Students communicate by singing set exercises using appropriate vocal techniques. Exercises will be assessed during tutorial times in Week 5 (where possible). 

Set singing exercises will be assessed on individual demonstration of the following criteria:

• the use of appropriate/healthy vocal technique 
• posture and alignment
• breath management
• vocal clarity (simultaneous onset and balanced sound)
• vocal placement 
• articulation (consonants - tongue, teeth and lips) 
• musical quality

Students maintain a journal that demonstrates their understanding of their own voice as a means of effective communication in various modes (group and individual contexts). Specific journal requirements will be outlined in the Week 2 Lecture.    

The journal will be maintained for a period of 6 weeks and will be assessed on demonstration of the following criteria:

• A typical vocal practice outline (once only at the beginning of the journal)
• Weekly reflection statements on your individual practice and progress (maximum of 200 words each week)
• Weekly reflection statements on lecture and reading content and how this information relates to your individual voice use (maximum of 300 words each week)
• Demonstrated understanding of anatomical and physiological voice function, appropriate voice use, vocal technique for singing, musical expression through singing, vocal health strategies and vocal care strategies
• Substantiated content using unit readings and individual research 
• Appropriate referencing (APA) and writing style
• Journals are to be submitted via Turnitin by 5pm on the due date.

Students participate in a collaborative creative process that finishes with a group performance in the Week 9 Lecture time.

For this assessment task, the ways in which the students contribute during the process is monitored in tutorials and in iLearn discussion forums. During the creative process, students mediate, respect and implement the viewpoints of others; students then participate in a collaborative musical performance and critically reflect on the process and performance.

Students participate in a creative group process (practice) and perform a vocal ensemble song. Incorporating aspects of group and self-assessment, a reflection statement (maximum of 750 words) is also part of this assessment (see below).

The ensemble song may be rehearsed with a backing track, but the performance must be a cappella (unaccompanied). Percussion instruments may be used; a loop station may also be used for the layering of percussive and/or sounds to underscore the ensemble. Maximum song length is 3.5 minutes. While most of the ensemble will be group singing (with harmony, answering phrases and echoes), each student must sing at least one line solo or one line with another singer (duo).

Ensemble singing will be assessed on individual demonstration of of the following criteria:

• participation in the process leading to the ensemble performance 
• individual performance (from memory) within an ensemble (musical quality and presentation)
• the use of appropriate/healthy vocal technique 
• posture and alignment
• breath management
• vocal clarity (simultaneous onset and balanced sound)
• vocal placement 
• articulation (consonants - tongue, teeth and lips) 
• musical quality
• individual reflection statement 

It is envisaged that up to 4 hours of ensemble rehearsals will occur outside tutorials. This time has been allocated in the student workload for this unit.

Students are required to submit a performance reflection on their ensemble learning process, content and outcomes (maximum of 750 words) via Turnitin by 5pm on Friday 12th May.

Reflections will also be assessed on: 

• clarity of expression
• appropriate referencing (APA) and writing style

For this assessment task, students are required to research, prepare and effectively communicate singing a song.

Students will perform a song of their choice (from memory) to a backing track or to live musical accompaniment.  For this assessment, students are not permitted to accompany themselves.

As the emphasis is on the implementation of vocal technique for singing and embodied musicality, students will only be permitted to use a looper in particular circumstances for this assessment task. Please check with your tutor well in advance of performance assessment if you want to use looping as it must be in addition to other accompaniment and occur in real time (not pre-recorded). 

Maximum song length is 4 minutes.

Vocal performances will be assessed on the following criteria:

• spoken introductions to songs
• the use of appropriate vocal technique 
• posture and alignment
• breath management
• vocal clarity (simultaneous onset and balanced sound)
• vocal placement 
• articulation (consonants - tongue, teeth and lips)
• interpretive elements (including lyrical*, stage/performance skills, microphone technique and confidence)  
• musical quality (including dynamics, phrasing, musical integrity/pitch accuracy)
• stylistic integrity (including appropriate musical accompaniment and vocal quality) 

*For those students choosing to sing in a language other than English, you must provide a translation of lyrics for the assessment panel at the time of your assessment.