Syllabus -- German Diction MUAG 1907

Spring 2015

Dr. Carol Wilson, Associate Professor of Voice

Office: Room 333 - Telephone: 940-369-7544

Email: - Mailbox #185

Katie Jo Ross, TA ()

REQUIRED TEXT

  • German Lyric Diction Workbook, 4th or 5th Edition, Cheri Montgomery

Supplemental Sources: (on reserve in Willis Library)

  • German for Singers: A Textbook of Diction and Phonetics by Wm. Odom and BennoSchollum. A comprehensive text on the rules of German pronunciation and IPA, with accompanying CD of spoken and sung German words and song texts.
  • Deutsche Aussprache by Theodor Siebs. A definitive reference work designed for professional singers, with IPA transcription of the most commonly used German words.
  • Diction for Singers: A concise reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish pronunciation by Wall, Caldwell, Gavilanes and Allen.
  • Pronunciation Guide for The Lieder Anthologyby Gerhart and Spiegelman: translations of 65 German Lieder, with IPA, and CDs of recorded diction lessons
  • Online Dictionaries:
  • -- German words with translations, many with IPA and audio examples.
  • Additional Online Resources:

IPA Source: Willis Library database-- phonetic transcriptions and transcriptions

UT German Grammar:

  • Resource books for German/English translations:

The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder

The Ring of Words: An Antology of Song Texts

The Penguin Book of Lieder

  • IPA scripts: -- -- fortranscribing in IPA

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The course will provide basic principles of German lyric diction, and the tools for speaking and singing German song texts with clarity, accuracy, word sense, and expressivity. Students will discover how course materials can facilitate their learning process, and assist their professional endeavors as soloist, choral conductor, and music educator.

The course will provide a systematic approach to the pronunciation of German words through the basic rules of grammar, using the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), a useful phonetic shorthand in which one symbol represents one sound, minimizing guesswork and errors when singing German.

COURSE CONTENT:

1) German vowels, consonants and the rules governing their pronunciation including the most common exceptions to the rules

2) Efficient articulation of German vowels and consonants

3) Written exercises in IPA transliteration

4) Basic principles of German language word structure, word sense, word groupings and word inflection

5) Differences between spoken and sung German

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. Individual in-class song presentations: Each student will be required to prepare one German Lied for performance in class at a date TBD. The song choice should be in consultation with the student’s voice teacher and myself. Preferred composers are the major Lied composers Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Strauss. A suggested list of songs is posted on Blackboard.

Required materials at the time of the song presentation:

  • German song text
  • IPA transliteration
  • English translation

Changes to the song presentations schedule are permitted at my discretionif the request is made in advance. Last minute changes due to illness will be considered if students have made every effort to contact me in a timely manner. A collaborative pianist will be assigned to the class for song presentations. Singers may use theirregular studio pianist and take responsibility for financial arrangements.

  1. IPA exercise worksheets:to facilitate IPA memorization, and their application to rules of pronunciation. Worksheets must be completed and turned in by the following classmeeting. Worksheets handed in after the due date will be graded 5% lower for each additional overdue day. Worksheets not completed and turned in will receive a zero grade.
  1. Exams:
  • Midterm exam: March 11 covering rules of pronunciation, and the IPA.
  • Two quizzes: Wed., Feb. 18, and Mon., April 6 covering rules of pronunciation and IPA
  • Finalwritten exam:May 4
  • Final song presentation: May 11

RUBRIC for GRADE DETERMINATION

  • Midterm exam: 20%
  • Final written exam: 20%
  • In-class song presentation: 20%
  • Final song presentation: 20%
  • Quizzes and worksheets: 20%

CLASS PARTICIPATION is essential to understanding and clearly articulating course materials. Developing these skills will be beneficial to students’ future careers as singers and educators. Singers are encouraged to be proactive in class discussions.

ATTENDANCE: a total of 2 absences are permitted without affecting the final grade. Class absences will be neither excused nor unexcused. Absences will be considered excused for University approved and documented programs, or for illness when accompanied by a doctor’s note. Three late arrivals will count as one unexcused absence. A student’s final grade will be lowered by five percent for each unexcused absence exceeding two.

OFFICE HOURS:By appointment. Contact information appears at the top of this syllabus.

From Dr. Warren Henry, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Music:

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