MUS 255 Diction for Singers II

Syllabus

Dr. Susan Fleming

Office: Room 184; Phone: (o) 348-1470

Office Hours: TBA and by appointment

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Clarity: to learn the proper choice of speech sounds for the German and French 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. The text Diction for Singers by Wall, Caldwell, Gavilanes, and Allen will be used. Additional texts will be on reserve in the Media Center for reference purposes. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase a German and a French dictionary (suggestions will be made in class).
  2. Minimum requirement of two songs each in German and French to be prepared as for a performance 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 per language (midterm and final for each) - dates 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:

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 = 59-0; I = Incomplete.

ATTENDANCE:

This is a laboratory class. Class attendance is REQUIRED.

Three unexcused absences automatically lowers your grade by one full letter. An unexcused absence is defined here as one without a written excuse. Tardiness is NOT acceptable behavior - 2 tardies equals one unexcused absence.

The University of Alabama Honor Code is to be observed at all times.

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