COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Prefix/Number: MUS3253
Course Title: Diction 2: French/German
Course Credit Hours: 01
Instructor Name and Contact Information:
Blake Riley
Office: Bldg 82 Room 110
Telephone: 474-2182
E mail: Briley@uwf.edu
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: Some previous study of a foreign language is
preferred, but not necessary. Student must possess the ability to read music.
Course Description: This course will give the student intermediate level
proficiency with French and German Diction. Students will be taught the
International Phonetic Alphabet and the symbols will be applied to language
pronunciation.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Student will learn to produce pure vowels.
2. Student will learn to eliminate the diphthong in pronouncing (e), (Є), (o),
and (‫)כ‬.
3. Student will learn the appropriate use of liason.
4. Student will learn the usage of the ‘schwa’ or ‘mute e’ in the French
language.
5. Student will learn elision; the proper linking of vowels between words.
6. Student will learn a basic understanding of open and closed e and o.
7. Student will learn the use of the ‘ichlaut’ and ‘achlaut’ in the German
language.
8.
9.
Student will learn the use of the glottal attack in German.
Student will learn the forward articulation and non-aspiration of
consonant sounds.
10. Student will learn the precise production of the mixed vowels in both
German and French and the Diphthongs in German.
This course incorporates the following Accomplished Practices and
Professional Education Competencies and Skills for Florida teacher
certification in Music Education P-12: 4.1, 5.1
And are assessed as follows:
3 - Knowledge of instructional assesment procedures
3.1 -Identify performance problems and methods for correcting problems
WOT
4- Knowledge of professional and instructional resources
4.1 - Identify resources and technology for instructional purposes
WOT
KEY
OT - Oral Test
W - Written Test
Topics Covered: The student will master the basic rules of German and French
pronunciation, both in theory and practice through use of the International
Phonetic Alphabet.
1. Forming and practicing vowel sounds with particular attention to the
position of the tongue.
2. Forming and practicing consonant sounds with particular attention to
the articulators.
a) Plosives
b) Fricatives
c) Nasals
d) Lateral
e) Trilled
f) Affricates
3. The application of these principles of pronunciation into a musical
context.
4. The transcription of French and German words using International
Phonetic Alphabet.
Texts:
Required texts: Diction for Singers – Joan Wall
Recommended texts: A Handbook of Diction for Singers – David Adams
Italian Lyric Diction – Cheri Montgomery
Grading / Evaluation: 2 IPA Quizzes
Assignments
In-class singing
Final Exam
20%
30%
20%
30%
References/Bibliography: (optional)
Special Technology Utilized by Students: [Beyond baseline requirements of email and word
processing.]
Expectations for Academic Conduct/Plagiarism Policy:
Academic Conduct Policy: See below
Plagiarism Policy: http://uwf.edu/cas/aasr/Plagiarism.doc
Student Handbook: http://www.uwf.edu/uwfmain/stuHandbk/
ASSISTANCE:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other course-related
accommodations should contact Barbara Fitzpatrick, Director of Disabled Student Services
(DSS), dss@uwf.edu, (850) 474-2387. DSS will provide the student with a letter for the instructor
that will specify any recommended accommodations.
EXPECTATIONS FOR ACADEMIC CONDUCT
As members of the University of West Florida academic community, we commit ourselves to honesty. As
we strive for excellence in performance, integrity—both personal and institutional—is our most precious
asset. Honesty in our academic work is vital, and we will not knowingly act in ways which erode that
integrity. Accordingly, we pledge not to cheat, nor to tolerate cheating, nor to plagiarize the work of
others. We pledge to share community resources in ways that are responsible and that comply with
established policies of fairness. Cooperation and competition are means to high achievement and are
encouraged. Indeed, cooperation is expected unless our directive is to individual performance. We will
compete constructively and professionally for the purpose of stimulating high performance and standards.
Finally, we accept adherence to this set of expectations for academic conduct as a condition of
membership in the UWF academic community.
From the Student Life Handbook, page 46.