Syllabus German Diction - MUAG 1907 Fall Semester, 2014

Syllabus -- German Diction - MUAG 1907 – Fall Semester, 2014

Carol Wilson, Associate Professor of Voice

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

Email: - Mailbox #185

Samantha Kantak, Teaching Assistant

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THE MATERIALS

REQUIRED TEXT: German Lyric Diction Workbook,Cheri Montgomery

SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES: (on reserve in Willis Library)

-- German for Singers: A Textbook of Diction and Phonetics by Odom and Schollum. A comprehensive text covering the rules of German pronunciation and IPA, with a CD of spoken and sung German words and song texts.

-- Deutsche Aussprache by Theodor Siebs. A definitive reference book designed for singers, with IPA transcription of the most commonly used German words for stage.

-- 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:

-- shows German words in IPA, gives word and phrase translations, and audio examples

-- IPA scripts for IPA transliteration:

-- IPA Source:in the Willis Library database– phonetic transcriptions and literal transcriptions

RESOURCE BOOKS FOR GERMAN LIEDER IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

-- The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder

-- The Ring of Words: An Anthology of Song Texts

-- The Penguin Book of Lieder

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course will provide the principles of German lyric diction: tools for speaking and singing German song texts with clarity, accuracy, word sense, and expressivity. Students will discover how the course can facilitate their learning process, improve performances of German Lied, 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 using the IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet, a written, phonetic system created to aid in the correct pronunciation of any sound, in any language, no matter the spelling. The IPA is a system of symbols whereby a phonetic symbol applies to one and only one spoken/sung sound.

COURSE CONTENT

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

2) The efficient articulation of German vowels and consonants

3) IPA transliterationof German texts

4) Basic principles of German word structure, word sense, word groupings.

5) Differences between spoken and sung German

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

A. Two song presentations: one in-class, and one during Finals Week

1) In-class song presentation: Each student will be required to speak and sing one German Lied in class. In-class presentations will take place from Oct. 20 – Nov. 19. Memorization of the song is not required though encouraged. Successful presentationsshould exhibit a student’s thorough preparation regarding accurate German pronunciation. Songs should be presented with accuracy regarding musical aspects (pitch, rhythm, phrasing). Students should discuss their choice of song with their studio professor and with Professor Wilson. Students are encouraged to choose songs by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Strauss. A suggested list of songs is posted on Blackboard.

2) The final song presentation: this presentation will take place in a private hearing withProfessor Wilson during Finals Week. Songs must be memorized. Students should have their studio teacher assist in the choice and preparation of the song.

Materials students should provide for song presentations:

1) A copy of the poem/song text in German, with a legible IPA transliteration on the line directly below, either using long hand or a computer-generated program: and Unicode 5.1(v1.4) MAC. 2)The poem in English translation.

3) Copies of texts and IPA transliterationfor all members of the class

Song Presentation Schedule: Once a schedule for the in-class presentations has been determined, it will be posted on Blackboard. Date changes for presentationswill be considered only if the request is made in advance, at the professor’s discretion. Last minute emergencies due to illness will be considered if students have made every effort to contact Professor Wilson in a timely manner. A pianist will be assigned to the class to collaborate with singers in their song presentations. Students are welcome to use their weekly studio pianist, but they should keep in mind that with this option all financial arrangements are between singer and pianist. Class members should provide a legible copy to the pianist no later than five days prior to the presentation, and arrange for a rehearsal with the pianist no later than one day before the presentation.

B.Exercise worksheets on the IPAwill be given on a regular basis to facilitate IPA transliteration, IPA memorization, and rules of pronunciation. Take home worksheets must be returned by the next diction class meeting; worksheets handed in after the due date will be graded 10% lower for each additional day past the deadline.

EXAMINATIONS

-- Two quizzes: Wed., Sept. 17,and Wed., Oct. 15 covering rules of pronunciation and IPA

-- Midterm written exam: Wed.,Oct. 1: materials covered include rules of pronunciation, and the IPA.

-- Final written exam: Monday, Nov. 24. The exam will cover rules of pronunciation, with questions and exercisesdesigned to show a student’s understanding of the IPA.

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 course content, and for developing the skills necessary for a career in music. Learning to better articulate the principles of good German Diction will benefit one’s career as a performer, educator, choral/orchestra conductor, and private voice teacher. Class members are encouraged to be proactive in class discussions, and, by doing so, practice the art of offering constructive feedback to colleagues in individual song presentations.

ATTENDANCE

A total of two absences are permitted. More than 2 absences will lower the grade 5% for each additional absence. Absences will be neither excused nor unexcused. Exceptions will beallowed for University approved and documented programs,or for an absence accompanied with a doctor’s note.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday/Wednesday 10:00 – 10:50 or by appointment. Contact information appears at the top of this syllabus.

GERMAN DICTION – MUAG 1907

FALL SEMESTER, 2014

A Week-by-Week Plan

WEEK 1: Aug. 25 & 27

Getting Started/Course introduction, and Unit 1 :pages 2 - 8

WEEK 2: Sept. 3

Monophthongs Unit 2: [ ɾ ] and [ʁ ] : pages 10-20

Ich- laut[ ç ] and ach-laut[χ ] :pages 22-32

WEEK 3: Sept. 8 & 10

Long closed [ iː], short open [ I ], [ h ] :pages 34 – 44

Long closed [ eː], short open [ɛ ],swhwa [ ǝ ], [ v ] and [ f ]: pages 46 – 56

WEEK 4: Sept. 15 & 17

Long closed[ uː ], short open [ʊ ], [ʃ ], [ s ], and the Eszett [ß ] : pages 58 – 68

Long closed [ oː ], short open [ ɔ ], [ z ], and [ ts ] : pages 70 - 80

Quiz 1 Wed., Sept. 17

WEEK 5: Sept. 22 & 24

Long closed mixed [ yː ], short open mixed [ Y ], [ j ], final –ieand –ik, and consonant blends with p : pages 82 – 92

Long closed mixed [ øː ], short open mixed [œ ], [ŋ ], and [ k ] : pages 94 – 104

Long [ a ː ] and short [ a ]; - th: pages 106 – 116

WEEK 6: Sept. 29 & Oct. 1

Diphthongs: [ ae ] [ ao ] and [ɔø], unvoiced b, d, g and the sounds of c: pages 118 – 128

Identifying words containing multiple elements: pages 130 - 133

Midterm Exam Wed., Oct. 1

WEEK 7: Oct. 6 & 8

Prefixes: pages 140 – 153

Suffixes: pages 160 – 169

German Diction Week-by-Week Plan - Page 2

WEEK 8: Oct. 13 & 15

Inflectional endings and truncated words : pages 172 – 185

Compound words : pages 192 - 200

Quiz 2 Wed., Oct. 15

WEEK 9: Oct. 20 & 22

Song Presentations

WEEK 10: Oct. 27 & 29

Song Presentations

WEEK 11: Nov. 3 & 5

Song Presentations

WEEK 12: Nov. 10 & 12

Song Presentations

WEEK 13: Nov. 17 & 19

Song Presentations

WEEK 14: Nov. 24 & 26

Final Exam Mon., Nov. 24

Song Presentations (con’t) (Wed., Nov. 26)

FINALS WEEK: Dec. 8 – 12

Final Song Presentation, date to be announced

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

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