Year 2 Singing Module

Module MT9:

UK Credits: ECTS: Level:

Year 2 Singing

35 17.5 HE5

Outline

You will further develop your technical ability, musicality and confidence in singing to the standard required by the professional musical theatre.

Overall Aims

To enable you to develop your ability to sing in musical theatre productions to a standard required by professional musical theatre 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 • work confidently with the techniques and terminology of professional musical theatre Knowledge and Understanding • study a song in depth by following the printed instructions in a score Values and Attitudes • demonstrate an appreciation of a wide variety of vocal writing and styles

Singing Technique

Tutors include Ceris Deverill, Robert Hickmore, Ann James, Mary King, Tina Thomas, James Spilling, Besfort Williams, Travis Baker, Rachel Dussek Tutor led Hours 20 Groups one-to-one

Aims

To enable you to develop to a standard required by the professional musical theatre: • a sound vocal technique • the ability to sing with confidence and expression, regardless of the size of the voice

• the ability to 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 demonstrate, to a standard required by the professional musical theatre, the ability to: Skills • use vocal technique with confidence and consistency • follow printed instructions in a score Knowledge and Understanding • an understanding of safe singing

How will I learn?

You will receive a sequence of one-to-one singing lessons focusing on the importance of: • breath control • posture • vocal placement • diction • intonation

Repertoire

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

Aims

To enable you to: • perform with confidence a wide range of musical theatre songs • study more complex material in depth • sing with confidence and expression, regardless of the size of the voice • select material which protects and sustains the voice

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to: Skills • sing a wide range of songs from the musical theatre repertoire • sing in other styles including jazz, blues, pop and rock • follow printed instructions in a score with greater confidence • perform a song to a professional standard • attend an audition and to sing well enough to obtain professional employment Knowledge and Understanding • demonstrate an understanding of safe singing

How will I learn?

You will take part in individual singing lessons to build a repertoire of a minimum of 15 songs focusing on: • development in knowledge and understanding of more mainstream musical theatre writers such as Sondheim, Weill, Lloyd Webber and Boublil and Schonberg • development of knowledge and understanding of the classical repertoire, through blues and jazz material, up to contemporary pop songs, rock songs and comedy/character songs

Ensemble

Tutor Chris Whitehead, Tim Whiting, Jerome Van Den Berghe Tutor led Hours 3 x 30 = 90

Aims

To develop further, through practical application, the necessary aural, notational and musicianship skills needed to rehearse and perform four part harmony songs to the level required by the professional musical theatre.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to be able to: Skills • demonstrate accurate listening, reproduction and retention skills • follow and read a vocal line Knowledge and understanding • demonstrate an awareness of the elements constituting good ensemble singing: o accuracy and uniformity of rhythm, pitch and diction o the ability to blend vocally and to balance as an ensemble

How will I learn?

You will take part in a sequence of technique classes rehearsing ensemble pieces, usually in four harmony parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), culminating in performances before an audience of tutors and students. The work will become more complicated and diverse than in Year 1 to reflect greater knowledge and skills in this discipline. Choruses selected from: • West End or Broadway Musicals • operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan and others from the same era • specific harmonised arrangements by different composers, classical and popular

Fitness Health and Safety

The planning, implementing and maintaining of personal health and fitness is an intrinsic part of Year 2 of the Music Module.

The safe use of the voice is central to the individually taught Technique and Repertoire classes. All rehearsals and performances begin with a vocal warm-up and students are taught how and when to “mark” in rehearsal.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component, you will be expected to have further developed their ability to: Skills • prepare and execute suitable vocal warm-up exercises Knowledge and Understanding • understand the vocal mechanism • understand how to maintain the condition of the voice and guard and protect it in the future • 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 80 100 Repertoire Technique classes 15 85 100 Ensemble Technique classes 90 60 150

Total 125 225 350

How will I be assessed?

Monitoring of your progress in each component 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 and Musicianship • Practical assessment in projects and public performances • Observation of written assignments, texts, notebooks and diaries

Mid and End of Year Classwork

Tutors give students indicative grades half way through the year in midFebruary and formal classwork marks at the end of the year in June. Mid and end of year class work marks 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 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 you will be formally assessed in singing before a panel which may include an external assessor. The singing assessment consists of the performance of three solo songs and an ensemble song. You must choose two contrasting solo songs and submit a selection of five further contrasting songs from which the panel will choose one for you to sing. Each of the four songs contributes 25% 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 Chosen song 1 25% Chosen song 2 25% Panel song 25% Ensemble song 25%

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 3. You must pass each of the four songs and achieve a grade of 40% or above in end of year singing assessments, and 40% or above in classwork for singing technique, repertoire and ensemble. 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 Singing and Teaching Singing Janice L. Chapman Plural 2005 Dynamics of the Singing Voice Meribeth A. Dayme Springer 2009

The Structure of Singing

Richard Miller Wadsworth 1986 Care of the Professional Voice D. Garfield Davies (ed.) Methuen Drama 2004

The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults James C. McKinney Waveland 2005

Musicals Kurt Zanzl Carlton 1996

The Singing and Acting Handbook Thomas de Mallet Burgess & Nicholas Skilbeck Library Binding 1999

Bounce Outliers The New Broadway Song Companion Acting the Song Matthew Syed Fourth Estate 2011 Malcolm Gladwell Penguin 2009 David DeVenney Scarecrow Press 2009 Tracey Moore with Allison Bergman Allworth Press 2008