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Vocal Studies at
MSSU
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| Vocal Studies at MSSU is a comprehensive program for both majors and non-majors that comprises applied voice lessons, frequent and varied performance opportunities, and academic courses in vocal pedagogy, and vocal diction and literature. Our goal is for each student to reach his or her fullest potential as an artist, be it large or small. Each student's unique voice will grow at its own pace given that student's desire, talent, and study. The MSSU Vocal Studies program helps each student to develop a freely functioning and technically consistent instrument that allows him or her to sing artistically and expressively. Applied voice lessons are open to all students and are designed to develop the vocal, technical, and artistic skills of the singer. Emphasis is placed on techniques in breathing, voice placement, diction, resonance, and interpretation of literature. Each student will be assigned literature to address his or her individual vocal, degree, and career needs, and will meet the requirements of the MSSU Vocal Studies Program. A student who majors in another academic field may enroll in a weekly applied elective lesson. Weekly lessons are 1 and 2 credits. A 1 credit lesson is 30 minutes each week. A 2 credit lesson is 1 hour each week. A modest fee for applied lessons is charged each semester. A student pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree whose major instrument is voice will take a minimum of 7 semesters of applied voice for 2 credits each semester. A student pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree whose major instrument is voice will take a minimum of 8 semesters of applied voice for 2 credits each semester. Performance Opportunities for voice majors includes departmental recitals, student recitals, and end-of-semester juries. Each November, selected voice majors perform in ONSTAGE, a showcase of solos, ensembles, and staged scenes from opera, oratorio, art song, and musical theatre. Each voice major will successfully perform a Senior Voice Recital as partial fulfillment for the requirements of their degree. All students in applied lessons participate in master classes each semester. These performance classes allow the students to sing for each other, to critically analyze performances, and verbalize what they are hearing. Not only will they learn by listening to other students, they will begin to teach each other through lively discussion which is simply guided by the teacher. |
Vocal Pedagogy is an elective course introducing the science and teaching of singing. Emphasis is placed upon the study of the physiology and anatomy, breathing and phonation, and acoustics of the vocal instrument as well as the pedagogical approaches to training the singing voice. It is open to all students. Vocal Diction and Literature is an elective course for all applied voice students for instruction in the correct pronunciation of English, Italian, German, French and Ecclesiastical Latin as used in the study of vocal literature. The MSSU Vocal Studies Program strives to encourage the best in each student. By respecting individual differences in talent, interests, goals, and those traits that make each student unique, we endeavor to enable each student's consistent growth toward becoming a complete singer. For information about Vocal Studies at MSSU, contact:Dr. Susan K. Smith, Director of Vocal Studies 3950 E. Newman Road Joplin, MO 64801 417-625-3048 smith-s@mssu.edu |
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