recordings in lieu of two concerts (see professor for suggestions).  Music events are listed on the UNCW website, under Events Calendar http://appserv02.uncw.edu/caic/events-MUS.asp
  • Mid-Term Evaluation: (7 weeks) Be prepared to sing half of your repertoire, memorized and performance ready, during class time.  You will be assigned a mid-term grade at this time. 
  • Final Voice Classes of Semester:  All jury selections are performed from memory.  Your colleagues will offer written suggestions.
  • Final Examination:  Voice jury at the end of the semester:
  • 396-students must be prepared to sing 8 songs: 2 in Italian, 2 German, 2 French, and 2 English
  • 397-students must be prepared to sing 10 songs, at least 2 in Italian, 2 in German, 2 in French, and 2 in English.  All repertoire must be memorized and performance ready.  Dress appropriately!

Evaluation of Student Effort and Accomplishment:

  • Class Work 75%: Based on weekly graded (see accompanying expectation sheet).  Includes attendance, preparation, performance, journals, participation, concert attendance/reports                                                    
  • Voice Jury 25%: Composite of all adjudicators.  Failure to attend your jury will result in a failing grade for the course.                                    
  • Each student will be expected to perform at least once on a departmental recital.

NOTE:  More than 2 unexcused absences will result in drop of a half-grade.

More than 4 unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

  • Academic Honor Code:
    The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is committed to the proposition that the pursuit of truth requires the presence of honesty among all involved. It is therefore this institution's stated policy that no form of dishonesty among its faculty or students will be tolerated. Although members of the university community are encouraged to report occurrences of dishonesty, each individual is principally responsible for his or her own honesty.  
    All students are encouraged to read section V "Academic Honor Code", in the UNCW Student Handbook, for definitions of plagiarism, bribery, and cheating, and the procedures for reporting and adjudication of any activities involving student dishonesty    .
  • UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911. For University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm.

 

 

Required Materials: 

Students will be responsible for purchasing assigned repertoire, or borrowing the appropriate scores from Randall Library.  If you need library assistance, please see our excellent Creative & Fine Arts Librarian, Liza Palmer:

 

Email:  palmerl@uncw.edu

AIM:  lizajpalmer

Phone:  910-962-4234

Fall office hours:  T 11-1 (RL 2080); W 4-5pm (CAB 1048); R 10-11am (CAB 1048)

 

 

According to NASM rules, photocopies will not be allowed, unless you own the original score (please see the following website for information in determining the copyright availability of music: http://www.mpaonline.org.uk/faqs/Printed_Music_FAQs/Can_I_photocopy_printed_music.html ). 

 

UNCW required textbooks are posted on Prof. King’s website http://www.uncw.edu/music/kingn/MUS195/UNCWRequiredVocalMusicScor.htm , and can be purchased through http://amazon.com (quickest and cheapest site), http://www.tismusic.com/ ,  http://www.classicalvocalrep.com/  (best for hard to find scores).

 

Two CD’s:  One for recording your lesson, the other to leave in the studio as a back up; or bring a recording device of your own