University of Sydney Handbooks - 2021 Archive

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Master of Music Studies (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.
 

Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance)

Students must complete 96 credit points, comprising:
(a) core advanced units of study; and
(b) a capstone experience
(c) an optional 12 credit points of research.

Core units of study

VSAO5603 Advanced 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
This unit continues the development of singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility towards that expected of professional performers. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to the integration of vocal technique with character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the imaginative communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5604 Advanced 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: VSAO5603 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
This unit continues the development of singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility towards that expected of professional performers. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to the integration of vocal technique with character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the imaginative communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5605 Advanced Opera Performance Voice 3

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: VSAO5604 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
This unit continues the development of singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility towards that expected of professional performers. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to the integration of vocal technique with character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the imaginative communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5606 Advanced Opera Performance Voice 4

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Rowena Cowley Session: 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: VSAO5605 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
This unit continues the development of singers' technical and performance ability in line with developing individual artistic sensibility towards that expected of professional performers. Singers will become increasingly aware of the inter-relationship of diction and poetic/dramatic aspects of repertoire with musical, performance and cultural context. Self-sufficiency in practice, repertoire learning and role choice, is expected. Emphasis in repertoire is given to the integration of vocal technique with character and role building, including stage movement, gesture, and the imaginative communication of narrative, emotion and meaning.
VSAO5633 Advanced Opera Repertoire 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 1 Classes: 12 x 2hr 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 continue to 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.
VSAO5634 Advanced Opera Repertoire 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 2 Classes: 12 x 2hr coaching, 12 x 2hr ensemble Prerequisites: VSAO5633 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 continue to 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.
VSAO5635 Advanced Opera Repertoire 3

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 1 Classes: 12 x 2hr coaching, 12 x 2hr ensemble Prerequisites: VSAO5634 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. As part of the final year of the Masters, students will undertake an independent project which documents aspects of opera training from each of the areas of study. Previous study in Advanced Opera Voice, Advanced Opera Repertoire, Advanced Opera Stage and Advanced Opera Diction has led towards the development of a personal template for the preparation of an operatic role. The Capstone Project (Opera Performance Portfolio) is an independent study which takes place over Semesters 1 and 2 and is assessed as part of Opera Repertoire 4.
VSAO5636 Advanced Opera Repertoire 4

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Stephen Mould Session: Semester 2 Classes: 12 x 2hr coaching, 12 x 2hr ensemble Prerequisites: VSAO5635 Assessment: Coaching teacher assessment (30%), Ensemble Class (30%), Repertoire book (10%), Opera Performance Portfolio (30%) 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. As part of the final year of the Masters, students will undertake an independent project which documents aspects of opera training from each of the areas of study. Previous study in Advanced Opera Voice, Advanced Opera Repertoire, Advanced Opera Stage and Advanced Opera Diction has led towards the development of a personal template for the preparation of an operatic role. The Capstone Project (Opera Performance Portfolio) is an independent study which takes place over Semesters 1 and 2 and is assessed as part of Opera Repertoire 4.
VSAO5623 Advanced 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 develops the primary communication tools of stagecraft, acting and movement as they apply to performing on the operatic stage. Surveying the major schools of acting, this unit develops and refines methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance, building the performer's role as expert and confident 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 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).
These skills are complemented by separate lectures in Opera History, which surveys the development of operatic style from the Florentine Camerata to contemporary Australian opera. NB: Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma (Opera) are exempt from Opera History. All new Masters of Music Studies (Opera Performance) students are required to complete this component of the Unit of Study.
VSAO5624 Advanced 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: VSAO5623 Assessment: Acting/Movement Practical Classes (50%); Reflective Journal (20%); Performance Assessment (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit continues to develop the primary communication tools of stagecraft, acting and movement as they apply to performing on the operatic stage. Continuing to survey the major schools of acting, this unit develops and refines methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance, building the performer's role as expert and confident 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 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).
These skills are complemented by separate lectures in Theatre Studies, which contextualises the practical work of Opera Performance Stage 1 and 2 regarding the vocabulary, traditions and processes of theatre as a discipline. NB: Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma (Opera) are exempt from Theatre Studies. All new Masters of Music Studies (Opera Performance) students are required to complete this component of the Unit of Study.
VSAO5625 Advanced Opera Performance Stage 3

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Narelle Yeo Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Acting 12x1 hr seminar/classes; Movement 12x1 hr classes Prerequisites: VSAO5624 Assessment: Acting/Movement Practical Classes (50%); Reflective Journal (20%); Performance Assessment (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit continues to develop the primary communication tools of stagecraft, acting and movement as they apply to performing on the operatic stage. Continuing to survey the major schools of acting, this unit develops and refines methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance, building the performer's role as expert and confident 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 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).
VSAO5626 Advanced Opera Performance Stage 4

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Narelle Yeo Session: Semester 2 Classes: Stagecraft 12x1 hr seminar/classes; Movement 12x1 hr classes Prerequisites: VSAO5625 Assessment: Stagecraft/Movement Practical Classes (50%); Reflective Journal (20%); Performance Assessment (30%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit continues to develop the primary communication tools of stagecraft, acting and movement as they apply to performing on the operatic stage. Continuing to survey the major schools of acting, this unit develops and refines methodologies and strategies for establishing expert stage skills in opera performance, building the performer's role as expert and confident 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.
VSAO5613 Advanced Opera Diction 1

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hrs German, 1.5hrs French/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
This unit develops student's ability to perform at a near professional standard through the applied study of the Italian, French and German language in relation to the operatic repertoire. The unit provides students with an introduction to lyric diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German which will enhance student's interpretative abilities through interaction with and synthesis of music and text in performance.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.
VSAO5614 Advanced Opera Diction 2

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hrs German, 1.5hrs French/week Prerequisites: VSAO5613 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 develops student's ability to perform at a near professional standard through the applied study of the Italian, French and German language in relation to the operatic repertoire. The unit provides students with further development of spoken and singing diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German which will enhance student's interpretative abilities through interaction with and synthesis of music and text in performance.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.
VSAO5615 Advanced Opera Diction 3

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hrs French, 1.5hr German/week Prerequisites: VSAO5614 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 is to develop student's ability to perform at a professional standard by applying the highest standards of analytical/contextual knowledge to the process of performing Italian, French and German language in operatic repertoire. The unit provides the student with further development of spoken and singing diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German which will enhance student's interpretative abilities through interaction with and synthesis of music and text in performance.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.
VSAO5616 Advanced Opera Diction 4

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Anke Hoeppner-Ryan Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1.5 hrs Italian, 1.5 hrs French, 1.5 German/week Prerequisites: VSAO5615 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 is to develop student's ability to perform at a professional standard by applying the highest standards of analytical/contextual knowledge to the process of performing Italian, French and German language in operatic repertoire. The unit provides the student with further development of spoken and singing diction, International Phonetic Alphabet and grammatical structures underlying Italian, French and German which will enhance student's interpretative abilities through interaction with and synthesis of music and text in performance.
Textbooks
Wall, Joan. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. Dallas: Pst.Inc, 1990.