Rev. 8/14/13
Fall 2013
THEATRE 350
MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE 1
Mondays & Wednesdays 3:30-5:00, DA-5B
Voice Lab Fridays 3:00-5:00, DA-5B
Course Supervisor/Instructor: Rick Simas
Office DA-5A: MWF 3-3:30 & arranged
(rsimas@mail.sdsu.edu)
Course Instructor: Brandon Maier
(cell 818-426-9154; BrandonJoelMaier@gmail.com)
Class Accompanist: Ron Councell
Office DA-228: by appt only
Cell: (619) 248-6200; ron@unitysandiego.org
OVERVIEW
Musical Theatre Performance 1 is a performance-oriented course in which students participate in
musical-theatre projects that incorporate singing, acting, and movement. Over the course of the
semester, students will perform 3 projects from the musical-theatre repertoire (one may be rock, pop
or country). Projects may include solos or duet scenes. Solo projects introduce students to the
process of song structure and analysis, as well as a body of musical-theatre and popular literature,
preparing them for auditions and performance work outside of class. Musical scenes strengthen their
skills in character and text analysis, helping them to further integrate singing, acting, and movement.
All of these projects teach students to appreciate the musical theatre as an art form requiring the
mastery and synthesis of singing, acting and movement. On 13 Fridays over the course of the
semester, students will have the opportunity to work with graduate student instructors of the MFA
Class of 2014 to improve their singing skills and overall vocal health. All students enrolled in the
class are required to complete at least 10 hours of vocal instruction over the course of the
semester. Each of the Friday two-hour voice classes counts as one hour of vocal instruction.
Students can also receive private instruction (for a fee) from Nancy Snow Carr, Kyrsten Hafso, Roy
Mote, Laurinda Nikkel, Enrique Toral, Jeff Huard, Wendy Thomson, Kim Burns, Roxane Carrasco,
Cody Walker, Sasha Weiss, or any other voice instructor approved at the beginning of the semester
by the course supervisor.
Acceptance into the class is by consent of the instructor, and all students must audition. The
class list will be posted no later than Thursday, September 5. Those students accepted into the class
must add it to their program no later than Monday, September 9.
Primary emphasis in this class is placed on performing—on singing and acting in musical projects.
For this reason, students must regularly attend class to learn by watching, analyzing, and critiquing
the work of their classmates, in addition to performing themselves. Students learn as much by
watching and critiquing the performances of others as they do by performing themselves.
Students who want to improve their skills as actor-singers should expect to spend 3 hours/week out
of class vocalizing/preparing for performances. Written work is assigned as it pertains to performance preparation and evaluation.
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REQUIRED CLASS MATERIALS
1. $10.00 music/DVD fee (up to 40 pages of sheet music and 3 DVD’s).
2. A voice recorder to record the student’s taping/coaching sessions and in-class performances.
3. Audition binder with cover page and properly prepared and marked sheet music, which constitutes the student’s audition book.
TAPING/COACHING SESSIONS
Students are required to attend one 15-minute taping session for each of their four performance projects with class accompanist Ron Councell for a minimum of four 15-minute taping
sessions over the course of the semester. Students may sign up for additional 15-minute sessions for
extra credit. However, only one session per project is required. During these sessions, Ron will
record the vocal line and piano accompaniment to your song and answer questions regarding notes
and rhythms. Students must bring their prepared sheet music and voice recorder to these sessions.
Coaching time constitutes 4 points of your course grade. If an emergency arises prohibiting
you from keeping a scheduled appointment, call Ron on his cell phone. Arriving late or failing
to show up for appointments will result in the loss of points and ultimately the termination of
coaching privileges.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
I. ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY AND PARTICIPATION
A. Arriving on time to class, wearing appropriate rehearsal/audition clothes and shoes on the days
of your work-throughs and performances. Three absences, or six tardies, or a combination
thereof (such as two absences and two tardies) are allowed over the course of the
semester. Every unexcused absence over the maximum will reduce the student's grade
by 2 points, and every unexcused tardy over the maximum will reduce the student's
grade by 1 point. Excused absences should be arranged ahead of time and cannot be
arranged for performance dates. Absences are excused for legal/religious holidays, death
in the family, and illness supported by a doctor's note.
B. Creating an environment in which class members feel free to take risks and make mistakes.
Sitting up, feet on the floor, paying attention (not reading, talking, flipping binder pages/looking over your music, etc.).
C. Committing to and completing in-class assignments and performances. Bring a pen and notepad to every class session to note your observations of your classmates’ performances.
During your in-class work-through, the instructor may touch you in order to affect your
breathing, posture, gesture, or movement. If you’re uncomfortable with this, please inform the
instructor before your work-through session. No use of cell phones, touchpads or laptops in
class.
II. TAPES/COACHING SESSIONS/VOICE INSTRUCTION
A. Arriving on time to out-of-class coaching sessions and Friday voice classes prepared to
work with prepared sheet music, and voice recorder.
B. Completing (and logging) a minimum of 10 hours of voice instruction.
C. Completing (and logging) a minimum of one 15-minute coaching sessions for each of your
four performance projects over the course of the semester.
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III. PERFORMANCES
A. Project 1. (Preceded by a minimum of one 15-minute session with class accompanist.)
B. Project 2. (Preceded by a minimum of one 15-minute session with class accompanist.)
C. Project 3. (Preceded by a minimum of one 15-minute session with class accompanist.)
D. Final Audition/Project. (Preceded by a minimum of one 15-minute session with accompanist.)
IV. ATTENDANCE OF OUT-OF-CLASS PERFORMANCES
A. A…My Name Is Alice, Oct. 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 at SDSU (required).
B. Little By Little, Nov. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 at SDSU (required).
C. Fall 2013 MFA Portfolio, December 9-13 (exact date TBA) at SDSU (required).
V. REQUIRED WRITING
A. Critique of A…My Name Is Alice, due no later than Wednesday, Nov. 6, or of Little By Little,
due no later than Wednesday, Nov. 20 (new students only).
B. Project 1 Prep—due on Monday, Oct. 7.
C. Project 2 Prep—due on Monday, Nov. 4.
D. Project 3 Prep—due on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
E. Video Self-Evaluation—due on the day of the final performance: Wednesday, Dec. 18, or
Monday Dec. 16, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Song Preparations will NOT be accepted late by the instructor.
The Performance Critique and Video Self-Evaluation will not be accepted after 5:30pm on
the day of the final. (Points will be deducted for lateness.) No written assignments will be
accepted after this date.
VI. EXTRA CREDIT
A. Up to 14 points (total) for voice instruction (1 point per each 2-hour Friday voice class and
per each hour of private vocal instruction).
B. Up to 6 points (total) for coaching appointments (1 point per 15-minute session).
Students can only earn extra credit if they complete and turn in ON TIME all 3 song
preparations and attend at least one 15-minute coaching session per assignment BEFORE THE DATE OF THE IN-CLASS WORK-THROUGH FOR THAT PROJECT.
C. 3 points for attending Sasha Weiss’ Cabaret on Thursday, October 24, at Martini’s Above
Fourth.
No other extra credit projects will be accepted.
GRADING
NEW STUDENTS:
A. Participation: 5 pts.
B. Ten Hours of Voice Instruction: 10 pts.
C. Four Coaching Appointments: 4 pts.
D. Three Written Preps: 15 pts.
I. Performance attendance: 6 pts.
E. Project 1: 10 pts
F. Project 2: 10 pts
G. Project 3: 10 pts.
H. Video Self-Evaluation: 10 pts.
K. Audition Book: 3 pts.
Pg. 4
J. Critique: 5 pts.
L. Final Performance Project: 12 pts.
CONTINUING STUDENTS:
A. Participation: 5 pts.
B. Ten Hours of Voice Instruction: 10 pts.
C. Four Coaching Appointments: 4 pts.
D. Three Written Preps: 15 pts.
E. Performance attendance: 6 pts.
F. Critique: n/a
G. Project 1: 10 pts
H. Project 2: 10 pts
I. Project 3: 12 pts.
J. Video Self-Evaluation: 10 pts.
K. Audition Book: 3 pts.
L. Final Performance Project: 15 pts.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK #1, August 26 & 28 (2 classes):
Introductions. Course syllabus. Audition instructions. Audition songs discussed/checked.
Wed in-class audition for returning students (as needed). General Auditions (monologues)
are Thurs and Fri, Aug 29 and 30. Singing auditions are Fri, Aug 30, 1:30-5pm.
WEEK #2, September 4 (1 class):
Mon, Sept 2: Labor Day (holiday—no class).
In-class audition: Wed, September 4. Post class list by Thurs, Sept 5.
WEEK #3, September 9 & 11 (2 classes):
Mon, Sept 9: How to prepare music. Discuss Song Preparation. Assign Project 1 and prep.
Wed, Sept 11: Begin Project 1. Friday voice class #1.
Mon, Sept 9—last day to add or drop classes.
WEEK #4, September 16 & 18 (2 classes):
Continue Project 1. Friday voice class #2.
WEEK #5, September 23 & 25 (2 classes):
Continue Project 1. Assign Project 2. Friday voice class #3.
WEEK #6, September 30 & October 2 (2 classes):
Finish Project 1. Wed, Oct 2: Project 1 sing-thru. Friday voice class #4.
WEEK #7, October 7 & 9 (2 classes):
Mon, Oct 7: Project 1 performance. Prep 1 due.
Wed, Oct 9: Begin Project 2. Friday voice class #5.
WEEK #8, October 14 & 16 (2 classes):
Continue Project 2. Performance critique assignment.
A…My Name Is Alice: Oct. 18, 19 and 20. Friday voice class #6.
WEEK #9, October 21 & 23 (2 classes):
Continue Project 2. Assign Project 3 and prep.
A…My Name Is Alice: Oct. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Friday voice class #7.
Pg. 5
WEEK #10, October 28 & 30 (2 classes):
Finish Project 2. Wed, Oct 30: Project 2 sing-thru.
Little By Little: Nov. 1, 2 and 3. Friday voice class #8.
WEEK #11, November 4 & 6 (2 classes):
Mon, Nov 4: Project 2 performance. Prep 2 due. Little By Little: Nov. 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Weds, Nov 6: Begin Project 3. A…My Name Is Alice critique due. Friday voice class #9.
WEEK #12, November 13 (1 class):
Mon, Nov 11: Veterans Day (holiday—no class). Wed, Nov 13: Continue Project 3.
Set up out-of-class appointments for final auditions/projects. Friday voice class #10.
WEEK #13, November 18 & 20 (2 classes):
Continue Project 3. Start out-of-class appointments. Wed, Nov 20: Project 3 performance.
Prep 3 due. Little By Little critique due. Friday voice class #11.
WEEK #14, November 25 & 27 (2 classes):
Finish Project 3. Finish out-of-class appointments. Nov 28 – Dec 1: Thanksgiving vacation!
(No Friday voice class.)
WEEK #15, December 2 & 4 (2 classes):
Mon, Dec 2: Project 3 sing-thru. Wed, Nov 4: Project 3 performance. Friday voice class #12.
WEEK #16, December 9 & 11 (2 classes):
Run-through of final auditions/projects. Video Self-Evaluation assignment.
MFA Portfolio this week—date TBA. Friday voice class #13 (last class).
WEEK #17, December 16 or 18 (1 class):
Final Performance Project takes place at the scheduled final time, Weds, December 18,
3:30-5:30, or Mon., December 16, 3:30-5:30, if all class members are available at that time.
Video Self-Evaluation, Voice lesson/Vocal coaching card, and Repertoire book are due.