Song Workshop

• the importance of working effectively and generously as a member of an ensemble

How will I learn?

You will work on a number of ensemble pieces, usually in four-part harmony (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) to be performed to the group in class. Group numbers selected from: • Gilbert and Sullivan operettas • West End and Broadway Musicals • Specific harmonised arrangements by different composers, classical and popular. You will keep a journal in which to record your tutor’s feedback and your own reflections on your learning.

Song Workshop

Tutors Norma Attallah, Tim English, Guest tutor Tutor led hours 81 hours Timetable 3 hours a week throughout the year, except the final six weeks where there is 1.5 hours a week

Aims

To develop your ability to • bring together the technical and performance skills of acting and singing • perform with clarity, truthfulness and focus

What will I be expected to achieve?

You will be expected to be able to demonstrate your ability to: Skills • tell the story of a song • communicate the song clearly to an audience • structure the song so as to achieve variety and sustain the audience’s interest • make a personal connection with the lyric • discover and play the subtext of a song

How will I learn?

Under the guidance of the tutor, you will workshop a variety of musical theatre songs. You will keep a journal in which to record your tutors’ feedback and your own reflections on your learning.

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. The Head of Music has the responsibility for monitoring vocal problems. Singing tutors 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, the student is immediately encouraged to see his or her doctor and, if necessary, referred to an ENT specialist and/or a Speech Therapist.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Through participation and engagement with the training, you will develop your ability to demonstrate understanding of and basic application of: • the vocal mechanism • how to maintain the condition of the voice and guard and protect it in the future. • suitable vocal warm-up exercises

MODULE TEACHING PATTERN

Teaching Unit Type Contact Hours Self Directed Study Hours

Total Student Learning Hours Singing technique Technique classes 22.5 2 24.5 Ensemble Technique classes 90 2.5 92.5 Song Workshop Workshop classes 81 2 83

Totals 193.5 6.5 200

MODULE ASSESSMENT PATTERN

Assessment Unit

Assessment Type Singing technique Classwork Ensemble Classwork

Weighting

Pass Mark Pass/Fail 70% 40 No 30% 40 No

How do I pass Singing skills?

You must achieve a mark of 40% or above for your classwork in Singing Technique and Ensemble. Singing Skills carries a weighting of 20% in the calculation of the overall mark for the CertHE.

READING LIST

Title Author Publisher Year

Acting the Song

Tracey Moore with Allison Bergman Care of the Professional Voice D Garfield Davies and Anthony Jahn Allworth Press 2008

ButterworthHeinemann 1998

Dynamics of the Singing Voice Meribeth A. Dayme Springer 2009

The New Broadway Song Companion David Devenney Scarecrow Press 2009