Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Individual Applied Music Instruction (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 1400-16

Course: MUSC 1400-16
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MUSC
CRN: 31285

Course Description

 ·       Non-majors receive 1 credit for applied voice instruction. Students will have one 30-minute block of instruction per week. The number of lessons for each semester is 12. Because of the one-on-one nature of this class students are required to pay an additional fee of $264.00 for 12 half-hour lessons. 

Required Texts

Required Texts and Materials 

·       Individual assignments are given according to the vocal student’s abilities and vocal needs. Each student will be assigned literature based on developing the individual voice. 
·       Students are expected to purchase the music assigned to them, unless that music is out-of-print or considered to be public domain. 
·       Photo-copied music is illegal, unless permission is granted in writing from the publisher or music is in public domain. 
·    Be advised, if the student uses photo-copied music, it will result in a lowered grade. 
·    Photo-copying music and downloading music/copying CDs is illegal and will put the individual, department, and university at risk of imprisonment or legal fines. 
·       Students are required to record each lesson with their phone or other personal recording device. These recordings are to be referred to throughout the week and listened to at least three times before the next lesson. 
·       Students must bring a pencil to their lesson for taking notes and marking their music. 
·       Students must bring their Performance Notebook to every lesson to receive credit for their work. 

Learning Outcomes

 ·    Individual vocal needs of students will be addressed in lessons. 

·    Students will be given vocalizes as well as vocal literature which will give the students opportunities to progress. 

·    Students will perform, in-class, all songs from memory in the last lesson of the semester, literature that is applicable to their current level. 

·    There are 12 lessons in each semester. 

Course Requirements

Performance Notebook 

Each student is expected to practice and to keep up to date in all assignments.  These assignments will be incorporated this semester in a notebook required of each student. All the information required in that notebook is listed below and must be done simultaneously with the preparation of each individual song or aria that is assigned in individual lessons.  Students are required and expected to come to each lesson with the notebook ready for inspection.  Each student will be graded in each lesson on preparation and performance. 

***Please note***

Do not wait until the end of the semester to complete your notebook. Failure to complete the written work and vocal assignments will result in a lowered final grade. 

A.                 Required Writing Assignments in Performance Notebook

Performance Notebook Must Be Organized and Contain: 

a.      Background information on each composer of assigned works. 

                                                                          i.      This is to be accomplished by going to the library or using the digital version of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Students must provide bibliographic information as to where the information in the notebook was found. Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians is one the best resources on composer biographic information. For contemporary songs or arias, using the composer’s own website is also acceptable. 

                                                                        ii.      Wikipedia is not an acceptable resource. 

b.      Definitions of musical terms used as performance indicators for each assigned work. 

c.      Entire International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of the text of each assigned work. 

d.      Word-for-word translation/transcription of any work assigned in a non‑English language. 

e.      The student's perspective of the meaning and significance of each work, with comments on both music and text. 

f.        Background information on each poet/librettist of assigned works. 

                                                                          i.      This is to be accomplished by going to the library or using a reputable digital source. Students must provide bibliographic information as to where the information in the notebook was found. For contemporary songs or arias, using the poet/librettist’s own website is also acceptable. 

                                                                        ii.      Wikipedia is not an acceptable resource. 

g.      List of recordings of each assigned work which have been listened to and studied by the student. 

h.      In addition: add separate entries in the notebook which reference vocal literature heard at concerts, recordings, etc. These observations will be useful in future teaching or concert preparation experiences. 

***Bring Performance Notebook to every lesson. It will be inspected and graded for updated information including composer/librettist background, definitions, listening, observations, etc. *** 

Course Outline

Assessments 

·    Evaluations are made at the beginning of the semester to determine students’ needs in; intonation, resonance, breath management, diction, language knowledge and interpretation, and phrasing. 
·    Final Assessment: students will sing all assigned repertoire from memory in the last lesson in order to receive a final grade. 

Policy on Grading and Procedures 

·       Progress, accomplishment of goals and vocal skills, and those requirements as stated in the Music Department Handbook [See final grade requirements listed below], as well as attitude, are principal determinants of grade. 
·       Exceptions to any of these policies due to extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis by and to the satisfaction of the instructor. 

The Final Grade will consist of three parts: 

1.      Notebook and written work in class (35%) 
2.      Attendance and attitude in Lessons (40%) 
3.      Final (25%) 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Maintaining Health and Make-Up Lessons 

·       Maintaining positive health routines through adequate rest, habits of hygiene, and diet are absolutely necessary. In addition, because music is demanding, if one loses time due to illness, it becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to make up the material required in all classes. 
·       If you are ill and cannot be present at your scheduled lesson, especially if you are the first lesson of the day, you must contact me at least 3 hours before your lesson, if not the night before. (Do not hesitate to call or email me if you are ill and cannot attend.) 
·       Do not come and tell me in-person if you are ill, this will endanger my health as well as other students. I prefer a call or email to notify me of your illness!!! 

Attendance Policy

 ·       If I am responsible for missing a lesson, I will do my best to make arrangements to reschedule that lesson. Your lesson time is reserved for you and once that time is missed, it cannot be made up unless I have received adequate notification of cancellation. 
·       If a student comes to a lesson unprepared, I reserve the right to lower their grade for that lesson and send them directly to a practice room. This lesson will not be made-up or rescheduled. 

Course Fees

  ·       Non-majors receive 1 credit for applied voice instruction. Students will have one 30-minute block of instruction per week. The number of lessons for each semester is 12. Because of the one-on-one nature of this class students are required to pay an additional fee of $264.00 for 12 half-hour lessons. Course fees information will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.