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!