Course Syllabus

MU306 Group Vocal Technique

Class Description
A survey of successful methods of teaching vocal technique in the choral rehearsal, students will learn how to develop a beautiful choral sound by knowing how to aply appropriate exercises to particular vocal problems: breathing, support, diaphragm activity, resonance, range extension, register consistency, vowel modification, etc. The class will function as a workshop in which students will develop their rehearsal/teaching skills in front of the rest of the class.

General Objectives
[General Objectives 1-7 are systematically progressive]

1. The student will know vital areas of vocal technique that should be addressed through the teaching of vocal technique exercises.

2. The student will demonstrate the ability to teach pre-existing vocal technique exercises to groups of vocalists.

3. The student will listen to groups of vocalists sing the pre-existing vocal technique exercises.

4. The student will recognize from listening to groups of vocalists areas of vocal technical concern.

5. The student will create solutions for groups of vocalists in areas of vocal technical concern.

6. The student will write their own vocal technique exercises for groups of vocalists based upon their areas of vocal technical concern.

7. The student will appreciate the vocal pedagogical progress made
by groups of vocalists.

8. The student will speak publicly, knowledgably, clearly, and affectionately.

9. The student will pray publicly, knowedgably, clearly, and affectionately.

Specific Objectives
[The General Objectives have been cross-referenced with the Specific Objectives]

1. The student will read read primary texts on the subject of Group Vocal Technique. [GO #1]

2. The student will remember what he has read from primary texts on the subject of Group Vocal Technique. [Testing] [GO #1]

3. The student will teach [by singing and public speaking] vocal technique exercises. [Weekly public demonstration] [GO #2]

4. The student will verbalize what they are hearing from the world around them. [Group discussion] [GO #3]

5. The student will tell groups of vocalists what they are hearing. [weekly public demonstration]. [GO #4]

6. The student will state solutions for the vocal pedagogical concerns they are hearing. [Weekly public demonstration/knowledge gained from the reading].
[GO #5]

7. The student will blog [five times] an original kinetic exercise based upon the observation of life-behaviors apart from the choral rehearsal. [GO #6]

8. The student will praise groups of singers for specific observable progress made by groups of vocalists. [GO #7]

9. The student will interact with the professor on public speaking skills combining knowledge, clarity, and affection. [GO #8]

10. The student will recite prayers from The Valley of Vision. [GO #9]

Course Textbooks
Bennett, Arthur, ed. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2002.

Haasemann, Frauke and James Jordan. Group Vocal Technique.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Hinshaw Music, Inc., 1991.

Haasemann, Frauke and James Jordan. Group Vocal Technique: The
Vocalise Cards. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Hinshaw Music, Inc., 1991

Course Requirements
1. Daily Quizzes ½
2. Student Teaching 1/4 [5 written stretching warm-up descriptions rooted in every day life or activity.
3. Final ¼

Course Calendar
January 22
VC 12-22
GVT 1
January 24
VC 23-33 – GVT 2

January 29
VC 34-44 – GVT 3
January 31
VC 45-50 – GVT 4

February 5
VC 51-55 - GVT 5

February 12
VC 56-66 - GVT 6
February 14
VC 67-77 - GVT 7

February 19
VC 78-88 - GVT 8
February 21
VC 89-94 - GVT 9

February 26
VC 95-99 - GVT 10 MG
February 28
VC 100-104 - GVT 11 AV

March 5
VC 105-108 - GVT 12 SG
March 7
VC 124-132 - GVT 13 SL

March 12
VC 133-143 - GVT 14 DS
March 14
VC 144-155 JH
"Building Warm-Ups from the Choral Music"

March 26
VC 155-165 - GVT 15 AC
March 28
"Imagination and the Choral Warm-up"
[Life-activity stretching exercise 1]

April 2
VC 166-176 - GVT 16 TZ
April 4
VC 177-187 - GVT 17 JH
[Life-activity stretching exercise 2]

April 9
VC 188-192 - GVT 18 MG
April 11
"Assessing the Listening of Choral Music"
[Life-activity stretching exercise 3]

April 16
VC 193-198 - GVT 19 AV
April 18
VC 199-208 - GVT 20 SG
[Life-activity stretching exercise 4]

April 23
VC 209-213 - GVT 21 SL
April 25
VC 214-220 - GVT 22 DS

April 30
VC 221-231 - GVT 23 JH
May 2
VC 232-243 - GVT 24 AC

May 7
"Music Literacy and the Local Church"
[Life-activity streching exercise 5]

May 8-10
Finals