Applied Voice Syllabus
Mr. John Nix
Class meetings: Weekly Seminar Class Tuesday or Thurs 11:00-11:50 pm
Individual lesson times in ARTS 3.03.04 arranged with the instructor
Office: ARTS 3.03.04; Phone: 458-5678 studio; 695-8020 home;
E-mail: john.nix@utsa.edu, jandcnix@juno.com
Office hours: by appointment (Mr. Nix)

Description:       One half hour lesson per week for 1 credit.  One hour lesson (or two 30 minute lessons) per week for 2, 3 or 4 credits.  These courses may be repeated for credit.  This course consists of one-on-one weekly lessons in singing plus a weekly seminar class.  The objective of this course is to develop the singing instrument to its highest potential by means of a week-by-week exposure to basic vocal technique as well as through performance opportunities.

Prerequisite:      Placement by examination (audition and interview) before the voice faculty. 

Requirements:    Major. All students must be music majors and enrolled in MUS 2001 in order to take lessons. 

                        Ensembles.  All voice students must be enrolled in an assigned ensemble each semester that a student is enrolled in applied lessons. 

                        Attendance and Promptness.  Expected.  Each student will receive a total of fifteen weeks of lessons during the semester.  A student missing four private lessons (unexcused) will be dropped.  Lessons missed due to unexcused absences are not required to be rescheduled.  Lessons missed due to excused absences with sufficient notice (the evening before your lesson the next day) may be rescheduled at the instructor’s discretion.  It is your responsibility to contact your accompanist if you miss a lesson or practice session.  We will reschedule any lesson that we miss due to illness or professional obligations.  Lessons missed due to University Holidays or Music Departmental Tours may be rescheduled at the discretion of the instructor.  Three tardies to a lesson or a seminar class will be counted as one absence. 

                        Attendance at voice recitals.  Attendance at ALL voice and choral recitals/concerts is strongly encouraged and expected for voice principals.  Plan to fulfill a portion of your MUS 2001 attendance requirements by attending all voice recitals.    

                        Repertoire.  Music will be selected for each student by the instructor.  You will be required to memorize a minimum of 3, 5 or 7 songs/arias each semester as assigned by the instructor. 

                        Notebooks (20%).  All students are required to keep a notebook of their work throughout the semester.  Among other information, notebooks should include:

 the voice syllabus;

an up to date repertoire list;

your music (if photocopied) with your translations and IPA (if you have had diction class) written in the score;

research on each of your pieces (historical background on the piece, the composer, the poet, performance practice considerations, perhaps a theoretical analysis of the harmonic structure of the piece (according to your level of theory training);

vocalises written out on score paper;

notes taken in listening back to lesson tapes or CDs;

notes on your daily practicing;

your goals;

articles and handouts given to you by the instructor and other items related to voice that you find. 

Notebooks will be collected at end of the semester.  See Mr. Nix if you have any questions.

                        Juries (33%).  All students taking applied voice lessons must jury for the faculty at the end of each semester.  The faculty will hear at least two of the student’s prepared selections at the jury.    All jury selections must be performed from memory.  Your jury grade is given by the full voice faculty (not just your teacher) at the jury. 

Miscellaneous Assignments.  You must turn in a copy of your resumé at midterm (4%).  Each student will be given memorization deadlines for their pieces during the semester; all pieces planned for the jury must be memorized two weeks before the end of the semester (5%).  Any foreign language translations will be due at the lesson during mid-term week (5%).  (Extra credit may be obtained by completing a written review of an album or CD selected by the instructor.)

                        Weekly seminar class.  Your attendance is required.  Please bring your music to this class every week.  You will be called upon to perform in studio class regularly.  Come warmed up and ready to sing for each session.  We will also have presentations during the semester. 

                        Vocal Progress (33%).  We define progress on an individual basis.  You are not in competition with fellow students, nor are you being compared with them.  Some objective measures of progress may include:  evidence of daily practice, complete translations for foreign language songs, prepared diction of foreign language songs, historical research on each piece, lesson tape study, assimilation and mastery of vocalises assigned, and attitude and openness to personal growth, especially in performance presentation.

Policies:            Students in this course are expected to abide by the UTSA Student Code of Conduct.  Please be sure you have read this document (see Appendix B at www.utsa.edu/infoguide/appendices.cfm)

UTSA does not discriminate on the basis of disability.  Special assistance is provided to students with disabilities through disability services.  See www.utsa.edu/infoguide/chap_2.cfm#disability for more information. 

CELL PHONES.  Please turn your phone off for this class.  The same applies to text messaging, pagers, etc.  If your job requires you to wear a pager or phone, you must set it on vibrate and you must completely and quietly leave the room to answer it.

Disclaimer:        As is the case with many other performing arts disciplines, there may be times in the course of one-on-one lessons with a voice teacher where a small amount of appropriate physical contact may be necessary.  This contact will only be at the student’s consent.  The instructor will always ask the student’s permission before touching the student, and the student may always decline the instructor’s request.

Grading:            Attendance and promptness                                                                           Expected

                        Notebooks (last week of classes)                                                                           20%

                        Singing performance at jury (Students must jury to receive degree credit)                   33%

                        Resumé (midterm)                                                                                                 4%

                        Memorization for jury (2 weeks before juries)                                                             5%

                        Translations (midterm)                                                                                            5%

                        Vocal progress                                                                                                    33%

Any students eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability are requested to speak with your instructor immediately.  You will need to provide documentation of your disability from the Disability Services Office.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions during or after lessons, during office hours or at studio class.  Call at home (after 8AM and before 9PM) or e-mail if you need to cancel your lesson for the following day.  Voice study is based upon student/teacher communication and understanding.  We look forward to working with you!

John Nix