Course Description

Music 10A/B Beginning/Intermediate Voice

Joshua Law, Instructor

Office: A146D; Office hours: W3 -5 pm, R 4-6 pm. and by appointment; Phone (415) 239-3366

Prerequisites:

Ability to read music and carry a tune recommended; (Recommended pre-requisite/s: music fundamentals, or beginning piano, or music appreciation, or the equivalent) or consent of instructor.  Recommended courses can be taken con-currently.

Attendance Requirement: 90%

            Any absences more than 10% without credible and legitimate excuses will jeopardize at least a letter grade. Students should call 415-239-3366 to report/request permission to be absent at least a day and to follow that by one legitimate verbal or written excuse.  

Required Text:

    Adventures in Singing, by Clifton Ware, 3rd Edition with CD

    Mr. Law will be handing out notes for the course.

Semester Objectives:

10A Maximum of 3 songs, 1 must be from the text.

10B Maximum of 4 songs, 2 must be from the text. 2 must be in a foreign language.

      1.   To learn to direct personal vocalization

      2.   To discover and expand individual voice range

      3.   To learn about different accompaniment arrangements

      4.   To learn solo song literature from different periods and styles

      5.   To perform songs from different periods and styles

      6.   To learn to work with different assigned accompanists

      7.   To perform from memory up to four and not less than two solo songs

General Philosophy of Instruction:

      City College Voice classes are designed for learning purposes where students are taught to perform at class level from simple to complex vocal literatures.  The classes can be equated to the automobile industry in the following way: Voice classes can be compared to the grease-pits of auto repair facilities where voices are taken apart and put back together correctly.  It is not the intention of the voice classes to provide opportunity only for students to "show off" their "Perfect, Ideal" singing styles like that of a automobile show room.  Therefore students should take the attitude of a worker to repair their own voices with the facilities provided rather than taking the attitude of a superstar who is not willing to take advice from the instructors and accompanists. 

Class Rules:

      1.   Music must be approved of by Instructor before working with accompanists

      2.   Solo song sheets must be submitted first to the instructor and then to the accompanists in photo copy form on 8.5 x 11 (letter) size white paper, fan-folded, taped full length of the spine.

      3.      Accompanist are prepared only to work with songs that are arranged for piano accompaniment.  They are not responsible to transpose at sight for any students. For this purpose there is an electronic piano in A133.

      4.      Accompanists are asked only to work with students who have learnt and almost memorized the songs before the rehearsal/coaching session.  Part of the first rehearsal/coaching session of any new song may be used to record the accompaniment of the selection for reference.  Rehearsal times are short and precious.  Therefore please be extremely well prepared and make best use of them.

      5.   A letter size folder with the name, vocal range of the student on the in-side front page should be submitted to the instructor by the end of the second week of the semester.

      6.   At least one (10A) two (10B) of the song repertoire should be selected from the text book. 10B students must sing at least 2 foreign language songs.

      7.      Rehearsal time will be about 10 minutes each, on a first come first served basis according to sign-up schedule on the chalk board at the beginning of each class session.  Students are asked to be courteous and allow other students to take about equal amount of times for rehearsals.  Personal preparation is crucial with cassettes at home.  Rehearsals are rehearsals, they are not times for drilling, note-by-note kind of lessons.  Students are required to attend class instruction while not rehearsing with the accompanists.

Recommended Equipment:

      Quality portable cassette recorder

Performance Schedule:

      1.      Recitals: It is required that selected songs are performed from memory

      2.   First Trial-Recital of one song - sixth week of instruction

      3.   Second Recital of up to two songs - video taped and CD's made for reference and personal evaluation - the eleventh week of instruction

      4.   Final Recital of up to two songs - week before final examination week, audience will be invited

      5.   Outside performance will be arranged and required.

Videos of May 11, 2007 Recital

Documents for Download:

How to preserve your voice

Voice and Singing Techniques

CCSF Karaoke List

Voice Assessment Form

Warm-up Sheet Music

 

Philosophy of Education: 

We do not discriminate due to and not limited to: singing ability; whether the student can carry a tune or not, or due to age, race, cultural orientation, sexual orientation, disability, and health condition. All students are welcome. Everybody enrolled will perform in the organized concerts. 

 

It is recommended that a student take the credited Beginning Voice for two semesters first. With an grade of B or above, or the equivalence, or the consent of the instructor, the student would be qualified to enroll for credit, into the Intermediate Voice class, which can be taken up to four times. 

 

Open access/opportunity music education means that we do not audition students at the beginning level of every applied music/voice/choir class. Therefore we have students of an extremely diverse level of singing/musical competency, social/cultural/racial background, styles, and vocal quality. All celebrating their improvement in performance under the guidance of the instructor, mentors and the accompanists.