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: 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. It is not possible to get an "A"
without this much practice time put in.
SECTION VI – 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. March 13, 2011 at your regular lesson time you will have a mid-term exam on
half of your song repertoire for the semester. (Please see SECTION III on Repertoire
Requirements.) This will count for 20% of your Lesson Grade.
4. 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% (20% of this is your midterm repertoire
exam grade,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 6, 2011
JURIES DURING EXAM WEEK – Wed. , May 9, 4:30-6