MUJS 3900 -Vocal Pedagogy for Non-Classical Styles – Spring 2014
Instructor – Rosana Eckert Classroom: MU288
Email:
Cell: 817-368-4422 Office: MU348
Course Objectives: This class is an introduction to the science and practice of healthy singing in non-classical music styles, emphasizing jazz, including other popular styles. This will include an overview of the basic anatomy and physiology of the body as it relates to singing, analysis of various professional vocal artist’s approaches (successful and unsuccessful), understanding an efficient approach to achieving unification of vocal registers while maintaining speech-like delivery, and other topics relevant to both singing and teaching in non-classical music styles.
Required Text:There is no required text for this course. There will, however, be a great deal of supplemental reading materials handed out or accessed online.
Grading: Grades will be determined by an average of weekly class participation grades, exam grading, and one written project.
Attendance Policy: Due to the compressed nature of the amount of material and individual work in this course, attendance is required at all classes. No unexcused absences are allowed. Each unexcused absence lowers the participation grade by one letter. Two excused absences are allowed. Additional absences beyond the 2nd will lower your semester grade by one letter. It is your responsibility to obtain any information missed in class, preferably by arranging to have the class recorded in your absence. Remember, there is no text, so all the information you are given and expected to know for exams is either handed out in class or lectured.
- Class participation – 25%
- Exam 1 – 10%
- Midterm Exam – 20%
- Exam 3- 10%
- Written project – 10%
- Final Exam – 25%
Week 1 Jan 13 Introduction to breathing, onset
Jan 15 Speech therapy perspectives
Week 2 Jan 20 The anatomy of singing part 1
Jan 22 The anatomy of singing part 2
Week 3 Jan 27 Resonance and Formants
Jan 29 Warming up vs. Exercising
Week 4 Feb 3 Review of anatomical terms
Feb 5 Exam #1
Week 5 Feb 10 Understanding Male and Female Registers
Feb 12 Mixing or blending registers
Week 6 Feb 17 Becoming a Mix-Master! Part 1
Feb 19 Becoming a Mix-Master! Part 2
Week 7 Feb 24 Vibrato: physical causes, correction, various uses
Feb 26 Analysis (audio and visual) of current and historic artists
Week 8 Mar 3 Midterm Exam
Mar 5 Visit from UT Southwestern voice specialists
Spring Break March 10/12
Week 9 Mar 17 Agility and improvisation in jazz singing: exercises
Mar 19 Etudes for further agility and pitch accuracy development
Week 10 Mar 24 Teaching: The Young Voice
Mar 26 Teaching: The Mature Voice
Week 11 Mar 31 Exam #3
Apr 2 Special techniques for dramatic and stylistically unique effects
Week 12 Apr 7 Vocal health and maintenance part 1
Apr 9 Vocal health and maintenance part 2
Week 13 Apr 14 Presentation of Written Projects (Review of Materials)
Apr 16 Presentation of Written Projects (Review of Materials)
Week 14 Apr 21 Analysis (audio and visual) of jazz and pop vocal artists
Apr 23 Class Review, Preparation for Final Exam
Dead Wk Apr 28 Final Discussion, Analysis, Q & A
Apr 30 Final Exam
Office of Disability Accommodation
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students
seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their
eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty
to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any
time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any
delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and
must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the
Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at
940.565.4323.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (Undergraduates)
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must
maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours
based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed attempted credit hours above 150% of their
required degree plan. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid
eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have
the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit
for more information about financial aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress. It may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your
college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being doing so.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (Graduates)
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must
maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours
based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the
published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may
lose their financial aid eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have
the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit
for more information about financial aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress. It may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your
college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being doing so.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is defined in the UNT Policy on Student Standards for Academic Integrity. Any suspected case
of Academic Dishonesty will be handled in accordance with the University Policy and procedures. Possible
academic penalties range from a verbal or written admonition to a grade of “F” in the course. Further sanctions may
apply to incidents involving major violations. You will find the policy and procedures at:
Student Behavior in the Classroom
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn
is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in
unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center
for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student
Conduct. The university’s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university
and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at: