EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC


VOCAL AREA RESOURCE SITE

QUICKLINKS:
Download the guidelines as a Mircosoft document
1. STEPS TO PRIVATE STUDY
2. SCHEDULING OF LESSONS
3. REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
4. ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENTS
5. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
6. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
7. EXAMINATION PROCEDURES
8. GENERAL INFORMATION



"Only the music of the highest intellectual and emotional quality is worth the time, money, and effort of presentation. Actually, only music of this quality is of interest; only this music makes any contribution to community and individual life. It is possible, and only possible, within a framework of excellence to find variety. There is no variety in mediocrity."

Robert Shaw


This handbook contains information for voice students regarding policies and procedures of the Vocal Area. Be sure to check with your teacher, if you have any questions. You will find additional time-sensitive information on your teacher's bulletin board, the Vocal Area Bulletin Board, which is located on the third floor in Foster Building near the stairwell to the practice rooms, and online at the Music Department Vocal Resource Site. Have a great year!





revised August 2003

1. STEPS TO PRIVATE STUDY

Placement Auditions

Studio placement auditions are required for new students. The time and place will be announced each semester. Students should bring a copy of their semester schedule to the first announced meeting of the semester. Vocal Area meetings are announced in the vocal area web page and on the vocal area bulletin board located on the third floor of the Foster Music Building. Students, other than music majors, may be assigned to a non-audition voice class rather than the private applied voice lesson. Students may request a specific teacher by listing that teacher's name on the information form completed at the time of the audition. Every effort will be made to place each student with the teacher of his/her preference. Students with no preference will be placed with a teacher who has openings for students. Once the teacher assignment has been made, it is the student's responsibility to contact the teacher to arrange a lesson time (see #2). .

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2. SCHEDULING OF LESSONS


It is your responsibility to contact your teacher, either in person, by e-mail or by telephone, at the beginning of each semester to schedule your lesson at a time which is mutually convenient. Failure to do so in a timely fashion may result in the loss of your place in the studio or the loss of lessons during the first weeks of the semester. Your scheduled lesson time is the same as a set class meeting. You should arrive at each lesson on time, with your assignment prepared. The relationship between teacher and student in the one-on-one situation of a private lesson differs from that in a typical classroom. Teacher and student bring their expectations and expertise to this very individualized time of learning and work together to make satisfactory technical and musical progress.

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3. Ensemble Requirement

Ensemble Requirements Every full time music major must be enrolled each semester in a major ensemble performing in their applied major area. In addition to any degree requirements regarding participation in ensembles, [Music Department award] grantees will participate in additional ensembles as deemed necessary by the directors of the ensembles utilizing those specializations in consultation with the Area coordinator and Applied Teacher, subject to the final approval of the Chairman of the Department of Music.

Each student in the Bachelor of Music degree program must be enrolled in a major ensemble which reflects the student's major applied area during each semester of residence with the approval of the major applied teacher and the department chair. Pianists and organists may fulfill the requirements through accompanying.

Each student in the Bachelor of Music in Education degree program must be enrolled for a minimum of seven semesters in ensembles which reflect the major performing specialty as follows:

Vocal students will sing in either University Singers or Concert Choir (also known as Women's Chorus and/or Men's Chorus) as assigned by the Director of Choral Activities and the Applied Voice faculty. Students enrolling in more than three ensembles should receive permission for such participation from their applied teacher, ensemble director and advisor. The following ensembles are offered at EKU:

Vocal Ensembles of Record
University Singers MW 2:30-3:20 & TR 02:00-3:15 note: this is a new schedule. Concert Choir (Women's Chorus &/or Men's Chorus) TR 12:20-1:10 new schedule Madrigals Singers MW 3:35-4:25 (new schedule)

4. REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS


Please note that the repertoire requirements on the following pages are minimum guidelines, indicative of adequate achievement. Students are urged to achieve beyond the minimum requirements. The number of required memorized songs may be reduced if the student completes a significant performance (opera role, recital, major choral solo, etc.) during the semester. The decrease in the number of songs will be determined by the teacher.

Students wishing to change degree programs while maintaining voice as their major instrument must first discuss the change with their private teacher and then the entire vocal area faculty. Students may be required to pass a sophomore comprehensive in the new degree area. Change to a degree program with more strenuous repertoire requirements require deficiencies in repertoire to be remedied within two semesters.


Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance

MUS 122 3 songs memorized (English and Italian)
1 song additional

MUS 122 5 songs memorized
2 songs additional

MUS 222 7 songs memorized (Add 3rd language (German or French))
1 songs additional

MUS 222 7 songs memorized
1 songs additional

MUS 322 8 songs memorized (Add 4th language)


MUS 322 8 songs memorized


MUS 422 10 songs memorized


MUS 422 Recital hearing
Senior Recital presentation (4 languages)



Bachelor of Music Education - Voice as the Major Instrument

Two Credit Hours One Credit Hour
MUS 122 2 songs memorized (English and Italian) 1 song memorized
1 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 122 4 songs memorized 3 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 5 songs memorized (Add 3rd language) 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 6 songs memorized (Add 4th language) 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 Recital hearing Recital hearing
1/2 Recital presentation 1/2 Recital presentation


Bachelor of Arts
General Music, Music Merchandising, Theory-Composition. Students who entered EKU prior to 2001/2002.
Instrumentalists taking voice lessons and students who are receiving a Music Minor


Two Credit Hours One Credit Hour
MUS 122 2 songs memorized 1 song memorized
1 song additional 1 song additional

MUS 122 3 songs memorized 2 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 4 songs memorized (English and Italian) 3 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 4 songs memorized 3 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional
BA (continued)

MUS 322 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional


MUS 322 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional



Bachelor of Music in Music Merchandising


Two Credit Hours One Credit Hour
MUS 122 2 songs memorized (English and Italian) 1 song memorized
1 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 122 3 songs memorized 2 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 4 songs memorized 2 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 4 songs memorized (Add 3rd language) 3 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 5 songs memorized 3 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 6 songs memorized 5 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 Recital hearing Recital hearing
1/2 Recital presentation* 1/2 Recital presentation*


*With the approval of the applied teacher, this requirement may be fulfilled by at least four appearances on Friday Student Recitals.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Two Credit Hours One Credit Hour
MUS 122 1 song memorized 1 song memorized
2 songs additional 1 song additional

MUS 122 3 songs memorized 2 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 5 songs memorized (English and Italian) 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 222 5 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 322 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional

MUS 422 6 songs memorized 4 songs memorized
2 songs additional 2 songs additional


Non-Music Majors

One Credit Hour
MUS 122 1 song memorized
1 song additional

MUS 122 1 song memorized
2 songs additional

MUS 222 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional

MUS 222 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional

MUS 322 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional

MUS 322 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional
Non-Music Majors (continued)

MUS 422 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional

MUS 422 2 songs memorized
3 songs additional


 
Graduate Students - Vocal Performance Option
and Vocal Performance Minors

  MUS 822 Two or more Credit Hours
1st semester: 8 songs memorized
each subsequent semester: 10 songs memorized

during second year: Recital hearing
Graduate Recital (4 languages)


Graduate Students - Non-Performance Majors

  MUS 722 One Credit Hour
3 songs memorized
1 song additional

Each additional credit hour requires one additional memorized song.


5. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS


Recitals

All Bachelor of Music degrees have recital requirements. Guidelines for specific degrees are given below.
Only applied teachers may schedule recitals. Singers sharing a recital date with a student from another studio MUST consult both their own teacher and their accompanist before agreeing to any recital date.
The recital fee must be paid to the chairman's office prior to the printing of recital programs.


Vocal Performance Majors

Students majoring in Vocal Performance will give a half recital
(30 minutes) during their junior year and a full recital (60 minutes) during their senior year. Graduate students give a full recital during their second year of graduate work. Repertoire is chosen only with the permission and guidance of the voice teacher.



Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Bachelor of Music in Music Merchandising
(entering freshmen 2001/2002)

These degree programs require a one-half recital.




Recital Program Notes and Translations

All students giving recitals will write program notes. The program notes must provide as much of the following information as possible:

The voice teacher may require the student to include additional relevant information which would enhance understanding of the performance.

The student will submit a draft of the program notes to the voice faculty for review at the time of the recital hearing (see page 9). It is the responsibility of the student to make any corrections set forth by the instructor before printing copies for distribution at the recital.



Recital Hearing

All students planning to give a recital must have a recital hearing one month prior to the performance date. The voice faculty will choose a minimum of four selections (at least one from each language) from the memorized recital program for this jury. A draft of the program notes is due at the time of the recital hearing. The recital will be performed as an EKU sponsored event only with the permission of the Vocal Area Faculty who vote pass or fail at the time of the recital hearing. Refer to the EKU Department of Music Recital Hearing Guidelines in the Music Department homepage.

NATS Auditions and Off-campus Performances
Students are encouraged to participate in the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Student Auditions, other appropriate competitions, and other outside opportunities for performance as deemed appropriate by the private teacher.


6. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

Concerts and Recitals

Your attendance at recitals and concerts given by Vocal Faculty and voice majors is required. Be sure to fill out an attendance card at each performance. Attendance cards will be collated by the Music Department Office and the results reported to your teacher. If you must be absent from one of these performances, you must discuss your reasons with your voice teacher in advance.


Voice Masterclasses and Recitals

Voice MasterClasses and Recitals will be scheduled normally on Wednesdays, from 1:25-2:15, whenever appropriate. Refer to the online Vocal Area Calendar for these as well as other performance dates. These events are arranged to heighten your vocal education and are often without additional cost to students. Your attendance at these events is an integral part of your education, and is required unless excused in advance by your voice instructor. If you must be absent from one of these performances, you must be excused by your voice teacher in advance.

7. EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Voice Juries

  All students taking private voice are required to sing a jury at the completion of each semester of study. Juries are scheduled during Finals Week. Students may first sing a composition of their choice and then the faculty will select others from the student's memorized repertoire. The voice jury evaluation committee will consist of no fewer than two members of the voice faculty, including the student's teacher.


Grading

The student's final grade is determined using a combination of the teacher's grade, which is an evaluation of the student's work during the semester, and the jury grade, which is the average of the jury members' examination grades. Exact policies may vary from studio to studio. Be sure to consult your teacher's syllabus. All Vocal Area syllabi [in Word.doc format so that the student may download the documents] will be online, as required by the Chair of the Department of Music.


Make-up Juries

An Incomplete may be given to a student who misses his/her jury because of illness or other unavoidable circumstances. A grade of "I" will be given only with the approval of the vocal faculty. The jury will be made up within the first four weeks of the next semester. This time limit may not extend beyond one semester. After one semester the Incomplete automatically becomes a Failing Grade. This is implemented by the Registrar's Office.


Sophomore Comprehensive Performance

The Department of Music has in place a system of checking second semester sophomores for advancement to junior status. This includes performing two songs from memory for the entire music faculty who votes Pass/Fail as to whether or not the student may advance. Two languages must be represented in the performance.







8. GENERAL INFORMATION


Registering for Classes

You should always be cognizant of the requirements of your total course of study by referring to the University catalog under which you first enrolled. You will meet with your advisor to plan your schedule. Do not change your schedule unless you talk with your advisor first. Always pre-register for voice lessons. Always pre-register for voice lessons. Failure to pre-register may result in loss of teacher preference.


Teacher Changes

If a student wishes to change their teacher assignment, he/she must first discuss this with their present teacher and then the Vocal Area Coordinator. Changes in assignment may only be made at the start of a new semester. Studying with two different teachers at once is a violation of NATS professional ethics.


Illness

Students who are ill should not be in Foster Building. Do not put the other students and the faculty at risk of becoming ill also. Call your teacher before your lesson time to cancel/reschedule lessons.


Accompanists

At the beginning of the semester, studio teachers submit a list of accompanying needs to the Accompanying Coordinator. Accompanists are assigned according to the talent within the accompanist pool and the difficulty of the literature the student will be learning. Professional Staff Accompanists are available on a limited basis. Consult your teacher in this matter.

Your accompanist will play not only for your lessons, but also for student recitals and juries. He/She is assigned to meet with you during your lesson time. Additional coaching sessions may be arranged. However, additional performances and competitions may require a fee for your accompanist. Always check with your teacher and the accompanist. As soon as repertoire is selected for the semester, copies of the scores should be given to the accompanist. This will facilitate a more profitable lesson for everyone concerned.


Each student must have an accompanist for public performances and juries. The voice teachers do a large amount of accompanying for lessons but performances require a separate accompanist. If an accompanist is needed for a performance, arrangements can be made with the assistance of your voice teacher. Do not expect an accompanist to sight-read at a performance. Arrangements should be made at least two weeks in advance of the performance, so that there is ample time to rehearse. Ultimately all matters regarding the accompanist's scores, rehearsals, and performance scheduling are the student's responsibility.

Be thoughtful of your accompanist. Always consult with him or her before committing to any performance!


Use of Photocopied Music


It is the policy of the Vocal Area that only original copies of music will be used in performances such as: recitals, juries, NATS auditions, etc. Photocopies may be used for lessons and rehearsals only. Students must own a body of literature for their instrument. Consult your teacher for requirements and suggestions. Do not expect your teacher to provide copies or books for your use. The Music Library is an excellent resource. There are also many retail sources for purchasing scores.