Voice Primary MUSC 181, 182, 281, 282, 381, 382, 481, 482, 483 - 83

Voice Secondary MUSC 171, 172, 271, 272, 371, 372, 471, 472 - 83

Voice Elective MUSC 155, 156, 255, 256, 355, 356, 455, 456-83

Spring 2007

Studio Meeting: Tuesday 3:30-4:25

Instructor:  Dr. Christopher Swanson

Email: swansoncl@longwood.edu Office: Wygal 226

Office Telephone:  395-2496 Office hours: Thursday, 2:00-2:50 pm

Course Description:

Ø 2 or 3 credits for Applied Primary students. One 50 minute, individual lesson each week plus studio classes, departmental recitals and recitals.

Ø 1 credit for Applied Secondary or elective students. One 25 minute, individual lesson each week plus studio classes, departmental recitals and recitals.

Course Objectives: 

Ø Learn a technique for beautiful, healthy singing

Ø Apply that technique to various pieces of music

Ø Particular goals and objectives will be decided for each student on an individual basis.

Text and Required Materials: 

Ø All students, unless told otherwise, need to purchase:

Marchesi: Vocal Method, part I and part II; Library Vol. 1664 – complete.

The book is available at the Longwood Bookstore or on www.schirmer.com for about

$15.00.

Ø All students must have a metronome.

Ø All students must bring pencils, manuscript paper, the Marchesi book and their music to each lesson.

Ø Music will be assigned individually to students throughout the semester. This music will consist of vocal exercises, songs and possibly arias, depending upon the level of the student. Students must purchase their music and, for temporary use only, make photocopies. Students MAY NOT use the copy machine in the music building.

Course Content Outline:

Ø Weekly Lessons: Scheduled by the instructor. Each week you will attend your private lesson, which will be scheduled by me. In the lessons we will discuss and practice various points of vocal technique. We will work on exercises and repertoire. You must come warmed-up, dressed appropriately and on time.

Ø Departmental Recitals and Events: Thursday 3:30 – 4:30, Molnar Recital Hall. Each week you will be required to attend the Departmental Recital or Event. Each student will be required to perform a certain number of times in these recitals.

Ø Studio Class: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:25, location varies. In Studio Class we will discuss a variety of topics (Relaxation, technique, performance, literature, diction, etc.). Students must sign up for times to perform in class. The sign-up sheet is next to Dr. Swanson’s door. Students will dress appropriately for their performances (not tuxedos and gowns, but look nice).

Course Requirements: You are required to:

1. Attend all scheduled meeting times and be prepared for them.

a. Lessons (individually scheduled):

Arrive on-time and warmed-up

Bring all necessary materials

Complete repertoire study sheets on time

Learn your music BEFORE coming to your lesson

b. Studio Class (Tuesday, 3:30-4:25):

Arrive on-time

Bring all necessary materials

Have your music learned and memorized when scheduled to perform

Arrange for your accompanist to be present when you are scheduled to perform

c. Departmental Recitals and Events (Tuesday, 3:30-4:30)

Arrive on-time

Have your music learned and memorized when scheduled to perform

2. Participate in all required activities. (Private lessons require your active participation through listening, demonstrating, and performing. You are required to give comments in studio class).
3. Practice at least 10 hours a week.
4. In Studio Classes, sing from memory the required number of times, participate in discussions.
5. Attend all live performances of vocal music during the semester and most recitals and concerts in other areas. Check the Longwood University Music Department web site for an up-to-date schedule.
6. Hire an accompanist. Rehearse with your accompanist for at least one-half hour each week. Have you accompanist come to half of each lesson.
7. Sing a final jury at the end of the semester and receive a passing grade. All repertoire will be selected by me, worked on in lessons during the semester, rehearsed with the accompanist, and sung from memory.
8. Complete your Repertoire Study Sheets on time. *
9. Complete your major project on time *
10. Complete other assignments on time. *

Grading:

To receive an A you must do all of the above requirements.

To receive a B, do 9 out of 10 of the above requirements.

To receive a C, do 8 out of 10 of the above requirements.

To receive a D, do 7 out of 10 of the above requirements.

NOTE ON JURIES: If you fail your jury, you will fail the semester. Your final grade can only be one letter grade higher than the average grade that you receive in your Jury.

* Items 8, 9 and 10 are graded pass or fail. If you turn in a project that is poorly written or unacceptable for some other reason, you may be asked to revise the project and submit it a second time. This is assuming there is enough time left in the semester for such a revision and is at the discretion of the instructor.

Accompanists: 

You must find a proficient accompanist for your lessons. I prefer that work with a faculty accompanist, for scheduling reasons. Your accompanist will attend half of each lesson as well as any performances that you may have during the semester (ie. Studio classes and departmental recitals). It is also your responsibility to schedule a weekly rehearsal time with the accompanist.

Juries: 

A jury before the voice faculty is required of all primary students. They take place at the end of each semester. Repertoire for the jury will be discussed with the instructor. Jury sheets must be typed and submitted in triplicate to the instructor no later than one week prior to the jury date.  Secondary students will not do a jury for the faculty but they will have to give a final graded performance in studio class.

Repertoire: 

Ø Secondary applied: Secondary students must learn and memorize at least 3 songs and/or arias each semester.  In some cases more than three selections will be assigned depending on the length and difficulty of the music and the level of the student.  Secondary juries take place during the last studio class.

Ø Primary applied, 2 credits: 

181: 5 songs and/or arias each semester

182: 6 songs and/or arias each semester.

281-482: 7 songs and/or arias each semester

282: Sophomore Promotional. At least 15 minutes of music must be learned and memorized. This is a speaking intensive project in which the student presents a musical program for the entire faculty and gives a spoken report on the music. The faculty will then ask questions concerning all aspects of the presented music.

483: Senior Capstone. A minimum of a half recital during 483. The amount of music in a recital will vary, approximately 30 minutes for a half recital. 

Ø Primary applied, 3 credits:

281-481: 8 songs and/or arias each semester and a self learned selection with a minimum of a half recital during 382 and a full recital during 483.

282: see above.

In some cases, additional repertoire will be assigned depending on the length and difficulty.

Note: If a student was assigned music during a previous semester, and it was not prepared at a satisfactory level, that repertoire will be added to the current semester.

Preparation:

It is your responsibility to learn the music that you are assigned. It is not my job to teach you notes. You must be prepared to work in each lesson. This means that you know the notes, rhythms, text, translation (word-for-word), and background of the music and poetry. The more you bring into a lesson the more you will get out of it. If you come to a lesson grossly unprepared I will ask you to leave.

Departmental Recitals: 

Ø 2 credit:

181: You are required to perform on ONE departmental recital

All others: You are required to perform on at least TWO departmental recitals

each semester.  These performances will be graded. 

Ø 3 credit:

You are required to perform on at least THREE departmental recitals each semester.

The student may choose on which Departmental Recital to perform. NOTE:  The student may NOT elect to perform two selections on one recital to meet the minimum requirement.  The student must submit a completed Departmental Recital Request Form to the instructor no later than one week prior to the Departmental Recital date.

NOTE:  All applied students are required to attend all departmental recitals.

Studio class:

Ø Primary students: must sign up AT LEAST 4 times,

Ø Secondary students and elective students: must sign up AT LEAST 2 times. You cannot sign up twice for a single class. If you sign up and cancel, then to receive credit you must sign up for a different day – don’t wait until the last four weeks! Each time you sing in class, you will sing at least one piece of music. You may sing more (time permitting) but it will only count as one credit. It is your responsibility to arrange to have your accompanist there on the day you sing. Classes in which no one has signed up will NOT necessarily be cancelled. For each piece of music that you present, you will need to give a brief spoken introduction. Dress appropriately for your studio class performances.

Projects:

There will be two semester long projects for each student each term.

Ø Project One will vary from term to term and will be announced during the first studio class. The due date is on the schedule.

Ø Project Two: each student is required to complete the Repertoire Study Sheets for each piece of music assigned to them and to write program notes for all of their assigned music. This entails a paragraph or two for each piece. Although this is not a formal research paper, you will be graded on the content, writing style, punctuation, and grammar. This is to be typed. The due date for this is on the schedule.

Concert Attendance: 

You are required to attend all vocal recitals/concerts in their entirety during the semester. 

Attendance Policy:

You are expected to attend all classes. Lessons canceled by the instructor will be made-up.  It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the make-up time with the instructor and accompanist.  Lessons canceled by the student may be made up at a discretionary basis by the instructor.  Regardless of the cause, please let me know in advance if you will be absent. Work missed because of absences, obviously, cannot be made-up. If you miss 25% of the total number of class meetings in the semester because of unexcused absences you will fail the course.

“Students must assume full responsibility for any loss incurred because of absence, whether excused or unexcused…. Excused absences are those resulting from the student’s participation in a university sponsored activity, from recognizable emergencies, or from serious illness.”

(from the Faculty Manual: Policies and Procedures)

Honor Code Statement:

“We will not lie, cheat, steal, or plagiarize, nor will we tolerate those who do.”

“I, having a clear understanding of the basis and spirit of the Honor Code created and accepted by the students of Longwood, Farmville, Virginia, pledge myself to govern my life at Longwood according to its standards and to accept my responsibility for helping others to do so, and with sensitive regard for my institution, to live by the Honor Code at all times and to see that others do likewise.”

SPRING 2007 - - Dr. Swanson

Weekly Schedule of studio classes and departmentals (subject to change). All Studio classes are held in room #105 unless otherwise marked.

Please sign up to sing in studio class. Every Primary student must sign up AT LEAST 4 times, and secondary or elective students AT LEAST 2 times. You cannot sign up twice for a single class. If you sign up and cancel, then, to receive credit, you must sign up for a different day – don’t wait until the last four weeks! Each time you sing in class, you will sing at least one piece of music. You may sing more (time permitting) but it will only count as one credit. It is your responsibility to arrange to have your accompanist there on the day you sing. Classes in which no one has signed up will NOT necessarily be cancelled. For each piece of music that you present, you will need to give a brief spoken introduction. Dress appropriately for your studio class performances.

WEEK	DATE	Location (Subject to change – check office door)	Topic/Due dates	Other important events going on this week
Week 1				Jan. 18 – MLK jr. Event (3:30-5 P.M. Jarman Auditorium). “A Black Man's Odyssey into the Ku Klux Klan” Speaker: Daryl Davis. Musical performance to follow.
	January 18		No Departmental
Week 2	January 23, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium Student Meeting. Short Studio class following in WYG 105	Introduction & Syllabus
	January 25		No Departmental
Week 3	January 30, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class
	February 1, 3:30-4:30		No Departmental
Week 4	February 6,		No Studio Class	Feb. 6 – Chamber Music Concert: “Quink” Vocal Renaissance and Modern Music Feb. 9 Intercollegiate Honor Band
	February 8, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Departmental Recital
Week 5	February 13, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Feb. 17 – LU Auditions Feb. 17 – LU jazz ensemble at LCVA
	February 15, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Departmental Recital
Week 6	February 20, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class MID-TERMS: All students sing	Feb. 19 – LU Auditions Feb. 24 – Lion’s Club Music Scholarship Auditions
	February 22, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Returning Student Scholarship Auditions
Week 7	February 27, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Feb. 26 – Grade Estimates Feb. 27 – Dr. Swanson in Richmond (evening rehearsal) Mar. 3 – Cams in Richmond: Magnificat
	March 1	No Departmental
Week 8	March 6 No Studio	No Studio		Mar. 5 – Wind symphony and Jazz band runout concert. Mar. 8 – Wind Symphony concert
	March 8 3:30-4:30		Departmental Recital
Week 9	March 13	Spring Break		Spring Break
	March 15	Spring Break
Week 10	March 20, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Mar. 22 – Simkin’s Lecture at Wygal “Musical Perception” (7:30 pm) Mar 24 – Jazz Band Concert
	March 22, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Student Composers Concert
Week 11	March 27, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Mar. 25 – Commonwaelth Chorale Coneert Mar. 30 – Heather DeSalme Recital
	March 29, 3:30-4:30		Departmental Recital
Week 12	April 3		No Studio Class	Apr. 1 – Commonwealth Chorale Concert Apr. 2 – Chamber Music Concert
	April 5, 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Departmental Recital
Week 13	April 10, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Apr. 10 – Percussion Ensemble Apr. 12 – Choir Concert Apr. 14 – Easter Cantata Concert (Cantatas by J. S. Bach) JMEC
	April 12		No Departmental
Week 14	April 17, 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class	Apr. 18-22 – Opera Workshop performances
	April 19, 3:30-4:30		Departmental Recital
Week 15	April 24 3:30-4:30	WYG 105	Studio Class Mock Juries	Apr. 25 – Wind Symphony and Jazz Band concert Apr. 27 – Last day of classes
	April 26 3:30-4:30	Molnar Auditorium	Departmental Recital