Year 1 Singing Module

Module MT4:

UK Credits: ECTS: Level:

Year 1 Singing

40 20 HE4

Outline

You will develop your technical ability, musicality and confidence in singing.

Overall Aim

To enable you to sing with technical control, safety, confidence, concentration, discipline and energy.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to: Skills • demonstrate presentational skills for professional performance • protect and sustain your voice in performance • control singing technique in performance • work in an effective and disciplined way as a soloist and as a member of a chorus in performance • use a range of singing styles and techniques in performance • perform a range of songs to suit a variety of audition requirements • read a vocal line at sight Knowledge and Understanding • work confidently with the techniques and terminology of professional musical theatre • study a song in depth by following the printed instructions in a score Values and attitudes • demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of a wide variety of vocal writing and styles

Singing Technique

Tutors include Travis Baker, Ceris Deverill, Robert Hickmore, Ann James, Tina Thomas, James Spilling, Besfort Williams, Miriam Gellert-Shemtov, Rachel Dussek Tutor led Hours 20

Aims

To enable you to: • develop a sound vocal technique • sing with confidence and expression, regardless of the size of your voice • understand how to protect and sustain your voice

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate: Skills • progress in singing technique • the ability to follow printed instructions in a score • confidence in performance of a song Knowledge and Understanding • an understanding of safe singing

How will I learn?

You will participate in a sequence of one-to-one lessons focusing on the following singing techniques: • breath control • posture • vocal placement • diction • intonation

Repertoire

Tutors Phillip Sutton, Timothy Evans, James Michalos, Michael Haslam, Tim Whiting Tutor led Hours 0.5 x 30 = 15 Groups one-to-one

Aims

To enable you to: • study songs, within your range, in depth • sing with confidence and expression, regardless of the size of your voice • understand how to protect and sustain your voice

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to have developed: Skills • a personal repertoire of songs • an ability to follow printed instructions in a score • confidence in performance of a song Knowledge and Understanding • an understanding of safe singing

How will I learn?

You will participate in a sequence of one-to-one portfolio lessons (repertoire) involving the study and performance of a minimum of 12 songs by writers

such as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and simpler works of contemporary composers. You will study the style, background, development of thought and artistry required in the performance of musical theatre songs.

Ensemble

Tutors Tutor led Hours Tim Whiting, Chris Whitehead, Michael Haslam 3 hours x 30 weeks = 90

Aim

To introduce you to the discipline of choral singing and to lay the foundation for the ensemble work required in Year One and Year Two projects, and especially in Year Three full-scale public productions.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate: Skills • the choral skills needed by members of the ensemble in musical theatre productions • the ability to sing in harmony and counterpoint Values and Attitudes • the importance of working effectively as a member of an ensemble

How will I learn?

You will take part in a sequence of rehearsals of ensemble pieces, usually in four harmony parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) culminating in performances before an audience of tutors and students Choruses selected from: • West End or Broadway Musicals • operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan or others from the same era • specific harmonised arrangements by different composers, classical and popular

Fitness, Health and Safety

Health and Safety is not taught as a separate class but embedded in the teaching throughout the module.

The safe use of the voice is central to all singing classes. All rehearsals and performances begin with a vocal warm-up and you are taught how and when to “mark” in rehearsal. The Head of Music has the responsibility for monitoring vocal problems. Singing tutors and repertoire coaches inform the Head of Music about any of their students who have problems.

Typical of the more serious problems include chronic tonsillitis, chronic sore throats and early stages of nodules. If any such problems arise, you are immediately encouraged to see your doctor and, if necessary, referred to an ENT specialist and/or a Speech Therapist.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate: Knowledge and Understanding • understand the vocal mechanism • understand how to maintain the condition of the voice and guard and protect it in the future Skills • prepare and execute suitable vocal warm-up exercises • select repertoire which does not “push” the voice

MODULE TEACHING PATTERN

Teaching Component Type Contact Hours Self Directed Study Hours

Total Student Learning Hours Singing Technique Technique classes 20 102 122 Repertoire Technique classes 15 100 115 Ensemble Technique classes 90 73 163

Total 125 275 400

How will I be assessed?

Monitoring of your progress in each of the assessed components of the singing module is continuous. Tutors inform the Head of Music immediately if they have any concerns about your level of attainment, discipline or attendance. The purpose of assessment is to enable you and your teachers to identify your strengths and weaknesses in the key areas of the programme. The main assessment methods are: • Continuous observation in all Technique classes • Mid and End of Year evaluation in Singing • End of Year assessment in Singing • Practical assessment in projects and public performances • Observation of written assignments, tests, notebooks and diaries

Mid and End of Year Classwork

Tutors give students indicative grades half way through the year in mid February and mark classwork formally at the end of the year in June. Mid and end of year class work grades are awarded on the basis of your response to, and development through, the process. Assessment is made with reference to the component-specific learning outcomes described in the relevant module and the following general criteria relating to Professional Employment skills: • Commitment; preparedness for work; self-directed study • concentration; application; personal motivation

• receptiveness to the process • ability to accept, and act on, notes and corrections • ability to work within a group (listening; sensitivity; responsiveness; generosity; co-operation) • progression: growth and development of skills and knowledge • development of flexibility and spontaneity • capacity to experiment and take risks • development of awareness of the working process

End of Year Assessments

At the end of the summer term first year students have formal singing assessments before a panel which may include an external assessor. The end of year singing assessment consists of the performance of two contrasting solo songs and an ensemble song. The solos contribute 40% each and the ensemble song 20% to the end of year assessment grade for singing. The assessment grade is given a weighting of 75% of the overall mark for the Singing module, against 25% for classwork. The classwork mark is calculated according to the following weightings: Singing Technique 50% Repertoire 25% Ensemble 25%

MODULE ASSESSMENT PATTERN

Assessment Component

Assessment Type Singing Assessments end of year assessment Solo 1: 40% Solo 2: 40% Ensemble song: 20%

Singing Technique Repertoire Ensemble Classwork 50% 25% 25%

Weighting

Pass Mark Pass/Fail 75% 40% no

25% 40% no

What do I have to do to pass?

You must pass all components to progress to Year 2. You must pass each of the three songs and achieve a grade of 40% or above in end of year singing assessments, and 40% or above in your classwork for singing technique, repertoire and ensemble. You must have worked a minimum of 15 contrasting songs to a satisfactory level to pass the repertoire component. Assessment criteria and grade descriptors can be found at the back of this handbook.

READING LIST

Title Author Publisher Year

Singing and the Actor

Gillyanne Kayes Methuen Drama 2004 Care of the Professional Voice D. Garfield Davies (ed.) Methuen Drama 2004