Syllabus

MU 306 Group Vocal Technique
Spring 2015 David Harris, D.M.A.

 Class Description
A survey of helpful methods of teaching vocal technique in the choral rehearsal, students will learn how to develop beautiful group singing (“bel canto”) by knowing how to apply appropriate exercises to particular vocal problems: breathing, support, diaphragm activity, resonance, range extension, register consistency, vowel modification, etc. The class will function as a workshop in which students will develop their rehearsal/teaching skills in front of the rest of the class.

General Objectives

1. The student will begin to understand vital areas of vocal technique that should be addressed through the teaching of vocal technique exercises.

2. The student will demonstrate the ability to teach pre-existing vocal technique exercises to groups of vocalists.

3. The student will listen to groups of vocalists sing the pre-existing vocal technique exercises.

4. The student will recognize from listening to groups of vocalists areas of vocal technical concern.

5. The student will create solutions for groups of vocalists in areas of vocal technical concern.

6. The student will write their own vocal technique exercises for groups of vocalists based upon their areas of vocal technical concern.

7. The student will appreciate the vocal pedagogical progress made by groups of vocalists.

8. The student will speak publicly, knowledgeably, clearly, and affectionately.

9. The student will pray publicly, knowledgeably, clearly, and affectionately.

Specific Objectives

1. The student will read read primary texts on the subject of Group Vocal Technique.         [GO #1]

2. The student will remember what he has read from primary texts on the subject of Group Vocal Technique. [Testing] [GO #1]

3. The student will teach [by singing and public speaking] vocal technique exercises. [Weekly public demonstration] [GO #2]

4. The student will verbalize what they are hearing from the world around them. [Group discussion] [GO #3]

5. The student will tell groups of vocalists what they are hearing. [weekly public demonstration]. [GO #4]

6. The student will state solutions for the vocal pedagogical concerns they are hearing. [Weekly public demonstration/knowledge gained from the reading].
[GO #5]

7. The student will blog original kinetic exercises based upon the observation of life-behaviors apart from the choral rehearsal. [GO #6]

8. The student will praise groups of singers for specific observable progress made by groups of vocalists. [GO #7]

9. The student will interact with the professor on public speaking skills combining knowledge, clarity, and affection. [GO #8]

10. The student will recite prayers from The Valley of Vision. [GO #9]


Course Textbooks

Haasemann, Frauke and James Jordan. Group Vocal Technique.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Hinshaw Music, Inc., 1991.

Course Requirements

 1. Weekly Quizzes 50%
2. Group Vocal Technique Labs 50%

Course Calendar
January 12
Introduction
January 14
VC 12-22—GVT 1 Quiz

 January 16

VC 23-33 – GVT 2
January 21
VC 34-44 – GVT 3 Quiz

 January 23

VC 45-50 – GVT 4
January 28
VC 51-55 - GVT 5 Quiz

 January 30

VC 56-66 - GVT 6
February 4
VC 67-77 - GVT 7 Quiz

 February 6

VC 78-88 - GVT 8

 February 18

VC 89-94 - GVT 9
February 20
VC 95-99 - GVT 10 Quiz

 February 25

VC 100-104 - GVT 11
February 27
VC 105-108 - GVT 12 Quiz

March 4

VC 124-132 - GVT 13
March 6
VC 133-143 - GVT 14

 March 18

VC 144-155 [Lab] - GVT 15 
AD TVC No. 145 (Range Extension: Low)
JE III TVC No. 146 (Range Extension: Low)
MB TVC No. 148 (Range Extension: Low)
KB TVC No. 152 (Range Extension: Low)
March 20
VC 155-165 - GVT 16 (Quiz) 

 March 25

GVT 17
[Life-activity stretching exercise 1]
March 27
VC 169-173 [Lab]
CM TVC No. 79 (Resonance)
BC TVC No.  81 (Resonance)
NP TVC No. 82 (Resonance)
April 1
VC 188-192 - GVT 18 [Quiz]

 April 8

[Life-activity stretching exercise 2] GVT 19
April 10
VC 193-198 - GVT 20 [Quiz, Lab]
AD TVC No. 198 (Martellato)
JE II TVC No. 196 (Martellato)
MB TVC No. 194 (Martellato)
KB TVC No. 196 (Martellato-same as AD-practice together)
April 15
VC 199-208 - GVT 21
[Life-activity relaxation exercise 3]
April 17
VC 209-213 - GVT 22 [Quiz, Lab]
CM TVC No. 209
BC TVC No. 211
NP TVC No. 212
April 22
VC 214-218—GVT 23
April 24
VC 219-225—GVT 23 (Quiz)
April 29
VC 255-265—GVT 23
(Life-activity relaxation exercise No. 4)
May 1
VC 266-276—GVT 24 (Quiz)

 May 4

Final Exam
(Life-activity relaxation exercise No. 5)