Master of Voice Pedagogy: Classical Track Online

Master of Voice Pedagogy: Classical Track Online Program Requirements

(30 credits)

Learn more about General Graduate Requirements.

Program Notes
  •  Students with limited prior singing experience, as determined through departmental evaluation of past vocal study, performance career, and/or performing skills as demonstrated through live or recorded performance, may be required to complete up to four credits of applied voice instruction in addition to the major area course requirements. Such required developmental lessons will result in additional charges.
  • In addition to the requirements below, all students must pass a diction screening test. If the student does not pass the screening test they will be required to take recommended undergraduate classes to satisfy the deficiency.


Program Requirements

Required Courses:
VC 650Pedagogy Capstone1
VC 721Westminster Voice Pedagogy Institute3
VC 722Literature for Teaching3
VC 723Voice Ped I: Voice Science3
VC 724Voice Pedagogy II: Methods3
VC 791Teaching Internship 12
Select two of the following Literature courses:6
German Lieder
French Melodie
Opera Literature I
Opera Literature II
Seminar in Opera Literature
Complete the following Core courses:
MH 731Intro to Musicology3
One Theory (TH) or Music History (MH) course3
Core elective course 23
Total Credits30
1

Students who have had significant teaching experience in American schools may petition to substitute another graduate course for VC 791. The department, if granting a substitution, will specify acceptable course alternatives.

2

The core elective must be a single, 3-credit graduate-level course outside the student’s major area, area of emphasis and/or area of applied study.

Academic Plan of Study

The following educational plan is provided as a sample only.  Students may follow a different plan to ensure a timely graduation.  Each student, with guidance from their academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.

Pedagogy Courses
It is preferable that the pedagogy courses be taken in the following order:
VC 721Westminster Voice Pedagogy Institute3
VC 723Voice Ped I: Voice Science3
VC 724Voice Pedagogy II: Methods3
VC 722Literature for Teaching3
VC 791Teaching Internship 12
VC 650Pedagogy Capstone1
Literature Courses (select 2)
VC 661German Lieder3
VC 662French Melodie3
VC 627Opera Literature I3
VC 628Opera Literature II3
VC 633Seminar in Opera Literature3
Core Courses
MH 731Intro to Musicology3
One Theory (TH) or Music History (MH) Elective3
Core Elective 23
Total Credits30
1

Students who have had significant teaching experience in American schools may petition to substitute another graduate level course for VC 791.  The department, if granting a substitution, will specify acceptable course alternatives

2

The core elective must be a single, 3-credit graduate-level course outside the student's major area, area of emphasis and/or area of applied study.

 Notes

  1. Students with limited prior singing experience, as determined through departmental evaluation of past vocal study, performance career and/or performing skill as demonstrated through live or recorded performance, may be required to complete up to four (4) credits of applied voice instruction in addition to the major area course requirements.  Such required developmental lessons will result in additional charges.

  2. In addition to the requirements below, all students must pass a diction screening test. If the student does not pass the screening test they will be required to take recommended undergraduate classes or private vocal coaching to satisfy the deficiency.

Courses and Descriptions 

MH 731 Intro to Musicology 3 Credits

Introduction to the basic tools of research in historical musicology in order to foster: (1) an awareness of the nature and scope of historical musicology as a scholarly discipline; (2) familiarity with the techniques of musicological research; (3) an understanding of the relationship between musicological research and performance practice; and (4) experience in the application of musicological techniques to specific musical works and issues. It is strongly recommended that this course be taken at the outset of graduate study. Required for all Master of Music candidates.

VC 650 Pedagogy Capstone 1 Credits

Independent research leading to a completed capstone project, such as a pedagogical publication or presentation, development of an original or unique method of instruction, instructional materials, etc. The project must be approved by the department.

VC 661 German Lieder 3 Credits

This survey of the German Lieder begins with its roots in the 17th and 18th centuries and continues into the 20th century. Classes will involve study of Romanticism, including philosophers and poets of the 18th and 19th centuries who were important for German Lieder. The bulk of the class involves in-depth study of the Lieder of the important composers of the genre: Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Robert and Clara Schumann, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Brahms, Wolf, Strauss, Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern. Class sessions will involve a balance of lecture, discussion, and student performance.

VC 662 French Melodie 3 Credits

This course is designed as a survey of the song literature of France. Students examine works for voice and piano/instruments by Berlioz, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Bizet, Faure, Duparc, Chausson, Debussy, Ravel, Messaien, Milhaud, Poulenc, and others, analyzing their relationship to larger stylistic, social, and musicological trends. Investigation will include matters of prosody, scansion, and compositional organization, with particular attention given to matters of text setting and poetic treatment. Special emphasis will be placed on important French language poets whose literary works serve as the basis for this material. Poets will include Baudelaire, Verlaine, Hugo, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, LaForgue, Maeterlinck, and others. Poetic history and form will be covered as well as important composer/poet partnerships. Class sessions will involve a balance of lecture and discussion. Works by both well-known and lesser-known composers will be included.

VC 721 Westminster Voice Pedagogy Institute 3 Credits

This intensive course gives a detailed overview of science-informed, experience-driven voice pedagogy. It includes emphases on both Classical and Contemporary Commercial singing styles. Vocal anatomy, acoustic properties of the voice, voice-health, mind/body integration, lifespan voice, and an introduction to voice research/technology using the Presser Voice Lab and online resources are some of the Institute's areas of focus. Master teachers conduct "Look-in Lessons" and voice health specialists share the latest in the field.

Prerequisites: If taking for credit, an undergraduate degree is required.

VC 722 Literature for Teaching 3 Credits

A survey of graduated teaching literature for beginning, intermediate and advanced voice students. Literature will be explored that is particularly well-suited to specific vocal issues (e.g. legato, coloratura, staccato, etc.).

VC 723 Voice Ped I: Voice Science 3 Credits

Study of voice anatomy and physiology with concentration on respiration, phonation, articulation, hearing and vocal health. Through hands-on experience in the Westminster Voice Laboratory, students explore the physics of sound, the fundamentals of musical acoustics, and acoustical elements that are unique to the human voice. Priority registration is given to M.V.P. majors and M.M. students majoring in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. Other students may enroll on a space-available basis.

VC 724 Voice Pedagogy II: Methods 3 Credits

A comparative study of various pedagogical methods and ideals. A wide range of important historical and contemporary pedagogy treatises is reviewed. Students explore exercises and vocalises for general voice development as well as techniques to address and correct specific vocal problems. Role-playing exercises are used to develop appropriate listening and teaching skills. Class participants begin supervised instruction of a volunteer singing student.

VC 791 Teaching Internship 2 Credits

Teaching internship with a master teacher(s). The student will teach under faculty observation and supervision, including follow-up private discussion with the observer. In addition, students themselves observe group and private lessons and are given readings, written assignments, and/or projects associated with their own teaching. May be offered on an intensive basis in conjunction with Westminster Summer Session events, such as The High School Solo Vocal Artist and/or Vocal Institute.