University of Sydney Handbooks - 2021 Archive

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Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Performance)

Unit outlines will be available through Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Performance)

Students must complete 48 credit points, comprising:
(a) 48 credit points of core units of study
VSAO5601 Opera Performance Voice 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Rowena Cowley Session: Semester 1 Classes: 13 one to one lessons/semester, 1 hr Opera Performance class/week plus 8 hrs of Performance Workshops and/or Masterclasses/semester. Assessment: Teacher assessment based on semester work (70%), opera performance class (30%), 2 x performance seminars (pass/fail). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The aim of this series of units is to continue to develop singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Growing self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5602 Opera Performance Voice 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Rowena Cowley Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 13 one to one lessons/semester, 1 hr Opera Performance class/week plus 8 hrs of Performance Workshops and/or Masterclasses/semester. Prerequisites: VSAO5601 Assessment: Major role in an opera production (80%) OR minor roles or chorus and 20 min jury/recital (70%) with program notes (10%); opera performance class (10%), teacher assessment (10%), 2 x performance workshop performances (pass/fail). Recital programs should include at least two contrasting operatic arias and accompanying program notes assessed by unit panel members. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The aim of this series of units is to continue to develop singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Growing self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5621 Opera Performance Stage 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Narelle Yeo Session: Semester 1 Classes: Acting 12x1 hr seminar/classes; Movement 12x1 hr classes; Opera History 12x1 hr classes Assessment: Acting/Movement Practical Classes (50%); Reflective Journal (20%); Performance Assessment (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit provides a brief introduction to the primary communication tools of acting, movement and rehearsal/performance as they apply to the operatic stage. Briefly surveying the major schools of acting, it develops methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance. Skills in movement and movement style are facilitated by separate classes in dance. The unit is application based, allowing students to experiment with implementation of critical theoretical ideas in a performing environment.
Much of the work of this course is associated with rehearsal and performance of mainstage and chamber operas scheduled by SCM, in recognition of the crucial role these performances play in synthesizing the vocal, musical, linguistic, stylistic and dramatic threads undertaken in the Graduate Diploma.
VSAO5622 Opera Performance Stage 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Narelle Yeo Session: Semester 2 Classes: Stagecraft 12x1 hr seminar/classes; Movement 12x1 hr classes; Theatre Studies 12x1 hr classes Prerequisites: VSAO5621 Assessment: Acting/Movement Practical Classes (50%); Reflective Journal (20%); Performance Assessment (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit continues an introduction to the primary communication tools of stagecraft, movement and rehearsal/performance as they apply to performing on the operatic stage. It further develops methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance, building the performer's role as expert communicator. Skills in movement and movement style are facilitated by separate classes in dance. The unit is application based, allowing students to experiment with implementation of critical theoretical ideas in a performing environment.
Much of the work of this course is associated with rehearsal and performance of mainstage and chamber operas scheduled by SCM, in recognition of the crucial role these performances play in synthesizing the vocal, musical, linguistic, stylistic and dramatic threads undertaken in the Graduate Diploma.
These skills are complemented by separate lectures in Theatre Studies, which contextualises the practical work of Opera Performance Stage 1 and 2. Theatre Studies introduces performers to an understanding of the vocabulary, traditions, processes and mechanisms of opera production, and reinforces concepts of theatre as a discipline and profess.
VSAO5611 Opera Language 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hr French, 1.5 hr German/week Assessment: Transcriptions and translations (20%), 2 in-class performances of recitatives and arias (30%), exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The aim of this unit is to introduce the student to the importance of the Italian, French and German language and language coaching for singers. The unit will provide the student with a foundation in spoken and singing diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German through the study of operatic repertoire. As these skills are strongly related to singing technique and dramatic interpretation/communication, singing diction is taught primarily in individual coaching within the seminars.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.
VSAO5612 Opera Language 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hr French, 1.5 hr German/week Prerequisites: VSAO5611 Assessment: Transcriptions and translations (20%), 2 in-class performances of recitatives and arias (30%), exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit continues the development of the student singer's knowledge of and skills in Italian, French and German language and diction. The unit will provide the student with further development of spoken and singing diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German through the study of operatic repertoire. As these skills are strongly related to singing technique and dramatic interpretation/communication, singing diction is taught primarily in individual coaching within the lectures.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.
VSAO5631 Opera Repertoire 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 1 Classes: 12 x 1hr coaching, 12 x 2hr ensemble Assessment: Coaching teacher assessment (40%), Ensemble Class (40%), Repertoire book (20%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Students work for one hour per week individually with a vocal coach and for two hours in ensemble class as scheduled, enabling them to explore and refine their learning of the repertoire prepared for aspects of coursework including mainstage productions, performances of solo and audition repertoire, masterclasses and internal and external concerts. These units impart to students the wide range of skills needed to successfully bring their participation in an opera production from the first day of music rehearsal to a successful performance outcome. Students develop the skills to work effectively with coaches and repetiteurs, and to understand the function of coaching within an opera company, becoming in the process independent learners.
VSAO5632 Opera Repertoire 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 2 Classes: 12 x 1hr coaching, 12 x 2hr ensemble Prerequisites: VSAO5631 Assessment: Coaching teacher assessment (40%), Ensemble Class (40%), Repertoire book (20%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Much of the work of these courses is associated with rehearsal and performance of mainstage and chamber operas scheduled by SCM, in recognition of the crucial role these performances play in synthesizing the vocal, musical, linguistic, stylistic and dramatic threads undertaken in the Masters in Music Studies (Opera Performance).