Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Individual Applied Music Instruction (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 1410-02

Course: MUSC 1410-02
Credits: 2
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11510

Course Description

Private lessons in vocal music. Twelve 50-minute lessons and a required studio class. Fee required. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 24 

Required Texts

Required texts will be provided by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes
 

·         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.
   




Course Requirements

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.

Each student is required to do a sophomore assessment gateway at the end of four semesters of study. The student will present a mini recital.  They will present a portfolio which is outlined in the Voice Handbook which can be found on the Music Department web-site.

Course Outline

III Notebook

 Each student is expected to practice and to keep up to date in all assignments.  These assignments will be incorporated 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.  [Do not wait until your final notebook is due at the end of the semester to do thiswork!!!! Do the written work as you learn each song or aria assigned. Failure to keep up withthe written as well as vocal assignments can lead to a lowered final grade.] 

 

A.            Required Writing Assignments in Performance

        Notebook

 

B. Performance Notebook Must be Broken Down and Contain:

 

 

               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.

Obtaining all information from the Internet is unacceptable!  Wikipedia is not a totally reliable source

Official Composer Web-sites are 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.

 

                        Obtaining all information from the Internet is  unacceptable! 

 

8.     In addition to this, put a separate entry in the notebook which deals with vocal literature which is heard at concerts, on recordings, etc. This should contain literature which the student has not worked on and is not working on personally.  Remember that if the student becomes a teacher, he or she may not be teaching just his or her own voice type, but in all probability will be teaching other voice types as well.  

 9.   Bring Notebook to every lesson.  I expect that the work will be done in the notebook on any song you bring to work on in the lesson, therefore I will be grading every lesson this semester and I expect that you will have done everything including all background, definitions, analysis, listening etc. before you sing in the applied studio!!!!!!

 

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

IV.            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, I expect to be contacted and notified 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 you are ill and are not feeling well, do not come to tell me personally, thus exposing me to your germs. I maintain a heavy performing load and cannot afford to be ill.  Do not expose other singers, either.  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. 

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.

 

 

 

Attendance Policy

See Above

Course Fees

There are 12 hour applied lessons in the semester plus a performance class which meets every Friday at 11:00 a.m. The fee for this course is $440.00 for 2 credits.
·Studio performance classes are required of all studio voice students.  These are scheduled on a weekly basis during the semester.  Students are required to attend.  This actually means that each student will work with me for almost two hours a week or an hour and a half if studying for one credit.  

 

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.