University of South Alabama
MUE 448 – Vocal Pedagogy
Fall 2014
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. T/TR LPAC 1131
Dr. Thomas L. Rowell
LPAC 1131
Office: (251) 460-6238
trowell@southalabama.edu
Course Description
Vocal Pedagogy is a 2 credit hour course for the upper level voice major. It focuses on the art,
science, and profession of teaching singing. Coursework will proceed within the frame of the
three required texts. In addition to class participation, students will be required to keep a
notebook of text materials, lesson plans, and observations for their future reference. Class will
meet two sessions per week for the most efficient dissemination and absorption of course
content. Class periods will be dedicated to lecture, class discussion, presentations and
workshops with various pedagogical and voice science topics.
Course Objectives
Students enrolled in the course will:
1. Gain awareness of the written materials and treatises on
pedagogy.
2. Become conversant with the standard terminology of the
physiological and technical elements of vocal production
3. Obtain skills to structure vocal training in various formats
4. Understand the relationships between language and singing
5. Understand the physical processes involved in singing
6. Learn to value the benefits of voice science as they relate to
vocal pedagogy by becoming familiar with scientific
instruments used in vocal analysis
7. Evaluate teaching methods of active voice teachers through
studio observations.
8. Experience studio teaching, involving a volunteer student,
in a four-week vocal training session.
Course Prerequisite
The course is open to any upper level music major (having successfully passed the vocal barrier
into 300-400 level applied voice) who has completed the course MUS 202/203 (Diction), or who
has permission to enroll from the professor.
Required Texts
McKinney, James. The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. Long Grove, IL: Waveland
Press, Inc., 2005 Reissue.
Miller, Richard: The Structure of Singing: System and Art of Vocal Technique. New York:
Schirmer Books, 1986.
Miller, Richard: Solutions for Singers: Tools for Performers and Teachers, New York: Oxford
University Press, 2004
Attendance
Regular class attendance is imperative for successful assimilation of the material. Prior
notification of absences is required by leaving a message via phone or e-mail. Three (3)
unexcused absences will result in the automatic lowering of the student’s semester grade by one
letter grade. Four unexcused absences will result in the student being dropped from the course.
Grading Criteria
All tests, assignments, and exams will receive a letter grade in accordance with the following point
totals:
900-1000 pts.
800-899 pts.
700-799 pts.
A
B
C
600-699 pts.
0-599 pts.
D
F
Potential points for assignments are as follows:
Notebook
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Studio Observations (2 @ 50 pts.)
Private Teaching
•
400 pts.
200 pts.
200 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
Studio Observation: Each student will observe two different voice
teachers in the Mobile area and report their findings with regard to
effectiveness and methods. The following procedure will apply:
1. Contact voice teachers in the Mobile Area (USA, UM, private)
and ask permission to observe a lesson and schedule a time.
2. Arrive early to the lesson. Be unobtrusive during the lessons and
quietly take notes. Make sure details (time, date, etc) are in your
report; however, DO NOT publish the name of the teacher, (ex.
“Teacher A”).
3. Submit a typed report with your name, JAG number, course
number, and date in heading.
•
Private Teaching: Each student will recruit a student to teach two
half-hour lessons per week for four weeks. The student teacher will
teach the recruit vocalization techniques and a simple song. A teaching
exam will be scheduled during the final weeks of class in order for the
student teacher to demonstrate the results of the four-week session.
Procedures for the project are as follows:
1. Enlist a student from the student body or community who has never
studied voice (studio lessons)—make sure that your student can
meet with the class at for a final assessment during the week of
November 3-7 . This will be determined according to schedules and
might take place outside of the regularly scheduled class time.
2. Create a mutually convenient schedule to meet in a practice room
twice a week for half hour lessons for a consecutive four week
period.
3. Spend 15 minutes on technique and vocalization and 15 minutes
working on a simple song assigned by your professor.
4. Keep a written journal of the lessons. Your entries should contain
descriptions of vocalises and warm-ups utilized and areas covered
in song study. Include problems, progresses in your written record.
•
Notebook: Each student will keep a comprehensive notebook that
shall contain class notes and notes from the readings, supplemental
reading materials, and observations pertinent to the subject matter.
Materials should be neat and well organized.
Office Hours
At least 6 (six) hours of office time each week are made available for the student to meet with
the professor as is necessary. Please consult the schedule posted on the professor’s door for
available times.
Class Schedule
Not all classes progress at the same rate and thus course requirements might have to be modified as
circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be
changed.
Academic Disruption Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in The
Lowdown, the student handbook:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml:
Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or
interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges
of others, results in or threatens the destructionof property and/or is otherswise prejudicial to
the maintenance of order in an academic environment.
Students are expected to maintain cordiality, courteousness and respectful treatment of faculty
members and fellow students.
Student Academic Conduct Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct is found in The
Lowdown, the student handbook:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml:
The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of
inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained.
The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by
the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their
responsibilities.
Students who fail to comply with the standards of academic integrity as set forth by the
University will be penalized through lowered grading initially and any infraction will be
communicated to the department chair. Further infractions will result in academic misconduct
proceedings at the college level.
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will
be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will
certify a disability and advise your faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have
a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the
instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services. OSSS
is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).
Course Outline: Fall 2014
Tuesday, August 19
Syllabus distribution, course outline, class policies
Thursday, August 21
Psychological vs. Scientific Approach to Voice Teaching
Reading Assignment: McKinney, Chapter 4; Miller Structure,
Chapter 2, Miller Solutions, Chapter 1
Tuesday, August 26
Breath management and teaching technique
Thursday, August 28
Breath management; support vs. control, terminologies, onset
Tuesday, September 2
Warming up the voice vs. exercising the voice; Essentials for the
voice teacher
Thursday, September 4
Physiology of the Voice
Reading Assignment: McKinney, Chapter 5; Miller Solutions,
Chapter 3
Tuesday, September 9
Physiology of the Voice continued
Thursday, September 11
Guest lecture/field trip: Dr. Julie Estis, College of Allied Health
Physiology of the Voice
Tuesday, September 16
Registration of voices and voice types
Reading Assignment: McKinney, Chapters 6-7; Miller Solutions,
Chapter 7
Thursday, September 18
Registration of voices and voice types; the “Fach” system
Assignment due: Voice student chosen
Tuesday, September 23
“Internals” of registration: transition points in the voice, range,
tessitura; the primo and secondo passaggio
How to assess a voice before teaching the student
Thursday, September 25
Working with the female voice: register unification
Reading Assignment: Miller Structure, Chapter 10
Tuesday, September 30
Working with the female voice continued
Thursday, October 2
Working with the male voice: register unification
Reading Assignment: Miller Structure, Chapter 9
Assignment due: 1st Teacher Observation
Tuesday, October 7
FALL BREAK
Thursday, October 9
Working with the male voice continued
Assignment due: Voice student evaluation with Dr. Rowell
VOICE LESSONS BEGIN THIS WEEK
Tuesday, October 14
Mid-Term Exam
Thursday, October 16
Resonance: How to get the optimum focus for every vowel
Reading Assignment: McKinney, Chapter 8; Miller Solutions,
Chapter 4; Miller Structure, Chapters 6-7
Tuesday, October 21
Resonance continued
Dr. Rowell observation of student teaching scheduled
Thursday, October 23
Resonance continued
Repertoire: How to choose and resources, essentials
Tuesday, October 28
Resonance continued
Basics for the voice studio, practical concerns
Thursday, October 30`
Healthy singing
Reading Assignment: Miller Solutions, Chapter 8
Miller Structure, Chapter 17
Tuesday, November 4
Healthy singing: identifying faults in the sound
Reading Assignment: McKinney, Chapter 5
Thursday, November 6
Students sing for class and evaluate student teachers
Tuesday, November 11
Identifying and correcting faults continued
Thursday, November 13
Pedagogical attitudes and issues
Reading Assignment: Miller Structure, Chapter 16;
Miller Solutions, Chapter 9
Tuesday, November 18
Pedagogical attitudes and issues continued
Thursday, November 20
Pedagogical attitudes and issues continued
Tuesday, November 25
Coordinating the voice: range extension, stabilization
Reading Assignment: Miller Structure Chapter 12;
McKinney, Chapter 11
Thursday, November 28
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Tuesday, December 2
Vibrato and Performance Concerns
Reading Assignment: Miller Structure, Chapter 14;
Miller Solutions, Chapter 6, 10
Assignment Due: 2nd Teacher Observation
Thursday, December 4
Final review: Notebooks Due
Tuesday, December 9
Final Exam, 10:30 a.m.