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!