Singing

• Discover autonomy over your process so that you may apply yourself independently to explore creativity, rigour, adaptability and specificity within your work

How will I learn?

Much of this unit is taught within a workshop environment to facilitate the maximum amount of individual experiential learning as possible. Within this you may work individually, in pairs or small groups, or within the larger ensemble. You will develop your learning through individual participation as well as peer observation and analysis. You will also take part in group discussions of research, observations and connections to previous work.

How will I be assessed?

The assessment within this unit is based on your engagement with process as opposed to assessment of a specific performance. You will be formatively assessed throughout the module in relation to the assessment criteria for the module. There may be more informal sharing of process to the wider group which may contribute to the assessment process. The mark awarded for Voice and Language forms 65% of the mark for Voice module.

What will the assessors be looking for?

• Engagement with commitment to the development and acquisition of technical skills • Ownership of all aspects of the vocal progression taught on the course: body and breath; optimum voice; resonance; forward placement; pitch and clear articulation/diction in response to the medium being employed in; • Ability to use critical analysis of text to inform vocal choices. • Ability to deliver verse with confidence and connection. • Ability to deliver text with meaning and feeling. • Active engagement with rhetorical devices. • Ownership of dynamic, expressive delivery of language. • Demonstrate connection through physical embodiment of text. • Ability to confidently work in a variety of acoustic environments. • Ownership of imaginative, expressive delivery of heightened language. • Ability to deliver verse with clarity confidence and connection.

Tutor: Helen Ireland Contact hours: 31.5 Timetable: 1 x 75 min class a week, Autumn and Spring terms

Outline

This unit enables you to approach singing as an actor and to begin work on a realisation of the potential of your singing voice. You will prepare the given material with the emphasis on ‘telling the story’ of the song, whilst also learning how to prepare the material as the actor would prepare a script.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of the module you will be expected to be able to:

Skills • incorporate the relevant techniques of acting and character creation into your singing performance • present suitable songs in an appropriate manner for a professional audition.

Knowledge and understanding • demonstrate an engagement with the appropriate techniques for the realisation of a creatively free and appropriate performance • understand how to adapt acting choices when performing a song in an audition context.

Values and Attitudes • work with trust, generosity, openness and resilience as a collaborative performer within an inclusive ensemble • value the working environment as a professional space in which you may work playfully and freely to take creative risks • discover autonomy over your process so that you may apply yourself independently to explore creativity, rigour, adaptability and specificity within your work

How will I learn

You will work in groups of differing sizes in order to explore a variety of materials to expand your knowledge of repertoire and to challenge you in different areas. You will work in large groups for ensemble singing, and in pairs or individually to work with the singing tutor on different songs. You will have a sharing of your work at the end of each term to the whole group.

How will I be assessed?

The assessment within this unit is based on your engagement with process as opposed to assessment of a specific performance. You will be formatively assessed throughout the module in relation to the assessment criteria for the module. There will be more formal sharings of process to the wider group at the end of term which may contribute to the assessment process. This unit of the module is Pass/Fail and will not contribute to a final mark for the module.

What will assessors be looking for?

• Demonstration of engaging with commitment to the development and acquisition of technical skills. • Evidence of being able to sing in ensemble. • Ability to sing in harmony • Ability to apply taught vocal technique • Evidence an understanding of fundamental music theory. • Demonstration of being able to communicate text through song.