Voice Methods Class

Song Performance Assignment

Spring, 2010

The in-class performance are worth 10% of your total grade.

General Information

1. Your song must be memorized. No exceptions. Be sure you practice away from the score often. The only way to know if you are memorized is to close the score.

2. Song repertoire must be chosen from the Art Songs and Arias section of our textbook song offerings (pg. iv and v). Unless you know a foreign language or coach the foreign language diction, you should sing English. If you provide me with a blank CD, I am happy to make a copy of your song’s accompaniment for you to practice with.

3. Performances should be as polished as possible. Practice for details. All efforts shall be made to maintain professionalism. Good vocal singing technique should be demonstrated at all time. In addition, students should make every effort to interpret the song and express the song's meaning. Diction should be clearly understood.

4. The performance should demonstrate command of technical aspects of singing. (Breathing, Register, Resonance, oh yes, expression, etc.)

5. All class members will provide written remarks to each singer. These written remarks will be signed by the writer and graded by the faculty. They should offer constructive criticism to each performer. They will be distributed to the singer.

Performance Procedure

1. Be aware that we will be pressed for time. Be ready when your name is called. Treat this performance as any other audition or performance you might do.

2. The CD track should be prepared.

3. Announce your name and the title of your piece.

4. Perform your best.

Performance Schedule: (May be adjusted so stay tuned.)

Monday, April 12: Ramsey, Chipley, Carpenter, Scott, Morgan

Monday, April 19: Barnes, Bowman, Jandes, Dills, Kimbrough, Stewart

Monday, April 26: Boling, Brown, Edwards, McDonald, Wall

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Rubric for Critiquing:

As future music teachers, you will have to learn to assess, evaluate and critique your students endlessly. As a future music professional, you will have to learn to assess, evaluate and critique yourself constantly. To that end, the critiques of your colleagues will be graded. You will be graded on the following:

1. Were your comments truly insightful observations? Or merely something written down? Be sure to answer the question “why?”

2. Are your comments detailed and specific? Do they target a specific point of technique? “Why?”

3. Do your comments offer an idea of improvement?

4. Does the writer offer any specific detailed positive comments?

5. In subsequent performances (graded performances, informal singing and master classes), is the writer able to connect performance #1 with performance #2 and note changes and improvements?