INDIVIDUALIZED MUSIC LESSONS

(VOICE)

MUSI: 112-115 & STUDIO CLASS

Dr. Gerald J. Blanchard, Professor of Voice

Office: D228 Studio: D206

Phone: (269) 965-3931, ext. 2566

E-mail:

Web Site:

Office Hours: See posted schedule

Individualized Lesson Time/Day: ______(completed by student)

“Learning to sing is a slow and patient undertaking, in which a good ear is the prerequisite, the imagery is an aid supplied by the teacher, and the experience is gradually accumulated until it is so powerful that merely calling up the memory will reproduce it."

William Vennard

LESSONS

  • Student must attend the Studio Master Class sessions (Wednesdays @ 1pm, Davidson Aud.)
  • Student is responsible for arriving to each lesson warmed up and ready to work
  • Student must sign in at each lesson session on clip board
  • Student is expected to perform studio master class series a minimum of (3) times throughout the semester
  • All lessons must be well prepared. Suggested minimum practice time is one hour per day. (If possible, in two 30-minute increments.) Organize your practice time so that you have 10 or 15 minutes of vocalizing, and then work on your repertoire.
  • Arrive at your lesson warmed-up and ready to sing and always bring a notebook for keeping track of information, assignments, vocal exercises, etc.
  • Bring a recording device and a pencil to each lesson.
  • If you are ill or have an emergency to attend to, you must call in advance of the scheduled lesson time. Call my studio, 965-3931 Ext. 2566, or call the department secretary at 965-3931 Ext. 2554 and make sure that the message is delivered directly to me. You can also e-mail me at and/or call me at home 517-410-3120 (Emergency only!). Unexcused missed lessons will automatically lower your grade and will not be made up. Make up lessons are at the discretion of the instructor and will be scheduled based on mutual availability.
  • You are expected to write in and learn the Word-By-Word translations for your entire repertoire. (You may borrow my copy of the Word-By-Word books as long as they do not leave the Choir room, the Listening Lab or my studio with them. Learning to use the IPA is extremely important.

OUTCOMES:“The student will…

Competency: Demonstrate appropriate vocal technique

  • Have a functional knowledge of the appoggiatura breathing technique
  • Have the ability to phonate effectively (w/out tension) through demonstration
  • Through performance, demonstrate a working knowledge of effective singing

Measure:Class participation, studio recital, master class performance and vocal jury

ADDITONAL OUTCOMES: The student will….

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of Alexander Technique (Muscular Alertness)
  • Through performance demonstrate the effects of “Tonal Response”
  • Express both verbally and through demonstration the basic techniques of singing

PERFORMANCES/ASSIGNMENTS

  • Attendance at all voice recitals and studio master class sessions are required.
  • Attendance at all Vocal Music Concerts (Choral/solo) is strongly encouraged.
  • You must perform a minimum of three (3) times in studio/recital. This is a minimum expectation for this studio.

You may be called upon un-expectantly!

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR

1. Show up for your lessons:
a. on time.
b. prepared. The purpose of lessons is not to teach you the notes or rhythms - that is what practicing is for.
c. warmed up. Most lessons will begin with a regimen of exercises. However, they are designed not to warm up the voice, but to improve it. As such, they are often rather rigorous. It is crucial that you prepare yourself mentally and physically before your lesson.

2. You are expected to practice daily on technique (exercises) and repertoire. You will not improve without regular practice. Remember, you reap what you sow. Most illnesses should not prevent you from practicing. Even if your voice is not functioning physically, you can still work on the comprehension of pitches, rhythms, diction, understanding the text, phrasing, and memorization. Plan ahead to avoid the conflicts that can and will occur (exams, papers, etc.)…

STUDIO GRADING:

A: 100-93 A-: 92-90 B+: 89-87 B: 86-83 B-: 82-80 C+: 79-77

C: 76-73 C-: 72-70 D+: 69-67 D: 66-63 D-: 62-60 E: 0-59

Your final grade will be divided by the following scale:

Studio Grade1/3 of total grade

Studio Master Class1/3 of total grade

Jury Grade1/3 of total grade

GENERAL POLICY STATEMENTS

1. KelloggCommunity College Academic Integrity Statement:

The KelloggCommunity College policy on Academic Integrity is spelled out in the student handbook. If it is suspected that you are cheating, fabricating, facilitating academic dishonesty, or plagiarizing, there may be serious consequences. The incident will be documented and may be reported to the academic chair and/or program director for possible disciplinary actions up to and including course, program, or college expulsion.

2. KelloggCommunity College Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 Statement:

KelloggCommunity College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students based on disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Students with a documented disability are strongly encouraged to speak with the instructor and with the professional staff at Support Services (ext. 2624). The College offers many resources, but it is important to take advantage of them early. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the College and instructors of your needs.

3. Instructor Syllabus Rights Statement:

Information contained in this syllabus was to the best knowledge of the instructor considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract with KelloggCommunity College and any student, nor between the instructor and any student. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of KelloggCommunity College, to make changes in the course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.

4.Student e-mail

All KCC students are provided with e-mail accounts through the college server. You will be responsible for checking your KCC e-mail regularly and should be prepared to use KCC e-mail as part of student-college interaction. For e-mail account information, check the web at

5. Cell Phone and Other Electronic Equipment Statement:

CELL PHONES AND PAGERS must be on mute during class. If you must take or return an emergency call, please go out in the hall to do so.

6. Class Conduct and Participation:

Class participation is encouraged. We will follow the College policies regarding conduct. I expect students to create an atmosphere of respect. No name-calling, interrupting, or foul language is allowed. Come prepared with an open attitude that is professional and shows that you are ready to learn.

New Policy: LESSON ATTENDANCE POLICY: Terms and conditions

Scheduling missed lessons and make-up lessons

Your instructor must be notified of any lesson cancellations 24 hours prior to the scheduled lesson date in order to qualify for make-up lessons. There are no make-ups for no-show students or late comers. Emergency cancellations may be qualified with proof of emergency: If a student calls in sick prior to the lesson on the lesson day, a doctor's note is required for a makeup to be considered. If a permanent schedule change is required, please inform the instructor immediately. Every effort will be made to accommodate date and time for an approved make-up when possible. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the scheduling of make-up lessons, not the instructor. Make-up lessons are based on teacher's availability. All make-up lessons must be done within 60 calendar days from the date of the cancelled lesson. No refunds are given for missed lessons.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q. What if I am late to a lesson? Can I still get the full 30 or 60 minutes?
A. This is usually impossible to do as the teachers have other students right after your lesson. To give you the full lesson time would then make everyone else after you start and end late which is unfair to them. The only instance this would be allowed is if you were the teachers last student for the day and they had the time to offer you, this providing the lesson room was available and they were willing to accommodate.

Q. What if the teacher doesn't have a make-up slot available during the week of my missed lesson?
A. This is rare, and in this case, the teacher will sometimes open up a special slot to accommodate the student. If this is not possible then the canceled lesson would be added to the end of the semester. Typically, the lesson will occur just before your scheduled jury or recital performance time.

Q. What if I fail to complete my jury?

Then your grade will suffer dramatically. It would be highly unlikely that you would pass the course for that semester. YOU DO NOT MISS YOUR JURY EXAM!

WITHDRAWAL:Check with the registrar’s office for the last day to withdraw and receive full refund. You the student must obtain this information. If you fail to withdraw from the class before the deadline, you will be held accountable for your end of the semester grade.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

FACT SHEET

VOCAL STUDY

These guidelines have been prepared in order to help department faculty evaluate student performance. Assessment sheets for evaluations and juries will be provided for those events.

LESSONS
Each student will receive either one 30-minute (1cr.) or one 60-minute (2cr.) private lesson per week for the duration of the academic semester.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
All students will perform in a voice recital on campus every semester, performing a minimum of one to two songs in at least two languages (music majors and minors will perform at least three songs). All recital music must be presented at concert performance level - memorized and polished. At the end of the semester, the students with the highest jury level scores will be invited to perform in the honors recital the following semester.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF STUDY:
Show up for your lessons:
a. on time.
b. prepared.
c. warmed up.
You are expected to practice daily on technique (exercises) and repertoire.
  • You will not improve without regular practice. Remember, you reap what you sow. Most illnesses should not prevent you from practicing. Even if your voice is not functioning physically, you can still work on the comprehension of pitches, rhythms, diction, understanding the text, phrasing, and memorization. Plan ahead to avoid the conflicts that can and will occur (exams, papers, etc.).
JURY PREOCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

Effective Fall 2010

Juries will be graded by the music faculty. Each faculty member submits a grade and written comments for the student. The jury grade is the average of the grades submitted by the music faculty. The final grade given by the student’s private teacher will be averaged into the total giving the student his/her final semester grade.

Students are graded on the following criteria:

  • Musical Accuracy
  • Artistic Performance
  • Vocal/Instrumental Technique
  • Vocal Diction
  • Purity of Vowel Sounds
  • Stage Presence
  • Communication with Audience
  • Musical Interpretation etc.

PROCEDURE FOR JURY:

A jury is a type of final examination, which usually occurs during finals week. Level change juries will determine whether the student has developed technically and artistically enough to work at a more advanced level.

The student will begin with his/her first choice selection. Other selections are chosen at random by other members of the music faculty. The final selection is chosen by the student’s private voice/instrumental instructor.

ENRICHMENT STUDENTS:

Students taking for non-academic credit are not required to perform a jury; however, they are encouraged to do so with the expressed consent of their applied music instructor.

Vocal and Instrumental Jury Policy

All students taking applied lessons for academic credit, both performance majors and non-majors must play a jury at the conclusion of each semester to show evidence of progress on their instrument. The student must successfully pass his/her jury in order to progress to the next level of study.

  • MUSI 112-113 (vocal) level students must be prepared to perform a minimum of three contrasting pieces. Two must be memorized. (MUSI 113 or higher) One must be in a language other than English.
  • MUSI 114-115 (vocal) level students must be prepared to perform a minimum of four to six contrasting pieces by memory. All must be memorized! (MUSI 115) Two selections must be from standard art song, lied, opera or oratorio repertoire.

SIGHT READING REQUIREMENT:

A primary goal of our music programs is to produce students who are musically literate and prepared to experience a lifetime of musical enrichment. The development of sight reading skills is central to the achievement of this primary goal. Therefore, the development of specific sight reading skills must be included at all levels of instruction and evaluation.

You the student will be asked to perform a small musical excerpt at sight. This is merely for evaluation purposes. YOU WILL NOT BE GRADED on this aspect of the evaluative process. Your instructor will assist you with the appropriate levels of preparation for the exercise.

MASTER CLASS PERFORMANCE:

PLEASE NOTE: For all voice students who are majors at the 115 level, a solo or General Recital performance is required on your final semester of study

MUSI 112-01/02: First Semester (non-major) students are required to perform in (1) Master Class Session and (1) Recital and jury. Music majors are required to perform in (2) Master Class Sessions and (1) Recital and jury.

MUSI 113-01/02 Second Semester (non-major) students are required to perform in (2) Master Class Sessions and (1) Recital and jury. Music majors are required to perform in (3) Master Class Sessions and (1) Recital and jury.

MUSI 114-01/02 Third Semester (non-major) students are required to perform in (3) Master Class Sessions and (1) Recital and jury. Music majors are required to perform in (4) Master Class Sessions and (1) Recital and jury.

MUSI 115-01/02 Fourth Semester (non-majors) students are required to perform in (5) Master Class Sessions, (1) Studio Recital and a jury. Music majors must complete the previous listed requirements in addition to presenting an end of the semester Senior Recital program. There will be no jury, but committee must approve student in order to present a solo public recital.

MUSI C112-01No required performances; however student is encouraged to perform as often as possible.

Accompanist:
It is the student’s responsibility to secure and compensate accompanist for his/her lessons, studio classes and other performances. It is important that you notify your accompanists well in advance of any changes in schedules or upcoming performances. Do not wait until the last moment! Remember, you the student are responsible for securing and compensating your own accompanist. If you cannot locate an accompanist, please contact Mr. Blanchard () and he will assist you with locating someone. Below, please find a list of local pianist who often accompanies KCC students. Please remember, you must PAY FOR YOUR OWN PIANIST. For additional accompanist information, visit

(Free) Paula Krontz-Harris ()

Additional accompanists for hire are:

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ACCOMPANIST INFORMATION:

Nancy Brown Phone: 269-963-1911 ext. 2502 (Staff)

Kathy Cary Email: (Faculty)

Mark Wells Email: (Faculty)

Sara Cleland Email: (Faculty)

Cynthia Fillmore-Garn- Email:

Al Barney -Email:

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