Students

MUS 304 – Advanced Vocal Studies

2014 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Diane Hughes
Contact via diane.hughes@mq.edu.au
Y3A254
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(MUS205 and MUS206) or admission to GCertArts
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Building on MUS206, this unit enables singers to explore various components of vocal recording and performance at an advanced level. This includes development of the creative skills introduced in the intermediate level of vocal studies. The unit provides students with experience in a recording studio, singing with accompaniment in an audition component and structuring individual performance showcases. The singer as artist is explored through lecture/workshops and practical tutorials. Students will be allocated private studio time to record and rehearsal time with an accompanist.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Creative exercises 10% Week 4 - 24/3
Audition processes 20% Week 8 - 5/5
Vocal recording processes 20% Week 10 - 19/5
Artistic strategies 20% Week 12 - 2/6
Vocal performance 30% Week 13 - Tuesday 10/6

Creative exercises

Due: Week 4 - 24/3
Weighting: 10%

Students sing a selection of the set vocal exercises.

Set singing exercises will be assessed in tutorials on individual demonstration of:

  • implementation of appropriate vocal technique
  • creative elements
  • musical elements (e.g. dynamics, phrasing and syncopation)
  • stylistic integrity
  • artistry 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Audition processes

Due: Week 8 - 5/5
Weighting: 20%

Students select an audition scenario and prepare to participate in an audition.

Students will be required to provide sheet music or a chord chart for the accompanist in the appropriate key.

Students will be assessed on:

  • their performance in a structured audition 
  • preparation
  • presentation and confidence 
  • suitability of material
  • the application of appropriate vocal technique
  • musical integrity including interaction with the accompanist  
  • stylistic integrity 
  • artist bio
  • Auditions will include a verbal and written artist 'bio' component (including photo). The bio needs to be viewed during the audition with a signed Arts Faculty cover sheet. 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Vocal recording processes

Due: Week 10 - 19/5
Weighting: 20%

During an allocated one hour time session during the mid-semester break, students sing in a recording studio, record a song and then analyse the recording taking into account their preparation, the recording process and the recorded product.

Students will be assessed on:

  • singing during a recording session
  • suitability of the recorded accompaniment or the accompaniment of one instrument. (Please note that no additional time will be allocated for recording an instrumental backing and the vocals must be completed within the one hour time allocation.)  
  • implementation of appropriate vocal technique
  • creative elements
  • individual interpretation and expressive techniques
  • musical and stylistic integrity 
  • demonstration of vocal effects in relation to the recording 
  • use appropriate terminology in session and in analysis

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Artistic strategies

Due: Week 12 - 2/6
Weighting: 20%

Students maintain a reflective journal in relation to their own vocal and musical artistry beginning in Week 1 and concluding in Week 12. It is expected that students will spend an hour each week reviewing their progress during that week and implementing individual strategies for the following week. Specific questions for consideration will be discussed in the weekly lectures. 

Students will be assessed on:

  • individual goals and strategies
  • information on weekly progress, singing activities and readings
  • evidence of reflexivity
  • referencing where appropriate including discography

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Vocal performance

Due: Week 13 - Tuesday 10/6
Weighting: 30%

Students individually perform two songs as a micro-set (maximum of 10 minutes) that includes spoken dialogue (patter) and the use of reinforced sound. In addition to the demonstration of artistry in performance, students will be assessed on the continuity and integrity of their performance set.

Students will assessed on:

  • the performance of two to three contrasting songs as a micro-set/showcase (maximum performance time of 10mins)
  • presentation
  • the application of appropriate vocal technique
  • creative elements
  • individual interpretation and expressive techniques
  • musical and stylistic integrity
  • the use of reinforced sound equipment 
  • Students are required to introduce themselves, their artistry and their repertoire as part of their performance and engagement with their audience. 
  • It is the responsibility of students to provide their own accompaniment. Students may perform with live accompaniment or to recorded backing tracks. 

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Delivery and Resources

It is the responsibility of students to ensure that backing tracks or sheet music do not breach copyright legislation, are obtained legally and are not pirated copies.

For all written work, students are required to use APA referencing system for all in-text referencing and reference lists. If students refer to recorded material then a discography must also be included.

Students should bring bottled room temperature water to all lectures and tutorials.

Students are requested to advise their tutor of any vocal health issues. 

Each week students are required to attend a 1 hour lecture and a 1 hour tutorial. Tutorials begin in Week 2.

Late penalties for assessments are 10% per day, including weekends. Special consideration can only be considered when applied for online and supported with a medical certificate or other appropriate documentation. Please refer to the MQ Special Consideration Policy.

 

ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION

All written assessment submissions must be through Turnitin by the due date/time using and must include an Arts Faculty Cover Sheet available at:

http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/ coversheet. 

Return of marked work

During semester, graded work and feedback sheets will be returned to students via tutorials.

 

Technologies used and required

A computer and Internet access are required. Music playback facility is also required.

 

Changes Made to Previous Offerings of the Unit

The topics in this unit are regularly updated to reflect developments in contemporary music technologies and practices.

 

REQUIRED READINGS 

MUS304 reading list and set exercises can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/.

 

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Recommended readings will be progressively listed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. 

Unit Schedule

 

MUS 304/S1/Day/Lecture_1/01

 

Monday

9:00am

10:00am

1:00

Y3A 187 Drama Studio

MUS 304/S1/Day/Tutorial_1/01

 

Monday

10:00am

11:00am

1:00

Y3A 123 Ensemble Rm

MUS 304/S1/Day/Tutorial_1/03

 

Monday

12:00pm

1:00pm

1:00

Y3A 123 Ensemble Rm

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Assessment tasks

  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity
  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording
  • Identify and maintain vocal integrity in recording processes
  • Analyse and integrate vocal audition requirements
  • Collaborate with an accompanist
  • Maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies

Assessment tasks

  • Creative exercises
  • Audition processes
  • Vocal recording processes
  • Artistic strategies
  • Vocal performance

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Identify, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques and reflexivity

Assessment tasks

  • Audition processes
  • Vocal performance

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Apply effectively and analyse the use of technology to the singing voice in live performance and in recording

Assessment task

  • Vocal performance