V. Required and Recommended 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 on an individual basis, unless that music is out of print or considered to be in public domain. Each student should understand that the use of photo-copied music is illegal, unless permission in writing is received from the publisher or music is considered to be in public domain. Students who use photo-copied music without having an original copy will receive a lowered grade! The Supreme Court in its ruling on NAPSTER has declared that enabling anyone to pirate music whether by photo-copying or downloading illegally on computer or copying CDs is breaking the law. Fines for breaking this law are considerable and put the individual, department, and the university at risk.

Each student in Professor Modesitt’s studio is responsible for recording every lesson. That could be by providing a new CD at each lesson where Professor Modesitt can use her recording equipment or you may provide your own recording equipment such as your cell phone. If CDs are used, the student’s name should be on each CD and each CD case. This recording device chosen is to be used throughout the lesson, so that the student may refer to it throughout the week. The recording device should be brought to every lesson and listened to at least three times before the next lesson, preferably more. You are expected to listen to your lesson recording at least 3 times before your next scheduled lesson.

Each student is responsible for bringing a pencil to every lesson along with the notebook, and for marking music as directed by Professor Modesitt.

Any music or books which are borrowed from Professor Modesitt’s library must be checked out and signed for. Materials may be borrowed only for one week! Failure to return material will result in a hold on your grades and a fee assessment. Any music or books borrowed from Professor Modesitt is expected to be returned in the condition in which it was lent. [This means: Do not mark in my music, rip, tear, mutilate, stain, or otherwise mistreat my music.]

References (Library Reserve and Supplemental Information):
Since the list of reference material which is used for this course is so extensive, a separate list of books used for reference will be given to you in a handout.
A list of books which have been put on reserve under my name at the circulation desk is also attached at the end of this syllabus.

II. Learning Outcomes of Course

• Individual vocal problems of students will be addressed in lessons
• Students will be given vocalises as well as vocal literature which will give the students opportunity to progress
• Students will perform, in jury, at the end of the semester literature that is applicable to their current level.
• Students will perform in studio classes as well as performing on one Friday afternoon Music Department Recital.

Assessment: An evaluation of the student’s needs concerning technical problems is made at the beginning of the semester concerning intonation, resonance, ability to sing legato phrases, ability to be intelligible in languages sung, diction, and breath management. Assessment is based on the student coordinating all of the above and their ability to do so while creating an artistically expressive performance.

III. Notebook

1. Background information on each composer of assigned works. This is to be accomplished by going to the library. Students must provide bibliographic information as to where the information in the notebook was found. One of the best sources on composers is the Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians. If the student is assigned a contemporary song or aria where the composer has his or her own web-site that is also acceptable.
2. Definitions of musical terms used as performance indicators for each assigned work.
3. The entire IPA transcription of the text of each assigned work.
4. Word for word translation/transcription of any work assigned in a non-English language.
5. The student's personal view of the meaning and significance of each work, with comments on both music and words.
6. Background information on each poet/librettist of assigned works. This is to be accomplished by going to the library. Students must provide bibliographic information as to where the information in the notebook was found.
7. List of recordings of each assigned work which have been listened to and studied by the student.

IV. Policy on Grading and Procedures

1. Notebook and written work in performance class (25%)
2. Work and progress in individual lessons including amount of repertoire learned at the appropriate level for you (35%)
3. Attendance and attitude in Performance Class (20%)
4. Voice jury (10%)
5. Recital Attendance with particular attention to Voice Recitals and Concerts (10%)

V. Important Dates

Health Issues and Make-up Lessons

Being a singer, and learning to become a good singer, requires the use of one’s body in order to succeed. Maintaining good health through adequate rest and a good diet is absolutely necessary, as are good habits of hygiene. In addition, because music is a demanding major, if one loses time to illness, it becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to make up the material required in all classes—not just studio voice.

If you are ill and cannot come to your scheduled lesson, especially if you are my first student of the day, you must contact and notify the instructor well ahead of time [one hour before your lesson is not sufficient]. You should be aware of your own vocal status and health. Do not be afraid to call me at my home or on my cell phone. If you are ill I am happy to have you call me. You may also e-mail me. I prefer to be called!

If I am responsible for missing a lesson, I will try to make arrangements with any student whose lesson I have missed to make it up. Lesson time is exactly the same as any other scheduled class time. It is reserved for the student. Once that time is missed, it becomes increasingly difficult to make up lessons, especially near the end of the semester, since I cannot use time reserved for other students. Therefore, I am not responsible for making up any lessons which a student misses.

If you are ill and are not feeling well, do not come to tell me personally, thus exposing me to your germs. You may leave notes in my box, on my door, or telephone messages [that is one reason for my home telephone number]. You may also e-mail me, but I prefer to have you call.

Occasionally, because voice is a physical discipline, it may become necessary for me to touch an individual student in order to demonstrate a vocal concept. If you have a problem with this, then you need to tell me.

Attendance Policy

• All students taking applied lessons in this studio are required to attend performance class each week.
• Studio performance classes are required of all studio voice students and are scheduled on a weekly basis during the semester.
• Each and every voice student in the studio is required to attend any vocal recitals which occur during the semester, particularly if any member of the voice faculty is performing. Your grade will suffer if you do not attend these concerts.
• If any student is unprepared for a lesson, the instructor reserves the right to send that student directly to the practice room and will not make up the lesson.
• Unless directed otherwise by the instructor, upper division students on the 2410, 3410, 4410 level are expected to schedule lesson times so that they have time to warm up prior to coming in for lessons.
• Each student is required to attend any guest master classes scheduled and to wear appropriate attire for possible performing.
• Students are required to perform on at least one student recital each semester, on Friday afternoons at 12:00. Failure to do so will lower the grade by 10%.

For each unexcused instance or failure to attend required concerts or recitals, the final semester letter grade will drop one full letter.

Course Fees