Science and Pedagogy of Singing
MUAG 4300/5300
Fall, 2017
Stephen F. Austin, M.M., Ph.D.
940-369-7214
Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30-10:50 a.m. Rm 289
Purpose of the Course:
-To introduce basic anatomy and physiology of the respiratory, articulatory, phonatory systems of the human body
-To introduce basic principles of sound and resonance in the singing voice
-To familiarize the student with issues related to care of the professional voice and with common voice disorders and their remedies
-To introduce fundamental principles of voice training using historically relevant methods and sources
-To introduce the student to the function of the ear and risks associated with long-term noise exposure
Resources:
Required Texts:
-Your Voice: An Inside View. Dr. Scott McCoy. Multi-media Voice Science and Pedagogy. Purchase of the text OR iBook isrequired.
-Provenance: Historic Vocal Pedagogy Viewed through a Contemporary Lens. Dr. Stephen F. Austin. Purchase of the text is required.
- Both are available at the bookstore or from Inside View Press.
-A site license for “Voce Vista” has been acquired for all pedagogy students at UNT. You will be provided a code with which you can download for use in class. “Voce vista” is a software program used for acoustic and physiological measurement and analysis of the voice.
Other materials:
-You must have a laptop computer with video camera
-Additional readings will be placed on Blackboard or a link to Google Books will be provided
-Method books including Vaccai, Franz Abt, and Viardot will be used and referenced in class. They will be posted on Blackboard.
Grading:
Your final grade will be determined in the following way:
Grades on four exams with the following weighting:
Exam 115%
Mid-term25%
Exam 315%
Final25%
Regular quizzes taken in class throughout the course of the
semester:
Quizs20%
There are a total of 13 quizzes. Each quiz is worth 2 points toward the final grade. Each quiz has a total of five points. Youmust score 3 of 5 correct to receive credit for the quiz. Only 10 of the quizzes will count toward the final grade.
POSSIBLE EXTRA CREDIT: 5 extra credit points are availablefor participation in aresearch studyconducted by Dr. Austin. More to come on this.
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
90-100A60-70D
80-89B< 60F
70-79C
MUAG 5300: If you are taking this course for graduate credit, there will be an extra assignment due prior to taking the final exam. You are to read Manuel Garcia’s The Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing Vol. 1 and 2. You will turn in an outline of your reading. This can be done in any form that you wish, but it must be thorough enough that I know you have read the entire thing. I will provide you a copy of the document on Blackboard.
Blackboard:
All exams will be taken on Blackboard during class time. You will use LockDown Browser for quizzes during classtime and LockDown Browser andRespondus Monitor for exams taken outside of class. It is up to you to learn how to use it. Instruction for downloading LockDown Browser is at the end of the syllabus.
Attendance Policy:
No more than 2 unexcused absences are allowed. If you need an excused absence, discuss it with me prior to class period you will miss. Post hoc requests may or may not be considered. Understand that the vast majority of the content of the course is not in the written materials. You will not pass the course if you do not attend.
Laptop/Phone Policy: NO CHECKING EMAIL OR TEXTING WILL BE TOLERATED!
No use of cell phones is allowed in class.
Use of your laptop in class is limited to classroom materials. Random checks of your laptop will be done. Please do not email, text or do anything other than classroom work on your computer.
Approximate class schedule:
The course will in general follow the organization of the text with supporting materials.
Aug 29Ch. 1–Introduction
The Sounds of the Human Voice
Sound Qualities
Critical Listening
ReadingAssignment #1: “The Voce Chiusa”, pg. 30
inProvenance.
Aug 31Lecture: “Chiaroscuro: Out of the Darkness Into the Bright”
Sept. 5Chiaroscuro (cont.)
Quiz #1: The Voce Chiusa (taken online in class)
Reading Assignment #2: “First Things First”,
pg. 107 in Provenance.
♪Practical application: establishing the voce chiusa timbre
Sept. 7Ch. 2 Anatomy
Quiz #2: “First Things First”(taken online in class)
Video presentation: The Larynx and the Voice (1950)
♪Practical application exercises: Sostenuto
Reading Assignment #3: “Chi non lega, non canta”, pg. 1 in Provenance.
Sept. 12Ch. 3 Breathing and Breath Support
Quiz #3: “Chi non lega, non canta”(taken online in class)
Respiration overview
Respiratory skeletal anatomy
♪Practical application: Portamento exercises
Reading Assignment #4: “Staccato”, pg. 4 in Provenance.
Sept. 14Ch. 3 Breathing and Breath Support (cont.)
Quiz #4: “Staccato”(taken online in class)
Respiratory muscular anatomy
Breathing Techniques
♪Practical application exercises: Staccato
Sept. 19Ch. 4 Larynx and Vocal Folds
Vocal folds and the lamina propria
Video: “The Vibrating Larynx” William Vennard
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 1: “Mancasollecita”. The diatonic scale.
Reading Assignment #5: “The Attack on the Coupe de la glotte”, pg. 37 in Provenance.
Sept. 21Ch. 4 cont.
Quiz #5: “The Attack on the coupe de la glotte”(taken online in class)
Vocal fold oscillation
Cartilaginous framework
Ad/abduction
♪Practical application exercises: The onset
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 2:
“Semplicettatortorella”.Intervals of the third.
Reading Assignment #6: “Suonifillati”, pg. 65 in Provenance.
Sept. 26Ch. 4 cont.
Quiz #6: “Suonifillati” (taken online in class)
Intrinsic musculature
Modes and control
♪Practical application exercises: messa di voce
Sept. 28We will have class.
Test #1 –1 hour test to be taken outside of class using Respondus Monitor with Lockdown Browser. Test may be taken at any time during the day starting at 6 a.m. through 11:30 p.m. Please refer to the instructions for using Respondus found in your syllabus.
Ch. 5 Resonance
Sound
Partials and Overtones
Introduction to Voce Vista
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 3: “Lasicail
lido”. Intervals of the fourth.
Reading Assignment #7: “Auchkleine dinge”, pg. 181 in Provenance.
Oct. 3Ch. 5 Resonance
Quiz #7: “Auchkleine dinge” (taken online in class)
Formants!
Vowels
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 4:
“Avvezzo a vivere”.Intervals of the fifth, clean attack.
Reading Assignment #8: “Lean on Me! The Art of the Appoggiatura”,
pg.117 in Provenance.
Oct. 5Ch. 5 Resonance
Voce Vista Day
Oct. 10Ch. 5 – Why do I need to know this?
Quiz #8: “Lean on Me” (taken online in class)
Male passaggio
Female passaggio
The Singer’s Formant
Formant Tuning
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 8: The Appoggiatura.
Oct. 12Ch. 6 Voice Analysis – Acoustic Measures
Electroglottograph
Voce Vista and EGG
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 7: Runs
and scale passages.
Reading Assignment #9: “Vibrato by the Seashore”,
pg. 311 in Provenance.
Oct. 17Ch. 6 – Physiologic Measures
Quiz #9: “Vibrato by the Seashore” (taken online in class)
Fun with Voce Vista and the Vibrato
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai Lesson 8: The acciaccatura.
Oct. 19Ch. 7 – Vocal Health
Guide to good vocal hygiene
Voice Disorders
♪Practical application exercises: Voice building review: The process.
Reading Assignment #10: “Two-Headed Llamas and the lute vocale”,
pg. 44 in Provenance.
Oct. 24Ch. 7 – Vocal Health cont.
Quiz #10: “Two-Headed Llama” (taken online in class)
Other disorders and issues
♪Practical application exercises: Timbre and vowel
Oct. 26Guest lecture: Dr. Kris Chesky, Director of the Center for Performing Arts Health
Mid-termA two-hour Mid Term exam will be taken outside of class using Respondus Monitor with Lockdown Browser. The test is cumulative including information from articles and exercises discussed in class.
Test may be taken at any time during the day starting at 6 a.m. through 11:30 p.m. Please refer to the instructions for using Respondus found in your syllabus.
Oct. 31Ch. 8– Registration
Basic ideas and principles
Reading Assignment #11: “On Time with Manuel
Garcia”, pg. 173 in Provenance.
Nov. 2Ch. 8 – Registration (cont.)
Quiz #11: “On Time with MG” (taken online in class)
Lecture: The Chest is Best!
♪Practical application exercises: Strengthening the registers
Nov. 7Ch. 8 – Registers and Voce Vista
Video: “They Don’t Believe in the Chest Voice”
Audio: Vennard teaches “Mary Alice”. Developing Voices.
G. Schirmer, 1970.
♪Practical application exercises: Register breakouts
Nov. 9Ch. 9 – Articulation
Tongue and soft palate
Mandible – temporomandibular joint
♪Practical application exercises: The great Rossini scale.
Reading Assignment #12: “Words, words, words!”,
pg. 284 in Provenance.
Nov. 14Ch. 9 – Articulation (cont.)
Quiz #12: “Words, words, words.” (taken online in class)
Place and manner of production of consonant sounds.
♪Practical application exercises: Pasquale Amato from
Great Singers on the Art of Singing, Cooke, 1921.
Nov. 16We will have class.
Test #3 – 1 hour test to be taken outside of class using Respondus Monitor with Lockdown Browser. Test may be taken at any time during the day starting at 6 a.m. through 11:30 p.m. Please refer to the instructions for using Respondus found in your syllabus.
Ch. 9 – Articulation cont.
Lecture: Nasal Resonance: Fact or Fiction?
♪Practical application exercises: Addressing excessivenasalence with consonant production.
Nov. 21Guest Lecture: Dr. SajidSurvé, UNT Health Science Center
Nov. 23No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 28Ch. 9 – Articultation(cont.)
Lecture: “Just for the Trill of it”
Nov. 30Ch. 10 - Hearing
The ear and its function
♪Practical application exercises: Vaccai: Lesson 9 – The mordent.
Reading Assignment #13: “Hermann Klein: A contemporary Link to Mozart” (I), pg. 95 in Provenance.
Dec 5.Guest Lecture: Dr. Jeffrey Snider – Repertory for the Young Singer
Dec. 7Building Strong Voices 12 Different Ways.
Quiz #13: “Hermann Klein” (taken online in class)
Dec. 14
Final Exam: 2 hour test to be taken outside of the classroom using Respondus Monitor with Lockdown Browser. Test must be taken during published schedule: 8-10 a.m. Please refer to the instructions for using Respondus Monitor and Lockdown Browser found in your syllabus.
University Policies
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam [or specify alternative sanction, such as course failure]. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students, who may impose further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term “cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to: a. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and b. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
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STUDENT BEHAVIOR
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 Dean of Students 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. (Also see below, UNT Care Team)
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LINK: eagleconnect.unt.edu/
ODA STATEMENT
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.
LINK: disability.unt.edu. (Phone: (940) 565-4323)
2017-2018 Semester Academic Schedule (with Add/Drop Dates)
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Academic Calendar at a Glance, 2017-2018
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Final Exam Schedule
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FINANCIAL AID AND 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.
Students holding music scholarships must maintain a minimum 2.5 overall cumulative GPA and 3.0 cumulative GPA in music courses.
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. It is recommended that 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.
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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. Music scholarships require a 3.5 cumulative GPA. 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. It is recommended you schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college, an advisor in UNT-International or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course.
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RETENTION OF STUDENT RECORDS
Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor of record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Course work completed via the Blackboard online system, including grading information and comments, is also stored in a safe electronic environment for one year. You have a right to view your individual record; however, information about your records will not be divulged to other individuals without the proper written consent. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws and the university’s policy in accordance with those mandates.
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RESPONDING TO STUDENTS IN DISTRESS: UNT CARE TEAM
Please visit the CARE Team website to tips to recognize students in distress and what you need to do in cases of extreme behavior or references to suicide.
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LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor Information for Taking Exams
This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and a webcam for online exams. The webcam can be built into your computer or can be the type that plugs in with a USB cable. Watch this short video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser and the webcam feature. A student Quick Start Guide (PDF) is also available (Blackboard Learn). Download and install LockDown Browser from this link:
To ensure LockDown Browser and the webcam are set up properly, do the following:
_Start LockDown Browser, log into Blackboard, and select this course.
_Locate and select the Help Center button on the LockDown Browser toolbar.
_Run the Webcam Check and, if necessary, resolve any issues.
_Run the System & Network Check. If a problem is indicated, see if a solution is provided in the Knowledge Base. Troubleshooting information can also be emailed to the help desk.
_Exit the Help Center and locate the practice exam named Practice Test in the Exam folder.
_Upon completing and submitting the practice quiz, exit LockDown Browser.
When taking an online exam that requires LockDown Browser and a webcam, remember the following guidelines:
•Ensure you're in a location where you won't be interrupted
•Turn off all other devices (e.g. tablets, phones, second computers)
•Clear your desk of all external materials not permitted — books, papers, other devices
•Remain at your computer for the duration of the test
•If the computer or networking environment is different than what was tested above, repeat the Webcam and System checks prior to starting the test
•To produce a good webcam video, do the following:
◦Do not wear a baseball cap or a hat with a brim
◦Ensure your computer is on a firm surface (a desk or table) — not on your lap, a bed, or other surface that might move
◦If using a built-in webcam, avoid tilting the screen after the webcam setup is complete
◦Take the exam in a well-lit room and avoid backlighting, such as sitting with your back to a window
•Remember that LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted.