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HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENTRAL
HCCC FINE ARTS/DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
SYLLABUS FOR MUAP 1281
INSTRUCTOR: CHRISTY COMPSON
E-mail – christy.compson@hccs.edu
Cell Phone – 281-352-8849
Course Number: 87140
MUAP 1281
Title of Course: PRIVATE VOICE INSTRUCTION
Credit: 2 hours as specified by the course number
Length of Course : 16 weeks (for the traditional semester) and
12 weeks (for Second Start)
SECTION I – OVERVIEW
A. PURPOSE
The course listed above is a level of private instruction for both voice concentration
(those who have declared voice as their primary instrument) and secondary (those whose primary instrument is NOT voice or who are taking private voice as enrichment). The purpose of instruction is to introduce the student to the principles and practices of vocal production and to introduce vocal literature with which they utilize these techniques. The disciplines of singing: posture, breath management, tonal placement, artistic diction and phrasing are taught through a series of technical vocal exercises and repertoire as deemed appropriate by the instructor. Recognizing that vocal instruction is an ongoing, multileveled process tailored to individual needs, private lessons must be taught with an end result in mind while directing individual needs regarding technique and literature.
B. PRIVATE LESSONS
Private instruction is available to students who are majoring in music (Concentration) where voice is their primary instrument and those who are NOT majoring in music
(Secondary) who desire to gain or improve proficiency in voice.
C. EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
Throughout the course of study, the private voice student will be introduced to the elements of vocal technique: posture, breath management, tonal freedom, range and

registration, diction, phrasing and expression. The order of presentation is determined by the level of talent and background of each student. Repertoire requirements for each level of study (both in number and degree of difficulty) are the yardstick by which progress is measured.
D. TEXTBOOKS/MUSIC
1. Music as assigned by the instructor according to voice type and range.
2. Number of songs and languages determined by the level of course study and level
of the student.
SECTION II – STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to illustrate individual improvement in the following areas:
A. Knowledge about the ability to assume and maintain correct singing posture.
B. Development of correct breathing and breath management.
C. Demonstrate through singing the correct production of vowels and consonants and their coordination.
D. Sing with good intonation.
E. Sing with correct diction in each language being sung.
F. Perform music with text, pitch and rhythmic accuracy.
G. Sing with a relaxed, free tonal production.
H. Demonstrate effective communication and interpretation of the text.
I. A basic understanding of musical phrasing, dynamics and style.
J. Stage presence and poise.
SECTION III - REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
MUAP 1281 - Concentration (Semesters 1 & 2) – Six (6) to eight (8) songs memorized to performance standards during the YEAR. No fewer than three (3) must be performed at the end of the first semester. Literature will include English and Italian art songs and
/or arias.

MUAP 1281 – Concentration (Semesters 3 & 4 ) – eight (8) to ten (10) songs memorized to performance standards during the year. No fewer than four Italian,
German, French, or Spanish with at least two (2) other languages other than English performed each semester. One aria from opera or oratorio is required during each semester.
MUAP 1281 – Secondary (Non-major semesters 1 & 2) - Two (2) songs memorized and two (2) songs in the learning process. At least one song should be in Italian
MUAP 1281 – Secondary (Non-major semesters 3 & 4) – Three (3) songs memorized and one in the learning process. At least one song should be in Italian.
* Based on the level and ability of the student taking secondary private voice, at the instructor's discretion, the total song requirement may be waived.
SECTION IV – NOTEBOOK
I require a notebook as 10% of the lesson part of your grade. It will be divided in 2 sections. The first section will consist of notes you take during or after your lesson on technical and musical observations that have been helpful for you in our work.
The second section will list all of the repertoire we have worked on. On the first page of this repertoire section will contain the name of every piece of music you have even sung through, including the title, the name of the composer and the book it was in and page number, with any helpful notes to yourself about the song ( i.e.: too high, up beat, good closer). The next page will list only the songs you have memorized and are ready for performance, again listing composer, etc. The next pages can further categorize your repertoire into: art songs, operatic arias, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, popular songs. I will collect these at the last lesson of the semester before exams and return them to you.
SECTION V – PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS
It is necessary to practice 5 days a week for 45 – 60 minutes a day. Please see studio requirement sheet for more specifics on practice time.
SECTION VI – You are required to attend two vocal performances and bring the program and a brief report on the performance.
SECTION VII – LEARNING ASSESSMENT
A. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT BASED ON LEARNING OUTCOMES –
Measurement devices used to ascertain student mastery of learning outcomes may include:
1. Grading of each lesson according to attendance, preparation, attitude, and performance of assignments.

2. Notebook – the care and quality of lesson notes and repertoire lists.
3. Jury or Final Exam Performance – Each CONCENTRATION student must perform a jury based on the requirements of each semester. Each student will be evaluated at this time. SECONDARY students do not have to sing a jury unless required by their instructor. If so, the student is held to the requirements of the syllabus for that particular semester.
B. GRADE DETERMINATION - Grades will be determined by the following
- Average of lesson grades 50% (10% of this is your notebook grade)
- Jury (if required) or Studio Exam Performance 50%
* Instructor may choose to include a written exam in lieu of a jury
ATTENDANCE POLICY – NO MORE THAN 12.5 % OF CLASS MISSED
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. It is the student's responsibility to consult with instructor for makeup assignments, handouts, or changes in the calendar.
Class attendance is checked daily. It is the responsibility of the student to drop a course for non-attendance. Failure to do so could result in the grade earned. Additionally, the instructor has the authority to drop a student for excessive absences. A student may be dropped from a course for absenteeism after the student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5 percent of the hours of instruction. Please be aware of the deadline for the administrative or student initiated withdrawals. After that date students will receive the grade that they earned.
For private voice instruction you are responsible for contacting your instructor if you need to miss a class, as soon as possible. Please do not come to your lesson if you are ill.
Contact me at least 24 hours in advance of absence. I will reschedule your lesson if there is a legitimate excuse (illness or an emergency), otherwise it will count as an abscence and will count as a missed lesson.
ARTS academic advising statement
Academic advisement concerning specific Fine Arts courses and degree plans for course work in the Arts is available to Central College students during the academic semesters.

Please sign up in the Fine Arts office, FAC 101, to speak to a full time instructor in your area of interest.
LAST DAY OF INSTRUCTION – May 8, 2012
JURIES DURING EXAM WEEK – TBA