Enjoy your Break!

Just a few reminders before we all go home to enjoy a well needed break and spend holidays with our families:

**Journals are due before Friday. Double check your syllabus (or click on the link to the right to find one if you've lost yours) and make sure that everything is included that I have asked for. I have only received about 5 in total so far. It's worth 60 points of your 200 total and should have been worked on throughout the term. The ones I have seen so far have been very complete and great! Nice work!

**2 one-page write ups are due by Friday as well. These are performance reviews of your attendance at vocal performances throughout the term.

Thank you for your work this term and enjoy your break!

Disappointed in attendance

The book discussion was held yesterday and I have to say that I was quite disappointed in the attendance. Reading the book and attending the discussion for the term is worth 20 points of your grade. I gave one student permission to write a 5-page paper in place of attending the discussion due to a work schedule conflict. The rest of the students who did not attend will be docked the 20 points.

I have also noticed that the schedule posted on the blog (link to your right) for Winter 2011 has not been added to by students that need to be on it. If you are taking lessons next term, please get on the schedule. I have tried to make it as easy on you as possible.

Good luck with the rest of your finals and juries.

Reminder: Book Discussion Monday!

Just a brief reminder that we have a book discussion on Monday at noon in the classroom of the Community School of the Arts (white house). Come. Eat Pizza. Tell us about your book. Turn in your journals. See you then!

Winter Lesson Schedule now posted...

For those of you who are needing to sign up for a lesson time (those who have received an add form from me to add voice lessons) for Winter 2011, you may do so now on the schedule link you see to your right....

Any of the time slots that say "EOU" and are shaded blue are available for you. Make sure to sign up for 30 minutes for 1 credit and 60 minutes for 2 credits and please let me know if you have any trouble or have any questions.

End of term info...

The book discussion will be held Monday, December 6th at noon. The discussion will be held in the bigger room just down from my office (Kindermusik classroom). Lunch will be provided. Please come ready to present something you got from your book and answer questions about it. I'll take any journals that are complete at that time as well.

Juries: Remember, if you have a jury, please watch for sign up sheets to go up by the door of the music lounge this coming week and sign up for a time slot. You will need copies of your music and jury forms for the panel of faculty. Please remember to dress nicely (no jeans) and come warmed up and prepared.

Those of you with lessons on Wednesday of this week (December 1st) will need to be sure to contact me to reschedule as I will be unable to meet with you that day.

If you choose not to turn in your journal to me at the book discussion on the 6th, please be sure it is turned into my office no later than Friday, December 10th.

Best of luck to you all in preparing for your finals and juries!

A week of Thanks! :)

I hope you are all looking forward to Thanksgiving and the break that it will bring. Just in time to memorize your words for your jury and finish up those term papers for your other classes before our term comes to a close.

I just wanted to let you all know that if your lesson falls on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of next week, we WILL NOT BE MEETING. Please sign up for a make-up time if you can so we don't lose the lesson altogether. If you are unable to come at the given times for make-ups, we will talk about how/if we can make it up when I see you the following week.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to be taken to the Sign Up sheet via Google docs. Select a pretty color if you wish and put your name in one of the spots that works for you for your make-up time. **ONLY IF YOUR LESSON FALLS ON WED, THURS, OR FRI OF NEXT WEEK**

Best of luck to those of you performing in the upcoming recitals. If you have not had the opportunity to visit a vocal performance for a write-up, these student recitals are a great idea! November 18th at 2:00, November 23rd at 11:00 and December 2nd at 2:00. All in Groth Recital Hall in Loso room 126. If you plan to perform, please make sure your name is on the sheet by the music lounge door and make sure your accompanist knows what and when. :)


Keep up the good work and let's get this term finished strong!

Checking in....

Private voice students!

Just a few reminders for you:

1) I have received a few papers so far on vocal performances. Please don't forget you will need to have two of them in by the end of the term. May I please remind you also that they need to talk about VOCAL things that you hear. Please refrain from recapping the event. It's not a concert "report" in that sense. I really want you listening for vocal aspects that you can talk about in your paper. Be specific and please ask if you have questions. I will need TWO of them from each of you before the end of the term.

2) If you have not yet chosen a book to read for the book discussion during finals week, you will need to do that ASAP!! It's probably already a little late to request things from other libraries and still have time to read it. Do what you need to in order to get a hold of something to read, but please get started NOW if you have not done so already.

3) Remember to keep your practice logs up to date and in your journal to be submitted at the end of the term. 30 minutes 5 days per week is sufficient.

4) You should be listening to suggested music or other music related to your lessons and logging your time doing so. If you have not started that process yet, you may want to think about getting on that.

5) There are STUDENT RECITAL dates scheduled for you to take advantage of as your performance for this term. They are coming up relatively quickly! The first one is Thursday, November 18th at 2:00 PM and the second is Tuesday, November 23rd at 11:00 AM. Please make sure to meet with Mio a few times before hand so you two know how to work together with your chosen piece. You may choose one or two of your pieces, or, if you'd like, you may do all three if time permits. I will warn you: EVERYONE waits for the later recital (because you are all college students!). Please, please, please get ready early and sign up for the recital on the 18th if you can. Think of it this way: your performance for the term will be out of the way by week 8!! Perfect!! Sign up sheets will show up on the door of the student lounge soon. Please make sure that Mio has your music, knows when you are planning to sing and has had a few opportunities to run through your piece with you. Her schedule is on the door of the CSA building. Sign up and get to work with her if you haven't already. Make sure your music is memorized and let's have some amazing performances, please.

If you have any questions, now is the time to ask. Keep up the good work and don't forget to update/start your repertoire list if you have not done so already!

Happy end of week 6!!
Jamie
Jamie

Thank you to all!

I just want to thank all of you that participated while Sandra Joseph was here this past week. The cast of the Phantom of the Opera has brought the show leaps and bounds in a matter of days with a willingness to work and adapt and the bright ideas and insight given by Sandra and Scott. Thank you to those of you who took the time to participate in the auditions and to those of you who attended to watch the work happen. It was a treat to have them here and I hope you all gleaned as much information as you possibly could.

Don't forget that Stacey Murdock is still here and available for those of you who have questions or might want to pick his brain about the life of a professional. He is a great resource for you. Take advantage of the opportunity!

Sandra Joseph is Here!!

Sandra Joseph is here in La Grande for a couple of amazing days providing EOU students with a wonderful opportunity! Follow the clickable photo above for more information about Sandra.

She will be attending the Phantom of the Opera rehearsal tonight (Wednesday, October 27th) from 6pm on in McKenzie Theatre. Tomorrow, she will be giving an audition workshop/master class in Loso Hall room 123 (choir room) from 9am to Noon. While the participation slots have all been filled, everyone is welcome (and encouraged) to attend. Students in my private voice studio may use the workshop to count toward attendance at a vocal performance and write their paper on it.

Voice Class students: The workshop will be taking place during our class time tomorrow and in our classroom. For those of you who have not sung yet, you will be singing on Tuesday. I will be taking attendance at the workshops. If you are in the voice class, you need to be in Loso Hall room 123 tomorrow from 9am until 9:50am to get you attendance point for the day.

I hope to see you all taking part in this incredible opportunity!! Please remember your etiquette and do not enter or leave during a song or while Sandra is working with the singer. Please be sure to silence your phone and should you need to excuse yourself, please do so in between singers, quickly, and quietly. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Mid-Term!!!

Well, we are officially in week 5 of classes. This is just a reminder to you all that you need to have chosen and ordered a book from the suggested reading list to read for the book discussion at the end of the term. I will be nailing down dates and times for that discussion within the next week or so and will be letting you know soon. I can tell you it will be during the noon lunch hour during one of the first days of finals week. There are no finals scheduled during that time and I will be providing your lunch.

Please also be working to compile your journal. (See previous posts for what is to be included). There have been many opportunities to hear live music so far this term both at EOU and out in the community. I have yet to receive a write up on any performance attendance. Just a reminder that I will be needing TWO of those papers by the end of the term.

I hope you are all keeping your head above water as the term gets heavier and heavier with the weight of responsibility. Let someone know if you need help or need assistance with your time management.

Keep up the good work. Everyone seems to be keeping up with their listening and their practice log requirements so far. Please feel free to see me if you have any concerns or questions or if you feel like you are falling behind.

Nice work, everyone!

So far, everyone seems to be doing well with the new syllabus and the new process of learning music. I want to thank you for your hard work in the vocal studio and in your practice sessions. Everyone is working away on their repertoire lists and vocal literature. Don't forget to choose a title and order it in (or purchase it) for your book discussion at the end of the term. I believe there is a link to that list provided for you on the right of this blog.

Thank you for your work on your journals thus far. Your practice logs are coming along nicely and it seems that those who are new to IPA symbols are picking up the system quite quickly.

We will more than likely be doing some recording of your lessons this week, so be sure to come prepared.

Also, please don't forget to sign up for a rehearsal time with Mio. As you can see from her schedule, not many people sign up at the beginning of the term and then in the last few weeks of class, there will be no available time slots. Make sure you are getting in to work with your accompanist! Oh...and please make sure she has a copy of your music!

Keep up the good work, ladies and gentlemen! We are almost 1/2 way through the term already!!!

Notes/Twisted Every Way

Here is the London cast with Notes/Twisted. Be sure to listen with your music as the inner lines are there, but can be difficult to hear if you aren't watching for them. Part CD's to be done (hopefully) today for the couple of people who requested them. Please learn your music!! As of last night, we are behind. We'll need to catch up somewhere before 5 days from today. If you thought this was any other show, you were mistaken. :)

Phantom: Notes/Prima Donna

Notes/Prima Donna The Canadian Cast. It's a great recording and it's one that includes Meg and Piangi.

Masquerade

Here's the London cast of Masquerade. It's a little bit different than our version in places and we'll have our own tempo (obviously), but here's something to help those of you that might be still a little lost....

Hannibal listening for the Phantom Cast (and anyone else)

Here is a great listening example for "Hannibal", complete with Carlotta and Piangi.

Phantom Don Juan Triumphant

Here is a good listening example of Don Juan....the Chorus comes in at about 3:30. Take a listen, cast.

How to get to IPA Source website

Here is a step by step guide for students on how to log into the IPA Source website to have access to your transcriptions:

go to www.eou.edu (EOU Homepage)

about 2/3 of the way down, under "Online Education @ EOU" is a link to "Pierce Library"

Once there, select the drop down menu for "Find Materials" at the top of the page.

Select "Articles and Online Resources"

Select "Database Trials"

Select "Music" from the drop down menus of "choose subject" on the right hand side

Scroll down the alphabetical list until you find IPA Source.

If you are using a campus computer or logged onto the campus network with your laptop, you should get right in. If you are accessing from home, you will have to enter your library barcode number (or whatever it asks you for).

Repertoire Lists, please.

Please be sure to complete/update your repertoire list. Remember it can look however you'd like, but needs to include: Title, Composer, date or term learned, whether it was performed or not. You can also include information that will help you later such as: what book it can be found in, what teacher you learned it under, what genre it is considered, etc. If it's an Aria or a musical theatre piece, you will also want to include the show it is from along with any other pertinent information.

Please be sure to print one out for your journal.

What should my Journal look like?

As you will all learn next week, this term you will be required to keep a Journal over the course of the term and turn it in at the end of week 10. You will learn that your Journal constitutes a large percentage of your grade. Since this is the first term I will be requiring this type of Journal, I don't have an example for you to see, but I'd like to give you some examples of things that will be included in your journal.

• Journals will be housed in some kind of folder or folio
  
• Journals will include any of the following items that are applicable to your study:

1. Practice Logs. You will be keeping track of your practice times with a practice log. I will provide you a sample of a log sheet if you would like one. I would like to know the time practice begins, the time it ends, and what you worked on. Logs should include thoughts of your rehearsal and vocal progression along with any questions or trouble spots you would like assistance with.
2. IPA Translations. Many of you (if not all of you) will be singing in a foreign language (or 5) during the course of the term. :) You will be responsible for visiting the Pierce Library website and finding the link for Online Database Trials. From there you can find the link to IPA Source where you should be able to download and print out your IPA translations for your foreign language pieces. If you are doing this from a computer off campus, you will need your library ID number to log onto the site. Print off your translations and put them in your journal.
3. Composition/Composer Information. I would like you to do a little research about each vocal selection you work on throughout the term. If your piece is from an Opera or Musical Theatre production, I would like to know the story behind it's creation. If you are researching an art song, you may want to look up the poem and/or poetic translation and try to explain where the composer may have been coming from.
   
4. Performance Papers. As detailed in the syllabus, each student will be attending a minimum of TWO vocal performances of any style and will be required to turn in a one page paper detailing their critical listening thoughts of the performance. These papers will be turned in and graded by me and once returned to you, will be kept in your Journal to be submitted at the end of the term.
5. Documented Listening Hours. Also detailed in the syllabus will be the requirements for listening throughout the term. Each student will spend a minimum of THREE documented hours listening to suggested music provided by the instructor via CDs, MP3s, records, youtube, or any other format. These recorded hours will be kept in the Journal and graded upon submission at the end of the term.
6. Notes and Thoughts for Book Discussion. Each student will be choosing a book from a list of suggestions to read and discuss in a large group discussion during finals well. A section of your Journal should be a place for you to keep notes about points you would like to make as you come across them in your reading throughout the term.
7. Critiques of Lesson Videos. Throughout the term, your lessons will be recorded with an audio/visual recording device. These videos will be sent to you via email, can be downloaded to your thumb drive or computer, or put on a disk and sent home with you following your lesson. There will be a section in your Journal for you to provide some self-critique notes about what you see and hear. We will walk through this process together for the first couple of times so you can know what to listen/look for.
8. Notes and Assignments from Lessons. Your Journal will include a place for you to keep warm-ups, exercises, and specific notes given to you during your lesson time. This will also be a good place for you to keep questions that you come up with during your rehearsals with your accompanist outside of your lesson time.
9. Repertoire List. Composer, Title, When it was learned, and whether or not the piece was performed.
   

Journals will be large and detailed and hopefully a very helpful tool for you throughout the term. Please take care to prepare well and keep them maintained throughout the term each week as they will be a large part of your grade at the end of the term and help to represent your commitment to your vocal lessons.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. See you all next week!

Fall Lessons Start NEXT WEEK!

The new students and new schedules have arrived! If you have not talked to me about a lesson time yet, please make sure to get a hold of me before school starts next week so we can make sure your registration has been taken care of and make sure that you have a lesson time that works for your busy schedule! :) 541-910-1102

Phantom of the Opera at Eastern Oregon University

The Phantom of the Opera is coming to Eastern Oregon University and you are invited to audition for this wonderful opportunity! The show will be directed by Kenn Wheeler and will feature invited guest artist Stacey Murdock from the Portland Opera as the Phantom!

Here are the audition "need-to-know"s:

Auditions will be held on September 29th from 6pm-9pm and audition times will be in 3 minute intervals. Please prepare 16 bars of an appropriate song to sing. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions are open to the public. Please sign up for an audition time on the sheet hanging in the Green Room of the Theatre Department.

Call backs will take place on the 30th at 6pm and will involve dancing. Those who are chosen for call backs will need to wear appropriate clothing.

This show will open in the beginning of November and run for a total of 6 shows. Due to the limited amount of rehearsal time, cast members can expect to rehearse 6 days per week.
For further information contact stage manager Jessica Bowles 503-410-0048

Character Descriptions: (here is a general outline. The Phantom of the Opera is a show with three opera productions within it. The show requires good vocal technique, ability, and stamina. The dancing will be classical in nature with a lot of ballet. There is little to no speaking in the entire show.)

For an explanation of the notation used to denote vocal range, CLICK HERE.

The Phantom: a composer and magician known as the Opera Ghost
Vocals: High baritone/tenor. Able to sustain G#4 and able to sing a C#5 in falsetto

Christine Daae: a chorus girl
Vocals: Lyric Soprano Range from G3 to E6

Raoul, Vicomte de Changny: young, aristocratic man, childhood sweetheart of Christine
Vocals: Tenor up to G4

Carlotta Giudicelli: Middle aged coloratura soprano, the archetypal Diva.
Vocals: C4 to E6

Ubaldo Piangi: Middle aged operatic tenor, companion to Carlotta
Vocals: Operatic Tenor to C5

Monsieur Firmin: One of two theatre managers--the hard money man
Vocals: A baritone with E4/F4

Monsieur Andre: The other manager--charming with an artistic temperament
Vocals: High baritone/tenor with a lyric quality. G4 with ease.

Madame Giry: The ballet Mistress
Vocals: Mezzo-soprano to Bb6 with no discernable break between registers.

Meg Giry: Madame Giry's daughter, member of the ballet chorus, Christine's best friend
Vocals: Strong solo singing range to D5. The act 1 septet ("Notes/Prima Dona") requires a G5.
Dance: A young petite ballet dancer. Needs strong classical dance technique and excellent pointe work.

Ensemble Characters:

Joseph Buquet: Middle aged to elderly "Character Man." Chief Flyman of the "Opera Populaire".
Vocals: Bass, but required to sing to E4

Auctioneer: Baritone
Madame Firmin: Mezzo-soprano
Monsieur Reyer: The chief repetiteur/director of the Paris Opera (spoken role)
Monsieur Lefevre: The previous owner of the Opera (spoken role)
Porter/Marksman/Fop (in "Il Muto")
Don Attilo (in Il Muto")/Passarino
Slave Master (in Hannibal")
Flunky/Stagehand
Policeman
Page 1 and 2 (in "Don Juan Triumphant")
Porter/chief fire officer
Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante (in "Il Muto")
Princess (in "Hannibal")
InnKeepers Wife (in "Don Juan Triumphant")
Two Fire Marshals
Two Epicene Men (hairdresser and Jeweler)
Ensemble: Stagehands, Policemen, Attendants

The Ballet Chorus of the Opera (Corps de Ballet): comprising six girls and two boys. All must have strong classical training and the girls require excellent pointe work.

A new year, A new studio!

I am so very excited about our upcoming Fall 2010 term! The syllabus is almost finished and students are going LOVE the additions and changes that have been made.

There will be a lot of focus this year on developing not only voices but also critical listening skills along with musicianship. It's going to be a GREAT fall!

Audiation...

What is audiation? Well, The Gordon Institute for Music Learning defines "Audiation [as] the foundation of musicianship. It takes place when we hear and comprehend music for which the sound is no longer or may never have been present. One may audiate when listening to music, performing from notation, playing "by ear," improvising, composing, or notating music...It is a cognitive process by which the brain gives meaning to musical sounds."

Here is one example of audiation. "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing". There...you did it, right? You heard the notes and rhythms in your head? Your body actually REALIZED the notes and rhythms in real time as you read those words. This is one example of a kind of audiation.

Here's another example. Please continue this song without singing it. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,......" Your brain and your ears and (believe it or not) your singing mechanism KNOW the rest of the song without singing a note.

Audiation is a skill I focus on a great deal in my Kindermusik classes with young children ages newborn through 8 years old. B-I-N-G-O is a great example of how we use audiation in the classroom and there are many songs just like it where sections of the song are removed and the children come back in at the appropriate time with the appropriate key, notes, and rhythm. This is an example of how we develop audiation in young children.

Audiation is an important skill for all musicians! As vocalists, we tend to rely too heavily on the piano at times. Being able to form the connections between the brain and the body is such an important part of what we do. We all take a "musicianship" or "aural skills" class in our college careers to help us to establish an "ear" for music. It is my goal in the coming year to help you root those skills and abilities deep so that you can come to rely on your own ability to audiate rather than your piano skills (or those of someone else)

This coming year in my studio at EOU, students will be taking this idea of audiation one step further. Through the use of exercises and relying less on the piano, we will begin a journey together to establish ourselves as independent musicians who have a confidence in their abilities to stay in key, stay in time, and express their music from the inside out.

Our work on establishing better audiation skills will also help in our literature learning process. Have you ever felt like you worked really hard to learn a song and the techniques required to sing it and when you were finished performing it and another song was chosen, you had to start all over at the bottom of the learning process? Well, the changes that are coming to the studio this year will hopefully bridge the gap of vocal technique development and literature learning. In connecting these two things in bigger ways and with tangible exercises, each singer will hopefully begin to feel a more upward motion of overall music understanding through their undergraduate careers. Establishing musical independence, increasing confidence, and nurturing the growth of every singer will help to create a well-rounded and well-prepared musician for whatever the future holds.

Here are a few great resources I have found on the concept of Audiation.

To start: HERE is a GREAT article by the "father" of Audiation, Edwin E. Gordon.

I found a great dissertation treatise written by a Doctoral Candidate in Florida by Christopher A. Mitchell in 2007. READ IT HERE.

CLICK HERE to see the product I am interested in using. Something like this will help you as students to use the audiation skills you are learning in their musicianship class in the vocal studio as well.

And, of course, the link that I had above as well with the definition of Audiation. CLICK HERE to access The Gordon Institute for Music Learning. You can browse around and see what you think of Dr. Edwin E. Gordon's thoughts on audiation, music aptitude, and his music learning theory.

Simon Estes, Bass-Baritone

I met this man briefly at the recent NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) convention in Salt Lake city. He was the speaker at our final Gala dinner and has quite a story!! He's absolutely amazing both as a singer and as a person! He's had quite a career that has carried him all over the world! Take a listen...

Bryn Terfel sings Mozart

For you, Tricia...

Sumi Jo

Sumi Jo sings the role of Violette from La Traviata by Verdi.

Fleming sings "Ave Maria" from Verdi's Otello

Here is one of my favorite singers (Renee Fleming) singing one of my most-loved arias ("Ave Maria" sung by Desdemona in Verdi's opera "Otello"). It's SO beautiful! You may catch me setting my CD player to "repeat" during my office hour and listening over and over and over again! Enjoy!

Renee Fleming and Cecilia Bartoli "Sull'aria" from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro

Incredible Tenor Lawrence Brownlee sings an incredible Tenor Aria!!

Listening

Listening is such an important part of voice lessons. One that we easily overlook. How can we work toward any sound if we don't know what kind of sound we enjoy listening to and/or making ourselves? Voice lessons this coming year will have a listening component included in the syllabus in addition to other changes that will be made in the studio. There will be critical listening of your own recorded lessons (I know that's everyone's FAVORITE! :) and listening to recommended outside sources. It's going to add a very important dimension to our work in the studio. I can't wait to get started. If you are looking for something to do during your summer, you can follow some of the links I have included on this blog and start your listening early! :) (Although, it won't count toward your required 5 hours for fall term!) :) If you find someone else in your searching whom you would like to share, please post a comment with the information so we can all enjoy!

Welcome to the New Blog!

I have decided to start a blog for my EOU voice students. I will be posting links, photos, great recordings, and other information. Please join this site and I'll send out updates occasionally. I look forward to communicating this way. I have already included some links so some incredible singers and some wonderful resources for you. Please feel free to look around and let me know what you think. I'll be putting out a poll in the next few days, so please let me know your opinions!

Looking forward to a wonderful fall! :)