MUS 254-001
DICTION FOR SINGERS
Dr. Susan Fleming

Office: Room 184

Phone: (o) 348-1470

Office Hours: TBA and by appt.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Clarity: to learn the proper choice of speech sounds for the Italian, Latin, and English languages (i.e. pronunciation).
2. Accuracy: to learn how to utter these sounds accurately (i.e. enunciation).
3. Ease: to gain vocal freedom through clearer diction.
4. Uniformity: to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which indicates exact pronunciation of all languages, regardless of spelling.
5. Expressiveness: through the mastery of the above objectives, to be able to express oneself as an artist.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. One text will be used: Diction for Singers by Wall, Caldwell, Gavilanes, and Allen. Additional texts and materials will be on reserve in the Media Center for reference purposes. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase an Italian dictionary (suggestions will be made in class).
2. Minimum requirement of two songs each in Italian and English to be prepared as for a performance (not memorized, but thoroughly learned) as a part of learning each language's sounds.
3. In addition to the syllabus, an assignment sheet will be distributed with the required reading for each class meeting, as well as additional assignments, such as listening, other readings, etc.
4. Two written tests each (midterm and final) for Italian and English. Final only for Latin - dates for all tests are noted on the assignment sheet. Make-up tests will be given only in the instance of an excused absence, and as soon as possible after the original test date.
5. Expect pop quizzes - they will happen! They may be written or oral. Quizzes will not be made up.
6. Listening assignments will be made throughout the semester.

GRADES:

• 20% of your grade will be determined by class participation.
• 50% of your grade will be determined by the 5 test grades - (2 Italian/2 English/1 Latin - written & oral).
• 10% of your grade will be pop quizzes.
• 20% of your grade will be singing assignments.

The grading scale is:

A+ 100-98; A 97-94; A- 93-90; B+ 89-87; B 86-83; B- 82-80; C+ 79-77; C 76-73; C- 72-70; D+ 69-67; D 66-63; D- 62-60; F 0-59; I Incomplete.

ATTENDANCE:

This is a laboratory class. Class attendance is REQUIRED.

Two unexcused absences automatically lowers your grade by one full letter (i.e., B- goes to C-, not C or C+). An unexcused absence is defined here as one without a written excuse. Tardiness is NOT acceptable behavior - 2 tardies equals one unexcused absence.