Dr. Kristen Gunn
Applied Studio Syllabus
Spring 2016
Contact Information:
Office: Aven 205
Office phone: x3448
Email: Johnso09@mc.edu
**PLEASE Note Dr. Gunn will be on maternity leave from January 11February 26. Professor Fran Nabholz or Dr. Mandy Spivak will be
instructing applied voice students until she returns.
COURSE NUMBER INFORMATION
Applied voice course numbers will be assigned by the Head of the Music Department. MUS
331/332 are for music majors with a vocal emphasis who have passed their Advanced Standing
Exam and are either in Music Education or the BA degree. MUS 431/432 are for Vocal
Performance majors who have passed their Advanced Standing Exam and have been invited into
the Vocal Performance program. (See Advanced Standing Exams in the current Mississippi
College Department of Music STUDENT HANDBOOK under III. Standing Evaluations.) MUS
131/132 are for all other undergraduate students. MUS 6531/6532 is for graduate students.
Private instruction per week: Undergraduate students who register for one credit hour receive a
half-hour lesson and those who register for two credit hours receive a one-hour lesson.
Graduate students who register for one credit hour receive a forty-five minute lesson; those
who register for two credit hours receive a one-hour lesson; and those who register for three
hours receive two forty-five minute lessons.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The student will learn technique, pedagogy, and literature. Daily practice requirements are
based on the amount of credit to be earned per semester: 1 credit hour requires 8 practice
hours per week; 2 credit hours require 10 practice hours per week; 3 credit hours require 12
practice hours per week Repertoire requirements are dependent upon number of hours
attempted and on the declared major. Students should reserve at least 5 hours practice time by
signing up on any practice room door (except ones with grand pianos). First come, first serve.
METHODOLOGY
The student will be expected to learn ALL assigned literature during private practice hours OUTSIDE the
studio. The student will be expected to enter each lesson with their music prepared to the best of their
ability (all pitches, rhythms, dynamics, etc.), and be ready to work both technically and artistically.
Before a piece is brought in to a lesson, the student will be expected to have COMPLETELY translated
(word for word) the piece, and to also have a completed IPA transcription of the language. Applied
voice is the study of vocal technique, pedagogy, and artistic development. The teaching of notes,
rhythms, and/or other basic aspects of learning a musical piece will NOT be tolerated in this studio, and
will result in dismissal from the lesson!
NATS
NATS stands for the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Each year, two NATS student
competitions are held both regionally (fall semester) and statewide (spring semester), and are designed
to provide more performance opportunities for vocal students. ALL vocal performance majors in this
studio are REQUIRED to sing at both NATS conferences (unless excused by the instructor), and nonperformance majors are encouraged to compete in both competitions, but not required to participate!
This semester’s competition will take place the weekend of February 26-27 at the University of
Mississippi in Oxford, MS. Registration for these conferences MUST be done by your instructor, and
you will NOT be registered until your entrance fee(s) ($15 per category) is(are) received!!!!! PLEASE PAY
ALL ENTRANCE FEES NO LATER THAN
5pm, February 1st !!!!!
*IF YOU ARE LATE IN PAYING, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE*
The student is required to provide his/her own way to the conference (transportation, hotel, meals,
etc…). The instructor and student will decide upon repertoire to be performed at the competition.
More information about repertoire requirements can be found at the NATS website:
www.natssouthern.com.
DEGREE PLANNING:
A few courses germane to the degree plans for B.M. in Performance: Voice and B.M. in
Performance: Voice with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre are only offered in alternating years.
In order to graduate at a reasonably anticipated time, students must register for these courses
when they are offered. (Most University Core courses are offered with such regularity that they
are usually offered every academic year; however, students must stay in touch with their
advisors about all course scheduling and the best time to enroll for all classes.)
B.M. IN PERFORMANCE: VOICE
MUS 414 Vocal Performance Seminar is only offered in the fall semester of even years.
MUS 434 Vocal Pedagogy II is only offered in the spring semester of even years.
MUS 451 Song Literature II is only offered in the spring semester of even years.
MUS 468 Opera History is only offered in the spring semester of odd years
B.M. IN PERFORMANCE: VOICE WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MUSICAL THEATRE
MUS 164-165 Ballet is offered fall-spring beginning in an even-numbered year.
MUS 166-167 Jazz/Tap is offered fall-spring beginning in an odd-numbered year.
MUS 414 Vocal Performance Seminar is only offered in the fall semester of even years.
MUS 457 Music Theatre Repertoire I is only offered in the fall semester of odd years.
MUS 458 Music Theatre Repertoire II is only offered in the spring semester of even years.
M.M. in VOCAL PERFORMANCE AND PEDAGOGY
See to the graduate grid of course offerings and the Voice Area Coordinator, program advisor.
GENERAL APPLICATION TO ALL STUDENTS:
1. A maximum of one piece from a Music Department production (opera/musical theater) may apply
toward the number of selections in a semester’s repertoire requirements.
2. Should a student in any degree program wish to attend summer school, two summer semesters of
vocal study will be considered the equivalent of one fall or spring semester.
UNDERGRADUATE REPERTOIRE AND JURY REQUIREMENTS (as of Dec.17, 2013) (One credit hour equals a
half-hour private lesson and two credit hours equals a one-hour lesson.)
I.
Pre-Advanced Standing Requirements: Undergraduates in any Degree Program
A. Repertoire Minimum Requirements:
1. In the first two semesters at MC, students enrolled for MUS 131 or MUS 132
are required to memorize a minimum of three selections, one of which must be
in a foreign language.
2. In the third semester at MC—and any subsequent semester until the semester
of the Advanced Standing Examination--students enrolled in MUS 131 or MUS
132 are required to memorize a minimum of four selections, two of which must
be in a foreign language.
B. Jury Requirements:
1. Music majors with an emphasis in voice will sign up for one eight-minute
jury held in the JPW Recital Hall.
2. Music minors or music majors whose applied emphasis is not voice will sign
up for a five-minute jury held in faculty studios.
3. Students who are neither music majors or minors will take a jury only at the
discretion of the instructor. If instructed to take a jury, the students will sign up
for a five-minute jury held in faculty studios.
4. ALL STUDENTS will begin with a selection of choice, and the jury will call
for others.
II.
Advanced Standing Requirements: Undergraduate Music Majors
A. In the semester of the Advanced Standing Examination, music majors with a vocal
emphasis enrolled in MUS 131 or MUS132 are required to memorize at least the
minimum selections of the intended degree program as stipulated below in section
Post-Advanced Standing Degree Requirements.
B. Self-Prepared Selections
1. For B.M. in Performance: Voice with an Emphasis in Musical Theatre:
The instructor will assign to the student, at the beginning of the Advanced
Standing semester, a song from the musical theatre repertoire which is to be of
moderate difficulty and a spoken monologue. Both assignments must be
learned and memorized by the student without assistance. The student must
also present a brief dialogue about the musical work and the spoken
monologue. (This spoken requirement meets the University’s mandate to
have a speech component in every degree.)
2. For all other degrees, the instructor will assign to the student, at the
beginning of the Advanced Standing semester, a song in a foreign language
which is to be learned and memorized by the student without assistance. This
selection will be performed at the Advanced Standing jury. The student will
also present a brief dialogue about the work and its composer. (This spoken
requirement meets the University’s mandate to have a speech component in
every degree.)
C. Music majors with an emphasis in voice will sign up for one twelve-minute jury held
in the JPW Recital Hall. Students will begin with a selection of choice and the jury
will call for others. Students will perform a self-prepared selection as assigned by the
instructor and will present according to degree program requirements.
III.

Post-Advanced Standing Repertoire/Jury Minimum Requirements:
Undergraduate Music Majors Per Degree Program
BM in PERFORMANCE: VOICE
MUS 431
MUS 432

1cr. hr.
2 cr. hrs.
4 songs memorized, 2 in foreign languages
7 songs memorized, 3 in foreign languages
(3 Classical and 4 Musical Theater Selections)
BME in MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 331
MUS 332

4 songs memorized, 2 in foreign languages
7 songs memorized, 3 in foreign languages
BM in PERFORMANCE: VOICE with an EMPHASIS in MUSICAL THEATRE
MUS 431
MUS 432

1 cr. hr.
2 cr. hrs.
1 cr. hr.
2 cr. hrs.
3 songs memorized, 1 in foreign language
5 songs memorized, 2 in foreign language
BM in CHURCH MUSIC or BM in COMPOSITION
MUS 331
MUS 332
1 cr. hr.
2 cr. hrs.
3 songs memorized, 1 in foreign language
5 songs memorized, 2 in foreign language

BA in MUSIC
MUS 331
1cr. hr.
3 songs memorized, 1 in foreign language
MUS 332
2 cr. hrs.
5 songs memorized, 2 in foreign language
Performance majors, 400 level, will sign up for one twelve-minute jury in JPW Hall. Students will begin
with a selection of choice, and the jury will call for at least two others.
All other music majors with a vocal emphasis, 300 level, will sign up for an eight-minute jury in JPW Hall.
Students will begin with a selection of choice and the jury will call for others.
IV.
Post-Advanced Standing Semesters of Study Requirements:
A. Students majoring in Vocal Performance or Vocal Performance with an Emphasis in
Musical Theatre, will be required to successfully complete at least four semesters of
applied study in upper-level applied study (the 400 level/beyond the successful
Advanced Standing semester). The senior recital semester may be counted as the
fourth of these semesters in upper-level study.
B. All other music majors with a vocal emphasis should successfully complete at least
two semesters of upper-level applied study (the 300 level/beyond the successful
Advanced Standing semester). The senior recital semester may be counted as the
second of these semesters in upper-level study.
GRADUATE REPERTOIRE AND JURY REQUIREMENTS:
One credit hour equals a forty-five minute lesson and two credit hours equal a one-hour lesson.
The repertoire requirements of the first semester graduate student
is at the discretion of the instructor.

MM in VOCAL PERFORMANCE and PEDAGOGY
MUS 6531
MUS 6532
1
2
Total of 5 songs memorized; 2 in foreign language
Total of 8 songs memorized; 3 in foreign language
Graduate students with an emphasis in voice will sign up for a jury held in the JPW Recital Hall.
Students enrolled in MUS 6531 will begin with a selection of choice and the jury will call for others.
Those enrolled in MUS 6532 will begin with three selections of choice and the jury will call for others
to total fifteen minutes.

Music Master’s Degree with a NON-VOCAL EMPHASIS
MUS 6531
MUS 6532
1
2
Total of 5 songs, 3 mem., 2 in foreign languages
Total of 6 songs, 4 mem., 2 in foreign languages
Graduate students seeking a music degree who do not have an emphasis in voice
will sign up for a five-minute jury time which will be held in faculty studios.
Students will begin with a selection of choice and the jury will call for others.
EVALUATION:
1. All students seeking a music major or minor who take applied voice for credit must perform
before a jury at the conclusion of each semester.
2. The final semester grade* is a combination of the studio grade (2/3) and the jury grade (1/3). (See
instructor syllabus for further understanding of individual instructor studio grading policies.)
3. Students singing for jury or for Solo Hour performances are expected to wear afternoon
performance attire.
4. A repertory sheet (music.mc.edu/Student Login/Current Students/Voice Jury Sheet) must be
completed by each student then approved and signed by the insstructor prior to the jury exam.
At the time of the jury, this sheet along with five copies shall be presented for entrance into the
exam.
5. At the Advanced Standing Jury (as described above in this document), a portion of the jury
grade will be based on the student’s ability to give an oral presentation.
6. An Incomplete grade may be given to the student in the event of illness at jury time. The
instructor will complete an Incomplete Grade Form found on the H: Drive under Academic
Affairs/Handling Incomplete Grades. Make-up juries will be scheduled on the first Friday of next
full semester (spring or fall). A copy of the form completed by the instructor will be sent to the
student to confirm the date and time of the make-up jury.
*Each unexcused absence from the MUS 055 Solo Hour days on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 will result
in a two-point deduction from the final semester grade of a student’s applied concentration or
emphasis.
Grading scale: A = 100 - 93; B = 92 - 86; C = 85 - 79; D = 78 - 72; F = 71 and below
RECITALS: (MUS 099, 398, 498, 499, 6540)
I.
Recital Application
A. In the semester before the anticipated recital, the student must complete before
the end of the semester an online application as found in Google Documents.
B. In order to submit a recital application, the student must have completed all
degree proficiencies.
C. The faculty Recital Committee will schedule the date and time of the recital
jury and of the recital. The music office will notify the student and the
instructor of the recital and the jury dates and times. (Consideration for
requested dates will be given to those students whose recital applications are
completed and approved at the earliest date.)
II.
Recital Jury
A. Approximately three weeks before the scheduled recital date, the student must
successfully sing a recital jury, i.e., present the entire recital program before
members of the voice faculty.
B. One full week before the scheduled jury the student must:
1. submit through e-mail to the voice area coordinator and the instructor the
complete program information, i.e., recital literature, composer
names/dates, translations, and, if applicable, program notes and/or names
of other assisting performers; and
2. complete the publicity and recital logistics forms as found in Google
Documents; and
3. print copies of the complete program for the recital jurors.
Important Notice: Failure to comply with II. B. above will cancel the jury
and the recital which will not be rescheduled for the same semester.
C. Upon the successful completion of the jury, the student must submit payment to
the music department secretary for the recording and program fees.
III.
Recital Evaluation
A. Undergraduates in Vocal Performance or in Vocal Performance with an
Emphasis in Musical Theatre and graduates in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy must receive a recital
jury grade of 85 or above in order to present the recital. Any student whose recital is cancelled because
of a recital jury grade of 84 or below may not reschedule for the same semester.
B. Undergraduates in all other degree programs must receive a recital jury grade of
80 or above in order to present the recital. Any student whose recital is cancelled because of a grade of
79 or below in the recital jury may not reschedule for the same semester.
IV.
Recital Logistics
A. Hour-long, evening recitals may be presented only by students seeking a B.M. in
Performance: Voice (MUS 499); or a B.M. in Performance: Voice with an
Emphasis in Musical Theatre (MUS 499); or a M.M. in Vocal Performance and
Pedagogy (MUS 6540).
B. All other recitals (MUS 099, MUS 398, and MUS 498) will be scheduled for half an
hour in the afternoon.
C. No recitals may be scheduled in the summer semesters.
D. Formal attire is required at evening recitals and may be worn for afternoon recitals.
E. Students may secure personnel to hand out programs at their recitals.
F. Senior and graduate recitalists may have a reception in the lobby of Aven Hall, if
desired.
G.
The MC Music Department does not allow items extraneous to the program to
appear on stage during recitals (e.g., flowers).
ATTENDANCE
A student will receive a grade of F when the number of absences, whether excused or not, exceed 25%
of the scheduled lessons. Students are afforded three excused absences. Instructor absences will be
made up at mutually convenient times. Instructors will not provide make-up lessons for students
whose absences are not excused. The penalty for absences which are not excused is left to the
discretion of the instructor.
ALL STUDENTS IN THIS STUDIO are REQUIRED to attend all solo hour performances and ALL vocal
recitals. If you do not attend all solo hours, your absences will be recorded, turned in at the
conclusion of the semester, and points will be deducted from your final semester grade.
IF YOU ARE SICK (especially if you have fever)…PLEASE CANCEL YOUR LESSON! If it is an excused
absence, we will make the lesson up! If the instructor cancels the lesson for whatever reason, the
lesson WILL be made up as well.
TEXTS
All texts will include the literature assigned by the instructor. All literature assigned for each semester
MUST be purchased by the student.
Literature can be purchased from Glendower Jones at Classical Vocal Reprints. Contact Information:
1.800.298.7474 or sales@classicalvocalrep.com
GRADING*
Grading Policy:
All students who enter a lesson with the intention of the instructor teaching them
their music or with the intention of an accompanied lesson being a rehearsal will receive a grade of F
for that lesson. ALL MUSIC FOR LESSONS SHOULD BE MEMORIZED. If the music is not memorized and
not “workable”, we will continue to use the lesson time for technique exercises, the accompanist will
be dismissed and the grade of F will be averaged in with the final studio grades and jury grades. It is
VERY IMPORTANT that you prepare for your voice lessons so that you may achieve progress in your
SINGING. Your ability to learn music should progress inside the practice room, not in your voice
lessons. Be honest about your preparation so that you do not waste valuable lesson time.
All students taking applied voice for credit must perform before a jury at the conclusion of each
semester. The final semester grade is a combination of the studio grade (2/3) and the jury grade (1/3).
Grading scale: A=100-93; B= 92-86; C= 85-79; D= 78-72; F= 71 and below
Each unexcused absence from the 6 MUS 055 solo hour days on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm will result
in a 2-point deduction from the final semester grade of a student’s applied concentration or emphasis.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students will purchase published copies of the repertoire assigned by the instructor. IN NO
CASE SHOULD STUDENTS XEROX FROM INSTRUCTOR’S SCORE IN LIEU OF PURCHASING MUSIC.
Please refer to the current of the Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin for further
information regarding policies of academic integrity found under the heading entitled Honesty
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.
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.
Studio Classes for Fall 2015:
We will meet as a studio to perform for each other on the following
days in JPW Recital Hall:
Friday, August 28 @230pm
Friday, September 11 @230pm
Friday, October 16 @230pm
Friday, October 30@230pm
Friday, November 6@230pm