Courses and Descriptions
VC 001R Student Recital 0 Credits
25 Minute Student Recital.
VC 001S Applied Voice Studio 0 Credits
VC 002R Student Recital 0 Credits
45-60 Minute Student Recital.
VC 103 Voice Secondary 1 Credits
VC 114 Introduction to Lyric Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and the sounds of all major sung languages through oral and written drill. Open to Voice Performance majors only.
VC 115 English & Italian Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules of singing English and Italian through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with oral and written drill.
VC 116 French & German Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules of singing French and German through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with oral and written drill.
Prerequisite(s): VC 115.
VC 118 Italian Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules for singing Italian through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with oral and written drill. Open to Voice Performance majors only.
Prerequisite(s): VC 114.
VC 119 French Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules for singing French through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with oral and written drill. Open to Voice Performance majors only.
Prerequisite(s): VC 114.
VC 120 German Diction 2 Credits
Introduction to the rules for singing German through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with oral and written drill. Open to Voice Performance majors only.
Prerequisite(s): VC 114.
VC 168A Applied Voice 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit required lesson. Included in tuition – no extra charge.
VC 168B Applied Voice 1 Credits
Half-hour, 1-credit required lesson. Included in tuition – no extra charge.
VC 168C Applied Voice 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit elective lesson. Not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
VC 168D Applied Voice 1 Credits
Half-hour, 1-credit elective lesson. Not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
VC 168E Applied Voice 2 Credits
Part-time students: One-hour, 2-credit required or elective lesson – fee charged per semester.
VC 168F Applied Voice 1 Credits
Part-time Students: Half-hour, 1-credit required or elective lesson – fee charged per semester.
VC 168G Applied Voice 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit required/elective lesson. Half-hour is required and is included in tuition. The second half-hour is elective and is not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
VC 191 Movement for the Performer 2 Credits
Movement exercises and etudes help students develop proper alignment, physical freedom, unification of voice, breath, and body, and help them explore the body as an expressive instrument.
VC 201C Voice Primary 2 Credits
VC 203 Voice Secondary 1 Credits
VC 291 The Singing Actor 2 Credits
The introduction to vocal performance entails coaching of selected songs, arias or repertoire from music theater and techniques for performance preparation through intensive research. A final written project involves a musical and dramatic analysis of all chosen repertoire.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of Level I voice jury.
VC 305 Singing in Italian and French 2 Credits
Master class and private coaching in vocal performance of Italian and French language song, recitative and opera arias. The class will focus on pronunciation, inflection and nuances of sung Italian and French.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Level I jury; VC 118, VC 119.
VC 306 Singing in German and English 2 Credits
Master class and private coaching in vocal performance of German and English language song, recitative and opera arias. The class will focus on pronunciation, inflection and nuances of sung German and English.
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Level I Jury; VC 120.
VC 401C Voice Elective 2 Credits
VC 408 Voice Science 3 Credits
Study of the physics and physiology of voice production. Musical and vocal acoustics are explored using the facilities of the Westminster Voice Laboratory. Anatomic and physiologic underpinnings of respiration, phonation, articulation, registration and hearing are explored in depth.
VC 433 Song Literature I 2 Credits
A survey of solo literature for voice and accompanying instrument including solo vocal music of the Baroque period and German lieder.
Prerequisite(s): MH 248.
VC 434 Song Literature II 2 Credits
A survey of solo literature for voice and accompanying instrument including French mélodie, songs by nationalist composers, English and American song.
Prerequisite(s): MH 248.
VC 457 Private Coaching 2 Credits
Individual coaching sessions for singers on musical style, interpretation, ensemble, languages, and presentation. Registration for VC 457 involves weekly hour-length lessons and a fee of $1,200. Registration for VC 458 involves weekly half-hour lessons and a fee of $600. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of Level II.
VC 458 Private Coaching 1 Credits
Individual coaching sessions for singers on musical style, interpretation, ensemble, languages, and presentation. Registration for VC 457 involves weekly hour-length lessons and a fee of $1,200. Registration for VC 458 involves weekly half-hour lessons and a fee of $600. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of Level II.
VC 467 Private Dramatic/Role Coaching 2 Credits
Individual dramatic coaching sessions for singers on operatic role study and/or audition preparation. Students will provide their own accompanists as needed. Registration for VC 467 involves weekly hour-length lessons and a fee of $1,200. Registration for VC 468 involves weekly half-hour lessons and a fee of $600. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of Level II.
VC 468 Private Dramatic/Role Coaching 1 Credits
Individual dramatic coaching sessions for singers on operatic role study and/or audition preparation. Students will provide their own accompanists as needed. Registration for VC 467 involves weekly hour-length lessons and a fee of $1,200. Registration for VC 468 involves weekly half-hour lessons and a fee of $600. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of Level II.
VC 490 Independent Research and Study 1-4 Credits
Students may pursue a special topic for which they have prepared through prior course work. Only one project may be scheduled in a semester. The project may involve 1-4 credit hours. Students may count up to a maximum of 18 independent study hours toward graduation. Approval of the faculty sponsor, department chair, and dean required prior to the first day of the semester in which the project is to be completed. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 required.
Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.