Opera Workshop MUS 068/168; 6596 Z
Spring 2016 Syllabus
Meeting place: JPW Recital Hall
Meeting times: MWF 1:00pm-2:30pm
Possible credit hours: 0/1
Instructor: Dr. Kristen Gunn
Office: Aven 205; 601.925.3448
Email: Johnso09@mc.edu
Prerequisites Required:
The prerequisite requirement for this course is acceptance into the Mississippi College School of Music
through audition.
Course Description:
Opera Workshop is offered only in the spring semester, and is designed to assist students in developing
performance skills in the operatic repertoire. The course presents a systematic and practical approach to
preparing dramatic musical material, and allows students to explore acting and movement principles in
performance.
Rationale for Course:
This course is a requirement for vocal performance majors. Requirements for the vocal performance
degree program include 2 credit hours of Opera Workshop. The goals for the vocal performance majors
in this course are to enhance performing skills, increase confidence on the stage, and to become more
knowledgeable concerning different operatic styles and performance practices. This course can also
serve as an elective for music majors who are not voice performance majors, and may be taken for 0
credit hours if desired. The goals for the non-voice performance majors in this course are to increase
confidence while performing in a public venue, and also to increase the students’ knowledge of opera
and its different styles.
Purpose & Student Objectives/Outcomes:
The purpose of this course is to equip the student with tools for characterization, dramatic analysis, and
stage movement. The instructor will encourage the development of audition techniques, personal
approach to performance, and acting techniques through mock auditions and monologue readings.
Since there are both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in this course, the graduate
students will be expected to perform twice during class meetings. Some undergraduate students will get
the opportunity to perform in front of the class, but not all undergraduates (depending on the class
size). Graduate
students must accompany each performance with an
oral presentation including historical facts about the opera from
which they are singing, facts about the opera’s composer/librettist, a
synopsis of the opera, and a MEMORIZED, English translation of the
text of the aria. It is extremely important for a performer to clearly
communicate the thoughts and ideas of the character singing
regardless of whether the language of the piece is the native language
of the performer. This exercise, intended only for the graduate
students enrolled in the course, will serve as an example for the
undergraduates as they learn to correctly prepare their repertoire.
Method of Evaluation:
Evaluations for this course will be calculated according to: the willingness of the student to participate in
and improve upon the objectives named above, the level of preparation for singers who are performing
during the class period, and the participation of ALL students enrolled in the course (observations, giving
oral commentary, etc.). When performing an opera scenes program, students will be evaluated on
preparation, how they receive and execute stage direction and ultimately, the final performance of the
scene in public. To view the grading scale at Mississippi College, please refer to the Mississippi College
Undergraduate and/or Graduate catalogs.
Repertoire:
Repertoire for this course will include operatic repertoire ranging from the Baroque era to the present
day. Since we are doing an opera scenes program this semester (Spring 2016), repertoire will be
assigned by Dr. Gunn based on the enrollment in the class.
Attendance:
The first meeting of this class will be Monday, January 11th at 1pm.
You will meet with the accompanist assigned to the class and receive
your opera scenes assignments for the semester. During the first half
of the semester (January 11-Feb 26), you will learn your scene
musically and rehearse with the class accompanist at his/her
convenience. A weekly rehearsal time should be scheduled and
maintained. When Dr. Gunn returns from maternity leave on
Monday, February 29, she will expect to hear all opera scenes from
memory. She will then use the remainder of the semester to stage
the scenes and get them ready for the public performance on
Wednesday, April 13th at 3pm in JPW Recital Hall.
Orientation for Graduate Students:
Graduate students should read the Graduate Orientation Manual in its entirety. This is an important part
of the orientation for graduate students. Please get your hard copy from your department or from the
Graduate Office in Nelson 202. You may also view the manual on the web at this address:
http://www/mc.edu/publications/graduate/orientation.html
Students with disabilities
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Americans
with Disabilities Act, he or she must contact Student Counseling Services (SCS). SCS will assist
with information regarding the appropriate policy and procedure for disability accommodations
before each semester or upon immediate recognition of the disability. SCS is located in Alumni
Hall Room #4 or you may contact them by phone at 601-925-7790. The Director of Student
Counseling Services, Dr. Bryant may be reached via email at mbryant@mc.edu.
Music for Accompanists:
When you are performing in this class, you will be expected to have music prepared to give to your
accompanist. Since we are practicing audition/performance techniques, we will also include audition
etiquette…PARTICULARLY how to come prepared for an accompanist. You MUST have each piece neatly
labeled in a black 3-ring binder. Music should be copied front/back, but if it is single-paged, music must
be taped according to page turns in the book from which it is copied! DO NOT EXPECT YOUR
ACCOMPANIST TO DO THIS FOR YOU! This is YOUR responsibility, and will be expected of you for any
audition you attend. DO NOT put music in laminated page pockets, it causes a glare and might be
difficult for your accompanist to read. Please present clean copies of your music, and make sure the
copies are easy to read as most accompanists will be sight-reading your audition material. You do NOT
want to sabotage your audition by providing a poorly organized audition folder to your accompanist.
PLEASE mark all cuts, if any, clearly so that the accompanist knows EXACTLY what you plan to do!
****Always thank your accompanist after every audition/performance! It is always collaboration!
Grading:
Final Exam: 100% - Successful preparation and performance of assigned opera
scene. Evaluation of written program notes from each group performing a scene
or aria.
Early Alert System
Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the semester who may be
exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative impact on their academic progress. These
behaviors are often called “red flag” behaviors and include, but are not limited to, excessive absences,
poor test grades, and lack of class participation or evidence of non-engagement. Identifying these
behaviors early gives the instructor the opportunity to raise the “red flag” on behalf of a particular
student so that the student can take the appropriate action to redirect his/her progress. The system
alerts the student, the student’s advisor, and the Office of Student Success.
These messages are intended to help a student recognize an area of concern and to encourage him/her
to make some choices to improve the situation. When a student receives an Early Alert message, the
student should quickly make an appointment to talk with his/her professor about the situation. Also,
students can make full use of the Office of Student Success to set academic goals and connect to campus
resources.
Proposed Course Outline
 Monday, January 11 – Wednesday, February 24
Meet with class accompanist, receive opera scene assignments and create
weekly rehearsal schedule (using class time) to prepare scenes musically
 Friday, February 26
No class – NATS conference @ Ole Miss
 Monday, February 29
Dr. Gunn returns and hears opera scenes program from memory; Discuss
context of scenes with students
 Wednesday, March 2nd
Rehearse program again from memory; Continue discussion regarding scenes
Discuss program notes component and due dates
Please refer to staging calendar for remainder of semester; not ALL will be
called to each class
 Friday, March 4th – Friday March 11th
NO CLASS – SINGERS TOUR AND SPRING BREAK TO FOLLOW**
 Monday, March 14th
Staging
 Wednesday, March 16th
Staging
 Friday, March 18th
Staging
 Monday, March 21st
Staging
 Wednesday, March 23rd
Staging
 Friday, March 25th
Staging
 Monday, March 28th
NO CLASS – EASTER HOLIDAY
 Wednesday, March 30th
Rehearse full program – ENTIRE CLASS CALLED
First draft of program notes due
 Friday, April 1st
Rehearse full program – ENTIRE CLASS CALLED
 Monday, April 4th
Rehearse full program and return edits on program notes
 Wednesday, April 6th
Rehearse full program
Final draft of program notes due
 Friday, April 8th
Dress rehearsal of program
 Monday, April 11th
Dress rehearsal of program
 Wednesday, April 13th
Performance of Opera Scenes program at solo hour – 3pm in JPW;
CALL TIME – 2pm for dress, setting props and makeup
 Friday, April 15th
NO CLASS – ENJOY TIME OFF FOR ONE CLASS PERIOD
 Monday, April 18th
Watch MET 25th anniversary concert on dvd honoring James Levine
 Wednesday, April 20th
Continue to watch concert
 Friday, April 22nd
Watch operatic excerpts in class featuring different directing
styles/approaches; Discuss
FINAL CLASS PERIOD