Music Department

Applied Voice at MSU Moorhead

Applied Voice Instructors     Courses Available     Voice Syllabus     
Staff Accompanist Policy     Recital Guidelines  Voice Recital Attendance Policy

The music department at Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a variety of courses in the area of voice. Applied Voice lessons are offered at every level for students pursuing a music major or minor, or who are currently enrolled in an MSUM vocal ensemble (see Choral Studies). Weekly lessons include vocal study in Italian, German, French, Latin and the English repertoire along with weekly performance classes where a student has ample opportunity to perform. Vocal Pedagogy, Diction and Song Literature are a few of the courses that are offered in the area of vocal study. For further information please feel free to contact Jenny Dufault or Rod Rothlisberger at:

dufault@mnstate.edu

rothlisb@mnstate.edu

Applied Voice Instructors
Courses available
MUS 152 Class Voice (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Class instruction. Designed for students with limited background in applied voice instruction. May be repeated for credit.

Private Voice/Choral Lessons: Who is eligible for lessons? All music majors, music minors, or any students singing in a choral ensemble.

MUS 154 Music Performance: Voice Level 1 (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Individual or small group (2 or 3) instruction and master classes. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 254 Music Performance: Voice Level 2 (1-2 credits)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Individual instruction and master classes. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 354 Music Performance: Voice Level 3 (1-3 credits)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Individual instruction and master classes. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 454 Music Performance: Voice Level 4 (1-3 credits)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Individual instruction and master classes. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 329 Men's Choir (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Open to all university men without audition. Singers perform choral literature selected from classical and modern styles. Maybe repeated for credit.
MUS 329 Women's Choir (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Open to all university women without audition. Singers perform choral literature selected from classical and modern styles. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 329 Concert Choir (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Open to all university students. Selection by audition. Repertoire spans Renaissance to Modern styles. Annual tour. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 329 Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1 credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Open to all university students. Selection by audition. Jazz-style repertory with both a cappella singing styles and works accompanied by rhythm section. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 329 Opera Workshop (1-2 credits)
  • Fall: Demand
  • Spring: Demand
  • Open to all university students. Selection by audition. Performance of a variety of opera scenes, as well as full opera production. May be repeated for credit.
MUS 191 Diction (2 credits)
  • Fall: Odd Years
  • Instruction for voice students in the proper pronunciation of Latin, Italian, German and French for solo song and choral singing. Introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet for notation of speech sounds.
MUS 251 Commercial Applied Voice (1-2 credits)
  • Fall: Odd years
  • Class instruction and recording studio experience in commercial singing styles, techniques, etiquette and vocal health. Prerequisite: MUS 154
MUS 432 Voice Pedagogy (2 credits)
  • Fall: Odd years
  • Will include physiology, anatomy, teaching techniques, demonstration models and a practicum. Will focus on social, educational, family and peer pressure that affect the singing standards of the adolescent interested in pursuing vocal performance skills.  Intended for majors and minors in music.
MUS 440 Music Literature: Solo Song (2 credits)
  • Spring: Even years
  • Study of solo song literature. Intended for majors and minors in music.
MUS 442 Music Literature: Choral (2 credits)
  • Fall: even Years
  • Study of choral literature. Intended for majors and minors in music.
MUS 446 Music Literature: Opera (2 credits)
  • Spring: Odd years
  • Study of opera literature. Intended for majors and minors in music.
MUS 450 Student Recital (1credit)
  • Fall: All Years
  • Spring: All Years
  • Special supplemental applied study in preparation for public recital appearance. May be repeated once for credit.
Voice Syllabus

Course Description:  Individual or small group instruction and master classes.

Objectives: In order to develop vocal ability, each student will:

  1. Improve vocal technique, including breath management, range extension, vowel formation, flexibility, and tone quality.
  2. Sing with good musicianship, including accurate pitch, correct rhythm, appropriate style, phrasing, and attention to score details.
  3. Demonstrate a sense of musicality in the communication of text and a sense of ensemble (singer/accompanist).
  4. Perform vocal literature in foreign languages, namely Italian, German, Latin, French and/or Spanish.
  5. Develop an awareness of appropriate performance practice, including differences of style among the various periods.

Instructional Strategies:  Private (or group) lessons, individual practice, rehearsal with accompanist, and performance at lessons, classes, recitals, and final juries.

Course requirements:  Prepare, hear, analyze, and perform repertoire appropriate to the student’s level and ability, and purchase music as recommended by the instructor.

Evaluation:  Grades are determined by 1) preparation for lessons; 2) performances at studio classes and recitals; 3) attendance at lessons, studio classes, and voice recitals; and 4) final jury grades

Juries:  Each student registered in Music 154 and 254 will prepare two memorized selections for a voice faculty jury at the end of each semester. Before registration at the 354 level, an Upperdivisional Jury most be passed which requires the preparation and performance of three song/arias in three languages. At the 354 and 454 levels three pieces will be prepared and two pieces will be performed. The student and his/her instructor will select one and the jury will select one of the other two.)

Class Schedule:  Performance/Studio Classes onThursdays at 12:00 p.m. and a private lesson time is arranged with an instructor.

Attendance Policy:  Students are expected to attend all lessons, all studio classes and all voice recitals (See attachment).  A limited number of absences throughout the year are allowed for such things as tours and out-of-town performances.  For ALL absences, please notify the instructor or call the music office and ask the secretary to leave a note for the instructor at least one hour prior to the lesson time.  Any lessons missed by the instructor for reasons other than illness will be made up.

Special Accommodations:  Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114, as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.)

Voice Recital Attendance Policy

Because a musician’s performance is greatly affected by the observation of other performers, the Minnesota State University Moorhead Voice Faculty strongly concurs that it is to the advantage of music students to attend several concerts each semester.

Therefore, attendance at all MSUM faculty and student voice recitals is required each semester.  If for some reason you are unable to attend said voice recitals you may attend two other choral/vocal concerts in lieu of each voice recital missed.  You may wish to consider the following:

  1. Vocal/Choral Artist Series Concerts at MSUM, NDSU, and Concordia
  2. Community performances by the F-M Civic Opera, F-M Chamber Chorale, and F-M Master Chorale,
  3. Faculty and Student Voice Recitals at other colleges and universities.

A copy of the program and a brief typed evaluation of all performances should be submitted to your applied voice instructor in a timely manner.  In any case, all reports must be in your teacher’s hands by the day of voice juries.  Your account of the performances should reflect your very best writing style.  Failure to meet this requirement will be reflected in the semester grade.

Attending these concerts/recitals will also help fulfill the Music Department Convocation/Concert Attendance Requirement for music majors.

STAFF ACCOMPANIST POLICY

Using a Staff Accompanist for the Entire Semester

Option A. The fee for the use of a staff accompanist for an entire semester is $330.00. This amount will be charged to the student’s account. The $330.00 fee entitles the student to

  • 10 hours total accompanying at lessons and rehearsals (accompanists will attend all lesson and remaining  time will be for rehearsals)

PLUS

  • performances at studio classes, the MSUM concerto/aria competition, and NATS competition, preliminary and final rounds, if the student participates

PLUS

  • a recital screening and performance

PLUS

  • an end-of-semester jury

The $330.00 fee is all-inclusive: there is no additional charge if the student participates in the concerto/aria competition, gives a recital, and has an end-of-semester jury. There is no refund if a student does less than this.

Option B. The fee for the use of a staff accompanist for an entire semester is $220.00. This amount will be charged to the student’s account. The $220.00 fee entitles the student to

  • 8-10 hours total accompanying at lessons and rehearsals (accompanists will attend all lessons and remaining time will be for rehearsals)

PLUS

  • performances at studio classes, in the MSUM concerto competition, and the NATS competition preliminary and final rounds, if the student participates

PLUS

  • an end-of-semester jury

There is no refund if a student does less than this.  The $220.00 fee does not include preparation for a recital or recital screening.

Option C The fee for the use of a staff accompanist for an entire semester is $110.00. This amount will be charged to the student’s account.  The $110.00 fee entitles the student to:

  • 5 hours total accompanying at lessons and rehearsals in alternate weeks

PLUS

  •  performances at studio classes

PLUS 

  •  an end-of-semester jury

There is no refund if a student does less than this.  The $110.00 does not include preparation for a recital or recital screening or any competitions or auditions.

Using a Staff Accompanist for Part of the Semester

Option D After all requests for the use of a staff accompanist for the entire semester have been fulfilled, requests for the use of a staff accompanist for part of a semester will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Instrumental students often do not need an accompanist for an entire semester yet do wish to be accompanied for an end-of-semester jury or the concerto/aria competition. The academic year fee for partial semester use of a staff accompanist is $110.00. This fee entitles the student to

     1)  Four 30-minute rehearsals or lessons and one end-of-semester jury.  (Fee $50)

   2)  Five 30-minute rehearsals or lessons, one recital OR studio class, AND one end-of-semester
         jury.  (Fee $75)

Instrumentalists tend to use an accompanist when they are preparing major works such as a sonata or concerto.  The fee  reflects the work necessary for the staff accompanist to prepare these types of musical works.

Student Responsibilities
  1. Submit your course schedule to your assigned teacher as soon as it is finalized (well before the first day of classes, if possible). You and your preferred accompanist should meet with your teacher as early as possible in the semester to arrange a lesson time.
  2. Promptly purchase the music you are assigned and give it to your accompanist as soon as it is available.
  3. Write down your rehearsal times and arrive promptly for them.
  4. If you cannot attend a rehearsal due to illness, contact your accompanist as soon as possible.

Missed Rehearsals and Lessons

No refunds will be made for rehearsals or lessons missed by the student, nor are make-up sessions guaranteed. In most cases, staff accompanists will arrange to attend make-up lessons and rehearsals if adequate advance notice has been given; however, they are not required to do so.