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. ***