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Unit of study_

VSAO3215: Voice 5 (Extended)

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Sydney

Students in this unit will continue to refine their technical, musical and artistic skills in support of a flexible and broad engagement with musical performance. On completion of this unit students should be able to demonstrate progress in technical achievement, awareness of stylistic diversity, and a sense of their individual creativity.

Unit details and rules

Unit code VSAO3215
Academic unit Performance
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
VSAO2214
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Anke Ryan, anke.ryan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration hurdle task Performance workshop
Performance and attendance
0% Multiple weeks Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Creative assessment / demonstration hurdle task Teacher assessment
Voice technical development in individual voice lessons
70% Ongoing Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Creative assessment / demonstration Advanced Voice in-class assessment
Perform individually prepared repertoire in class, in-class discussion
10% Ongoing Performance as scheduled
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Creative assessment / demonstration Advanced Voice Concert Performance:
The students perform one song in front of a jury panel.
20% Week 13 One song
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO9
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

 

  • Teacher assessment: In voice lessons, students are assessed on technical, musical, textual, stylistic and interpretive progress, as well as effective practice and performance preparation, according to agreed learning goals. 
  • Advanced Voice in-class assessment: In vocal performance class, students are assessed on at least two performances per semester and on their ability to engage an audience, critically reflect on their own and peers’ performance, and problem-solve and develop an individual artistic voice in varying languages and musical styles. The repertoire must be chosen from songs written by Australian, English, or American composers. The repertoire must have been composed no earlier than 1960 and is chosen by the teacher and student.
  • Advanced Voice Concert Performance: Performance of a song from the repertoire that has been worked on in class will be performed and assessed by a jury panel. The students receive written feedback.
  • Performance workshop: Students are assessed on two performances of approximately 6 minutes per semester, and given written feedback by the staff panel. Attendance at all performance seminars is mandatory. Assessment is pass/fail. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria are used for performance work in this unit of study:

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Comprehensive and outstanding technical control and musical integrity in relation to developmental expectations. Musical individuality consistently projected to create a persuasive personal representation of the work. Performance flair indicative of soloist standard. A mark of 95 or above indicates extraordinary technical virtuosity and musical artistry.

Distinction

75 - 84

Excellent technical, musical and stylistic achievement. Consistently coherent and expressive performance. Some personal interpretation of the work suggesting soloist potential. 

Credit

65 - 74

Confident technique with evidence of solid musicality and some stylistic achievement. Occasional lapses indicative of unresolved technical, artistic and/or stylistic issues. Projects potential for further development.

Pass

50 - 64

Satisfactory level of preparation and musical engagement. Some inconsistencies in musicianship, style and/or technique. Musical imagination and overall performance sense developing though some insecurity in this area.

Fail

0 - 49

Unsatisfactory technical achievement and/or unsatisfactory level of musical and artistic engagement. Limitations may be of such a scale and consistency as to call into question the student’s future direction in the programme.

The following assessment criteria are used for written work in this unit of study:

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Demonstrates high level of initiative in research and reading; sophisticated critical analysis of evidence; high level engagement with theoretical issues, innovative use of reading/research material and impressive command of underlying debates and assumptions; properly documented and written with style, originality and precision.

Distinction

75 - 84

Demonstrates initiative in research and wide, appropriate reading; complex understanding of question and ability to critically review material in relation to underlying assumptions and values; analyses material in relation to empirical and theoretical contexts; properly documented; clear, well-developed structure and argument with some signs of literary style.

Credit

65 - 74

Evidence of broader understanding than pass level; offers synthesis with some critical evaluation of material; coherent argument using a range of relevant evidence; some evidence of independent thought, good referencing. A high credit (70-74) shows some evidence of ability to problematise and think conceptually.

Pass

50 - 64

Written work meets basic requirements in terms of reading/research; relevant material; tendency to descriptive summary rather than critical argument; makes a reasonable attempt to avoid paraphrasing; reasonably coherent structure; often has weaknesses in particular areas, especially in terms of narrow or underdeveloped treatment of question; acceptable documentation.

Fail

0 - 49

Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons: Unacceptable paraphrasing; irrelevance of content; poor spelling; poor presentation; grammar or structure so sloppy it cannot be understood; failure to demonstrate understanding of content; insufficient or overlong word length.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Performance workshop Performance (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Weekly Voice lessons One-to-one tuition (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Vocal performance class (advanced) Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

Attendance and class requirements

 

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%
  • Your attendance rate for scheduled performances is 100%.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate progressive understanding and application of healthy/efficient technique
  • LO2. integrate technical co-ordinations with language and diction in repertoire performance
  • LO3. prepare and perform individually recommended repertoire with individuality and imagination
  • LO4. demonstrate thorough lesson/performance warm-up, use of lesson recordings, note-taking, progressive musical/poetic preparation, progressive performance preparation
  • LO5. research musical and poetic structures, the contribution of pianistic and/or orchestral writing and musical style in a wide range of repertoire and styles
  • LO6. demonstrate the ability to communicate in character, descriptive and narrative songs and appropriate aria repertoire
  • LO7. refine verbal and non-verbal communication skills for engagement with audiences in varying performance situations
  • LO8. critically reflect on own and peers’ performances with courtesy to and collegiality for all
  • LO9. show engagement with Vocal Division procedures and communication through Canvas and the Vocal Division Handbook.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We adjusted the format of Advanced Voice and expanded the choice of repertoires taught.

Additional costs

Accompanist fees may apply for Performance Workshops.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.