Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 3920
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New MediaDepartment: Music
Title: Opera Workshop
Semester Approved: Summer 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2024
End Semester: Spring 2025
Catalog Description: This course includes staging and performances of arias and short scenes from operas, operettas, and musical theater. It is intended for students in the vocal music advisement track, as well as those wishing for an advanced experience in vocal literature.This ensemble will provide students with an opportunity to develop technical skill, sight-reading ability, and knowledge of the repertory related to the ensemble. It further allows students to synthesize musical, historical and cultural knowledge into meaningful artistic expression. This course is open only to music majors pursuing the bachelor of music degree or by permission of instructor. Audition required. May be repeated for credit.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.
Prerequisites: Admittance into bachelor of music program or permission of instructor. Audition required.
Justification: This course provides vocal majors with an opportunity to perform great works of opera, which is especially critical for those pursuing performance degrees. Courses similar to this are taught at other institutions in Utah. This course transfers as a performance credit.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Perform scenes from operas in a variety of languages, including, English, German, Italian and French. This outcome will be assessed via memorization assignments, weekly class participation, sectional participation, and concert participation.
Understand the proper techniques for singing while moving on stage. This outcome will be assessed via memorization assignments, weekly class participation, sectional participation, and concert participation.
Understand and perform correct blocking and staging technique. This outcome will be assessed via memorization assignments, weekly class participation, sectional participation, and concert participation.
Understand the roles of the musical director, stage director, costume director stage manager, understudy and performer as they relate to the production of a show. This outcome will be assessed via memorization assignments, weekly class participation, sectional participation, and concert participation.
Understand the differences that existed in the performance practices of operas written in the Baroque, Classic, Romantic and Post-Romantic periods. This outcome will be assessed via memorization assignments, weekly class participation, sectional participation, and concert participation.
Content:
1. Basics of stage direction
2. Basics of acting
3. Basics of diction in Italian, French, German and English
4. The Alexander Technique of performance posture
5. Preparing a role as a performer and as an understudy
6. Basics of costuming
7. Performance practices as they relate to different historical periods
Key Performance Indicators:
Students in opera workshop courses are assessed in the following ways (percentages are approximate):
Participation Rates - Attendance at class sessions 40 to 60%
Memorization Assignments 10 to 15%
Presentation/Performance – sectional rehearsal participation and performance 10 to 15%
Presentation/Performance - Concert participation and performance 10 to 15%
Group Project - Participation in concert recording review and critique 10 to 15%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Students will use scores from the Snow library to prepare scenes. The library has numerous scores available that will be put on reserve by the instructor.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course is delivered via direct instruction, mentoring, modeling, and group interaction.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 12