Wider education for singers
What would the perfect College or University be like to suit your specific requirements?
A place that offers:
1.) Vocal technique from a teacher that understands and is willing to help achieve career goals and aspirations,
2.) Good general Music background in theory as applied to singing and accompaniment.
3.) History of various schools of singing technique and how they came to be,
4.) General history of music, and how it evolved,
5.) Education in fundamental keyboard skills, so
that the student can play enough to learn a melody off the sheet, and
what the accompaniment sounds like.
6.) Practical sight-singing skills,
7.) History of various musical eras and styles,
i.e., early music, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Impressionistic, Jazz,
Rock, and Pop,
7.) Repertoire of the various eras and styles,
8.) Minimal skill in at least one instrument in each section of the orchestra, i.e., bass drum, oboe, cello, and french horn,
9.) Musical aesthetics,
10.) Care and feeding of the voice, ossia, vocal hygiene,
11.) Physiology of the voice,
12.) Physiology of the ear,
13.) Physiology of breathing,
14.) Acoustics, the physics of sound,
15.) Acoustics for the voice,
16.) Physics of the voice,
17.) Voice therapy, and speech,
18.) Diction, IPA, and how to use it best,
19.) Languages for singers with a minimum of
English, French, German, and Italian. Other languages could be elected
as well such as Latin for singers, Spanish, Russian, Check, Portuguese,
etc.,
20.) Syllabification,
21.) Stage architecture i.e., Upstage vs downstage, stage left vs stage right, what a drop vs a scrim is, how to take notes,
22.) Blocking, and stage movement,
23.) Dance, Jazz, tap, modern, and ballet,
24.) Dance for the stage,
25.) Set construction, & architecture, lighting and sound,
26.) Costumes,
27.) Hair and Makeup,
28.) Props,
29.) Stage deportment,
30.) Public Speaking,
31.) Acting, its styles and trends,
32.) Acting styles for singing,
33.) Stage combat, swordsmanship, boxing, how to hit someone without hurting them, etc., how to fall & do minor stunts.
34.) Getting an agent,
35.) Auditioning,
36.) Managing your money,
37.) Literature sources for music,
38.) Communications skills,
39.) The dynamics of teamwork,
40.) The psychology of performance,
41.) Courses on how to teach all of the above,
In addition to the above, any necessary
background in liberal arts or science that will help the individual
achieve their specific goals.
How would it fulfil all your educational dreams?
The courses would be arranged beginning with the
basics and move through the more advanced areas in a gradual, rational
fashion. If any applicant can demonstrate mastery of each of the
subjects offered, full credit should be given upon payment of a special
fee for the test.
What would the courses be like?
I see these courses offered more as seminars or
round-tables where discussion is encouraged. I see most of the courses
taking place in the environments of each subject, rather than strictly
on a campus. Opera and Musical Theatre courses would take place mostly
in their respective houses. Speech therapy would be taught in a speech
therapy environment like a speech and hearing centre when ever
practical and possible.
What would the faculty be like?
Ideally, the faculty would be facilitators,
counsellors, and knowledgeable people capable of answering the students
questions or finding an answer to their questions. They would be people
who continue to prove their efficacy as teachers and who get results
that fulfil their students' expectations.
How would you get credit?
By showing that you can do and understand. There
wouldn't necessarily need to be grades and tests, but there would need
to be a requirement to demonstrate competency, by an appropriate means.