TH 630 STUDIO VOICE LESSONS SYLLABUS
SPRING SEMESTER 2016
Laurinda Nikkel, Instructor
Room 223
lknikkel@aol.com, lnikkel@mail.sdsu.edu
619-594-6042 (office)
858-335-1291 (cell)
858-292-5563 (home)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A physical and academic study of vocal technique, literature and performance.
This class consists of thirteen, individual hour lessons to be scheduled on Tuesdays or Thursdays each
week.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: Students will learn a healthy and expressive vocal technique. They will learn
specific knowledge of anatomy and breathing for singing, resonance and tone quality, pronunciation and
enunciation of English texts, historical and musical vocal style, communication, presentation and
memorization skills.
Required Text: The Structures and Movement of Breathing,
Conable, Barbara, Gia Publications
STUDIO GUIDELINES
Lesson Structure: You will receive 12-13 individual voice lessons each semester. The length of each
lesson is 50 minutes. (It is often my habit to teach right up until the end of the hour, so please inform
me if you need travel time to your next appointment or class.) The first 20-30 minutes of your lesson
will be spent on the actual technique or physicalization of singing. This will include vocalises or
exercises for the voice and discussion of the anatomy of breathing and producing free and
healthy vocal sound. The last 20-30 minutes will be spent on implementing that information through
the study of your repertoire. Ordinarily, I do not assign specific repertoire but occasionally I will
recommend pieces to support our technical work together. We will also work on any repertoire
that is assigned in Studio class and/or roles that will be performed professionally or in SDSU
productions. I expect that you will spend at least one hour, five days/week on vocalises and
repertoire outside your lesson.
Lesson Cancellation: If you have to miss a lesson, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance.
I will make every effort to make up these lessons before the end of the semester; if you do not
notify me, I am not obligated to do so. Please use my cell phone number when contacting me for
a cancellation. If you are seriously ill you should not have a lesson. If, however, you are just tired or
a bit hoarse do not cancel your lesson, as there is usually therapeutic work that can be done. If I
need to cancel a lesson, I will make up the lesson at a time that is mutually convenient.
Recording Equipment: I highly recommend that you record each lesson for review throughout the
week.
Voice Juries: A performance studies jury is scheduled at the end of each term. Repertoire (usually
two contrasting full songs) that reflects vocal work and progress will be chosen by the teacher and
student. There will be a follow-up oral evaluation and discussion of specific goals of the teacher
and of the student for that particular term.