Food for
Thought
'Of course I am nervous. Each time I sing
I feel there is someone waiting to destroy me, and I must fight like a
bull to hold my own. The artist who boasts he is never nervous is
not an artist--he is a liar or a fool.' ~Enrico Caruso, tenor (1873-1921)
With a voice of exceptional beauty and superb technique, he is considered
the most famous tenor of all time. (David Hamilton
writing in The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia)
WEEKLY LESSON REMINDERS:
Vocal progress will be evident only with consistent
daily practice.
Consider bringing a blank cassette tapes to record
your lessons and accompaniments. Listening to the tape after the
lesson will help you remember the musical, technical, and artistic issues
discussed in the lesson.
Keep improving your technique which allows your
singing to have greater ease and musicality. Every lesson and practice
session deals with breath management, vowel clarity and color, intonation,
and resonance.
Accuracy of pitches, rhythms, and the text is
an absolute necessity.
Memorization is a prominent factor in vocal
progress and in determining the final grade. The minimum number
of memorized songs per credit hour is three.
Click for evaluation of memorized
music.
STUDIO CLASSES
Monday nights at 6 is the regularly scheduled
studio class and is a requirement for each student. This is where
you will perform your assigned vocal repertoire, helping you to perform
at a higher level at your jury or recital. Studying for 2 hours of
credit will mean attending all studio classes. Studying for 1 hour
of credit will mean attending half of the studio classes.
WRITTEN WORK
To aid your understanding and interpretation,
you are expected to research your songs. You must 1.) acquire an
accurate translation for each song in a foreign language. 2.) You
must have a basic knowledge of the composer and the poet, librettist, or
lyricist if they are important literary figures. 3.) You must
paraphrase the meaning of the song or aria in your own words.
Please complete this written work within two weeks after the song is
assigned.
Click for further information
regarding written work.
Click for resources
regarding song translations, opera synopses, and composers.
Ask for my help if you are having trouble
with your finding information or translations. I can often identify
just the book you need for translations, IPA, and other information.
JURIES
One of the requirements for 1, 2, or 4 credits
of Music 82 private lessons is to sing for the voice faculty at the end
of spring term. Usually these are scheduled on the last two days
of classes. The actual dates and times will be posted one to two
weeks before juries will take place. You will begin with a song of your
choice and the voice faculty will choose one other selection (more for
performance majors) from your list of memorized selections on your repertoire
sheet.
Please note: Second
year music students intending to declare a vocal performance major, must
sign up for two time slots and prepare to sing more than two selections.
Attendance at Furman Voice Recitals
You are required to attend the voice recitals
from our studio listed below. If you cannot attend the recital, you
can instead substitute the dress rehearsal for this requirement.
Check with the singer as to the time of the dress rehearsal. Please
be sure speak to me at these recitals so that I know that you came, otherwise,
I'll assume you did not attend.
There will be required attendance at the following
recitals held in Daniel Recital Hall:
Senior Recital-Cathy
Carlson--April 2 at 8:00
Junior Recital-Lee
Whittington--April 16 at 7:00
Shared Junior Recital-Megan
Reader and Joseph Hill--April 29 at 6:30
Senior Recital-Kaat
Sandoval--May 20 at 8:00
You are encouraged to attend other voice recitals scheduled for this
term:
Shared Junior
Recital-Stephanie Havey and Dana Wilson-March 21 at 6:30
Senior Recital-Katrina
Hammond--April 22 at 8:00
Senior Recital-Susanna
Eiland--April 23 at 8:00
Junior Recital-Katie
Cavenaugh--April 30 at 7:00
Senior Recital-Reid
Robertson--May 2 at 8:00
Junior Recital-D.J.
Seaman--May 9 at 7:00
You are also encouraged to attend recitals that your personal accompanists
give.
Check the department's musical events calendar (http://www.furman.edu/academics/dept/music)
and the front office in the music building for up-to-date changes.
VOCAL
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