MU 129 Vocal Performance 1: Art Song

This course is the first in a 4-semester rotation of seminars in Vocal Performance, with each semester focusing on Art Song from a different nationality/language group (I. British & American, II. German, III. French & Spanish, and IV. Russian & Scandinavian). The goal of this course is for students to gain a love and mastery of the subject material, and improve the level of their performance as singers.

Students will work on all aspects of vocal performance, including diction and declamation of text, musical styles, physicality of performance, intersection of musical interpretation and vocal technique, and bringing historical context into the concert hall.

Credits

1

Prerequisite

Open to undergraduate and graduate singers who have taken, or are taking concurrently, at least one semester of Private Voice Lessons (MU-131 or MU-132), or by audition. The course is also open to advanced pianists by audition only. The course is heavily based on participation, and it is expected that singers and pianists are able to read, learn, and practice their music outside of class time. The semester is divided by nationality (British Song followed by American Song), and within each group moves roughly chronologically by the dates of the composers. This helps students to trace influence and changing musical styles over time.