Concert Choir
Fall 2012
MUEN 310/510: 1 credit
Instructors Dr. Cristian Grases Kym Scott
Conductor Assistant Conductor
Office MUS 203 MUS 209
Phone 213-740-3225 (office) 818-523-9505 (cell)
213-740-7416 (Choral Office)
Office Hours by appointment
Bulletin Description Performance of vocal chamber music and choral masterworks from the 16th century to the present. Open to all students by audition.
Prerequisites By audition.
Course 1. To demonstrate an understanding of ensemble skills and musical interpretations and
Objectives instill a sense of musical flexibility in diverse musical situations.
2. To display an understanding of fine details regarding various styles, historical performance practices, voicing, and languages.
3. To demonstrate an ability to operate at an accelerated pace in rehearsals and concert preparation.
4. To practice professional standards and technique that promotes individual responsibility for vocal health.
Instructional 1. Group Vocal Production.
Methodology 2. Individual responsibility for self-evaluation.
3. Limited use of modeling.
4. Multiple/diverse conductors.
5. Daily rehearsals culminating in live performance, recordings and outreach events.
Required Materials 1. Music scores of assigned repertoire.
2. A sharpened pencil.
3. Concert attire including the black folder.
Class Schedule Concert Choir meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm-3:50pm in MUS 106/The Charles Hirt Choral Laboratory. The dress and performance schedule is as follows.
Concert Choir Calendar
2012-2013 Concert Choir Calendar
Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm – 4pm MUS 106
Fridays (TBA and as listed) 2pm – 4pm MUS 106
FALL
Events: Saturday, September 8 Concert Choir Retreat
Location: St. James' Episcopal Church
1325 Monterey Rd
South Pasadena, CA 91030
9am-5pm
Friday, September 14 Vision and Voices Concert: Concert Choir Performance with Joan Conlon
Newman Hall
2pm (Call Time: 1:30 pm)
Saturday, October 13 Choral Leadership Workshop
Newman Hall
Time TBA
Wednesday, October 17 Concert Choir Performance: Music at Noon
UUC
12:10 pm (Call Time: 11:30 am)
Thursday, October 18 Concert Choir Dress Rehearsal
Newman Hall
2 – 4pm
Friday, October 19 Chamber Singers / Concert Choir Concert
Newman Hall
2pm Rehearsal (combined with CS)
6pm Sound Check
8pm Concert (Call Time: 7:30 pm)
Sunday, October 21 Chamber Singers / Concert Choir Concert
San Diego First United Methodist Church
Buses leave at 12:00 pm
Concert Time: 4:00 pm
Meal provided after concert
Friday, November 2 Combined Choirs Rehearsal for Winter Gala
MUS 106
2pm-4pm
Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Holiday
Tuesday, December 4 Winter Gala Dress Rehearsal
Bovard Auditorium
2 – 4pm Concert Choir
6 – 9pm All Choirs
Wednesday, December 5 Winter Gala
Bovard Auditorium
7:30pm (Call Time: 6:30 pm in Booth 100)
SPRING
Thursday, January 17 USC Thornton Symphony / Concert Choir.
Porgy and Bess
Piano Rehearsal
2 – 4 pm
Thursday, January 24 USC Thornton Symphony / Concert Choir. Porgy and Bess
Lloyd Sound Stage
7 – 10 pm
Saturday, January 26 USC Thornton Symphony / Concert Choir.
Porgy and Bess
Lloyd Sound Stage
7 – 10 pm
Sunday, January 27 USC Thornton Symphony / Concert Choir. Porgy and Bess
Dress Rehearsal (Disney Hall)
10 am – 12:30 pm
Sunday, January 27 USC Thornton Symphony / Concert Choir. Porgy and
Bess
Concert (Disney Hall)
2pm
Saturday, February 9 Concert Choir Retreat
Location TBA
9am – 5pm
Thursday, February 28 Concert Choir Rehearsal
Newman Hall
2 – 4pm
Saturday, March 2 High School Choral Invitational
Newman Hall
Concert at 3:30 pm (Call Time: 3 pm)
Saturday, March 2 Concert Choir @ PSICA Festival
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Immediately following the High School Choral
Invitational
Thursday, March 14 ACDA Convention – We DO have rehearsal
March 18 – 22 Spring Break Week
Monday, April 15 Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms
Combined Dress Rehearsal
MUS106
2-4pm
Tuesday, April 16 Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms
Bovard Auditorium
2 – 4pm – Orchestra Rehearsal
Wednesday, April 17 Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms
Bovard Auditorium
7 – 10pm – Orchestra Rehearsal
Thursday, April 18 Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms
Bovard Auditorium
2 – 5pm – Dress Rehearsal
Concert at 7:30pm (Call Time 7 pm)
Wednesday, May 1 Concert Choir Performance: Music at Noon
UUC
12:10 pm (Call Time: 11:30 am)
Thursday, May 2 Concert Choir/Chamber Singers Concert
Newman Hall
2 – 4pm – Sound Check
Concert at 7.30pm (Call Time: 7 pm)
Friday, May 3 Last Day of Classes
Students in all ensembles will be given ample notification if additional concert opportunities arise.
Grading and
Attendance Policy In keeping with the professional objectives of the program, the Department of Choral and Sacred Music at the University of Southern California enforces a strict policy on a participation and punctuality. Choral faculty and section leaders keep daily records. A significant portion of the student's grade will depend upon rehearsal and performance participation. The ensemble does not function at its peak without the presence of all of its members. Participation is required at ALL rehearsals and performances. You will receive a grade for Participation (75% of final grade) and demeanor (20% of final grade) and Final Exam (The final performance of the semester constitutes the Final Exam: 5% of the final grade.) Participation: It is impossible for students to participate without being in rehearsal or performance.
* FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE in a dress rehearsal without the prior approval of the instructor will result in a loss of one full letter grade.
* FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE in performances or recording sessions without the prior approval of the instructor will result in a loss of two full letter grades.
* FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE during the week of a performance will result in a lowered grade.
*FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE at all in two rehearsals without prior written approval of the instructor will result in loss of one letter grade.
*Since punctuality is important to musical professionalism, a strict punctuality policy is in place and will affect the participation portion of the grade.
*A letter grade of C- or higher constitutes Credit for those taking ensemble as Credit/Non-Credit.
* Conflicts with the attached Calendar of Choral Events must be presented in writing to the director of the ensemble during the first week of classes. All performances are listed on the attached schedule.
* Do not schedule voice lessons, meetings with faculty members or other organizations, make-up classes or exams, USC registration, doctor/dental appointments, job interviews, or any personal obligations during rehearsal times.
* Unavoidable emergencies will be handled on an individual basis. If an emergency occurs, (including acute, but brief, illness) the student must contact the director in a timely manner, followed with written notification within three days. The instructor will determine whether the emergency is acceptable for excuse. If the instructor does not recognize the reason as acceptable, the student may appeal to the chair.
Absences for the following reasons are considered EXCUSED:
* Institutional excuses given five days in advance.
* Extended illness with doctor's verification.
* Death in the immediate family.
* Religious holidays. The University of Southern California, has always sought to acknowledge and accommodate those students who wish to observe religious holy days. It seeks to reflect its awareness and sensitivity to religious holidays whenever possible when scheduling University activities. Each student shall, upon notifying his/her instructor in writing during the first week of classes, be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of his/her faith.
*Students participating in choral organizations who are music scholarship recipients may have their scholarships affected in the event that the grade is low.
General Guidelines Your demeanor grade will be posted during week four, eight, and twelve. Criteria used to establish the demeanor grade include the following:
Work ethic while in class (positive attitude and contribution):
* Do you follow instructions by marking your score?
* Is your participation conducive or disruptive to the rehearsal process?
* Do you respond favorably to constructive criticism?
* Do you bring your scores and a pencil to every rehearsal?
* If you are unable to phonate, do you follow along in your music, mark your score, and submit written comments to the conductor at the end of the rehearsal?
Preparation outside of class:
* If assignments are given, are you prepared?
Part-testing:
* Can you accurately sing your part during quartet or octet testing?
Professionalism:
* Do you show respect for the conductor and your fellow students?
* Do you adhere to the above participation policy of the ensemble?
Concert Attire:
* Do you participate in choral performances in a clean and professional manner with the proper concert attire?
Returning materials:
* Your registration at USC for future semesters may be denied and/or your university grades may be withheld and/or your grade in this class may be lowered as a result of the following: Failure to return music by announced deadline, failure to pay for lost/damaged music by announced deadline and failure to pay any other fees by announced deadline (uniforms, etc.).
UNIFORM DRESSES/TUXEDOS
You are responsible for your own concert attire. Attire for concerts must be complete.
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WOMEN
Long black dress – professionally hemmed and ironed
Black overlay
Pearl necklace
Black hose
Black closed in dress shoes
MEN
Black Tuxedo – pants will need to be professionally hemmed
White tuxedo shirt
Black bow-tie
Black cummerbund
Black socks
Black patent leather dress shoes
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Total cost: $133.00 (dress/overlay/pearls) Total cost: $170.00 (includes everything except socks)
In addition to the specified concert attire, choristers must wear minimal jewelry and where relevant, attend all performances with their hair tied back neatly.
For all rehearsals and performances, please refrain from wearing any perfume or cologne however deodorant is essential.
Payments for dresses and tuxedos are to be given to Litta Cecchi at MUS 416. Checks are to be made out to “Choral and Sacred Music Department”. You are also responsible for purchasing a black folder, which may also be purchased from the Choral and Sacred Music Department for $25.00. This is part of your concert attire.
MEMBERS NEED TO REMEMBER:
* Membership in this ensemble is for the entire academic year.
It is understood that, rarely, unavoidable conflicts may arise in a students schedule for the second semester. In this event the student must notify the instructor as soon as possible so that a solution may be worked out.
* Each member is responsible for learning his/her music outside of class.
* Music for many of the concerts must be memorized. There will be periodic "music checks."
Honor Code Specific guidelines governing academic integrity are described in SCampus. Additional information can also be found on the Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards Web site at www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS.
Policy on
Accommodations
for Students with
Disabilities The University of Southern California is committed to full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As part of the implementation of this law, the university will continue to provide reasonable accommodation for academically qualified students with disabilities so that they can participate fully in the university’s educational programs and activities. Although USC is not required by law to change the “fundamental nature or essential curricular components of it programs in order to accommodate the needs of disabled students,” the university will provide reasonable academic accommodation. It is the specific responsibility of the university administration and all faculty serving in a teaching capacity to ensure the university’s compliance with this policy.
The general definition of a student with a disability is any person who has “a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person’s activities,” and any person who has “a history of, or is regarded as having, such an impairment. Reasonable academic and physical accommodations include but are not limited to: extended time on examinations; substitution of similar or related work for a nonfundamental program requirement; time extensions on papers or projects; special testing procedures; advance notice regarding booklists for visually impaired and some learning disabled students; use of academic aids in the classroom such as note-takers and sign language interpreters; accessibility for students who use wheelchairs and those with mobility impairments; and need for special classroom furniture or special equipment in the classroom.
Copyright © 2012 University of Southern California. All rights reserved. It is a violation of Federal law to copy, duplicate, sell, and/or distribute in any manner, including but not limited to the internet, any copyrighted materials authored and/or produced by the course instructor(s).
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