M-JP-VOC1

Practical Classes

13 (interpretation: 9, technique: 4)

1

30

One 50-minute interpretation lesson, one 20-minute individual technique lesson and one 60 minutes group lesson per week

65 hours

299 hours

Admitted to the ArtEZ Jazz & Pop Voice main subject year 1.

See Competencies Matrix.

Acquiring the basic skills and knowledge required for the student's musical development.

The level of ‘instrument’ (i.e., vocals) proficiency corresponds to the contents of the band and theory modules.

TECHNIQUE:
General voice development, breathing technique, posture correction, articulation, tone control, vocal coloring, dynamics, pronunciation, extending vocal range, legato techniques, blending registers, pronunciation of foreign languages and microphone technique.
Learning to incorporate the technical voice exercises in performances of the chosen repertoire.
Practice skills, awareness of range, knowledge of warming up the voice.
Students will develop also a theoretically grounded perspective on their own instrument technique.
READING SKILLS:
Independently studying and rehearsing a score.
IMPROVISATION:
Further developing:
Blues.
Vamps.
Melodic variation.
Introduction to improvisation in different styles.
Developing and using scat vocabulary ('syllables').
Optional: solo transcriptions.
REPERTOIRE:
Several technically challenging pop songs.
Studying, interpreting and performing pieces in three or more styles (e.g., pop, jazz, musical, Brazilian).
Building a song portfolio containing 15 to 20 pieces covered during main subject or band lessons. The pieces should be notated 'lead sheet' style (as in a real vocal book), with chord symbols and melodies in the student's singing key.
INTERPRETATION:
Style-specific embellishments and timbre.
Timing.
Phrasing.
Dynamics.
Communication of text.
Pronunciation of relevant languages.
GENERAL MUSICAL SKILLS:
Singing and recording independently.
Studying vocal parts.
Choosing an appropriate key for singing a specific piece.
Transposing pieces.
Writing parts.
Counting off pieces.

Individual lessons & group lessons.

Selected repertoire.
Reference books.

Organizing a short performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop ensemble week; independently organizing a performance (five pieces) as part of the first year audition.
Students need to bring their own microphone to all practical classes!

Assessment by the main subject instructor at the end of each semester.
Written examination on theoretical subjects connected with singing technique.

The student should have mastered the elements described under Aims. Specific criteria are: creativity, expression, improvisation, technique, sound, intonation, timing, reading skills, repertoire knowledge, progress, self-reflection, attitude, lesson preparation and theoretical knowledge of singing technique.

The student has completed this module if being awarded a minimum grade of 5.5 at the end of the second semester.

At the end of both semesters the instructor fills out an assessment form designed specifically for this module. Assessment is comprised of a verbal evaluation and a concluding grade. The instructor reviews this assessment with the student during the first subsequent lesson. Assessment at the end of the autumn semester is formative and expressed in terms of satisfactory/unsatisfactory. It indicates a student's progress in this module. No ECs are awarded and there is no resit. Modules can only be absolved, and ECs awarded, after the end of the spring semester. At the end of the year the students have to pass a written examination on the theoretical and practical content of the technique group lesson.

See the Education and Assessment Plan.