MUS262 Fall 2020

Vocal Music Methods and Materials: Seminar I

MW 11-11:50am and Friday 11am-12:50pm
Fine Arts Room 17 and Virtual

Instructor: Prof. Elizabeth L. Wilson

elizabeth.wilson1@[Link]

Office Hours: Via email/zoom, by appointment

Canvas: Canvas is the sole classroom management system for MUS262. Please turn on
notifications and stay abreast- daily- of all course communication.

Modality: Several factors determine modality, the greatest of those being COVID and UK safety
guidelines. Please understand, we all must remain flexible with regard to necessary
adaptations to the course outline. Any changes to modality will be clearly communicated.
nd
Textbooks: Brinson, Barbara. Choral Music: Methods and Materials. 2 ed
Leck, Henry. Creating Artistry through Choral Excellence
Phillips, Kenneth. Basic Techniques of Conducting
Supplementary reading - indicated by + (found in Canvas Files)

Journal: The journal should constitute of a record of observations made from outside teaching.
Further details and deadline for this assignment can be found in the course outline.

Portfolio: This culminating project will be a pdf document containing classroom notes,
quizzes, tests, handouts, materials from schools, and all assignments.
This will be due at the beginning of the final exam. No late portfolios accepted.

Assignments: All written assignments must be submitted via Canvas email by 11:00am on the due date,
the only only exception being the hand-written warm-up sequence which must be
physically turned in at the start of class on 9/9.

Grading Procedure: Your final grade will be based on the following: Grading Scale: 92-100 A
Mid-term exam 15% 83-91 B
Final exam 15% 74-82 C
Quizzes/Assignments 15% 65-73 D
Piano/Conducting 15% 64 or below Failing
Repertoire Cards 10%
Journal 10%
Portfolio 10%
Professionalism/Attendance 10%

Professionalism: Students are expected to attend and be prompt for all classes (including virtual).
Grades will be impacted by unsatisfactory attendance (missing more than 3 classes),
tardiness, and failure to meet assignment deadlines (one week grace period for late
assignments before grade is a zero).

Student Learner Outcomes: By the end of MUS262, students will be able to:
Lead a comprehensive series of warm-ups in a choral ensemble.
Write warm-up exercises applicable to specific concepts.
Understand the elements of choral diction and choral tone.
Understand the basic principles of beginning choral conducting.
Study and analyze a choral score.
COURSE OUTLINE

CLASSES TOPICS READINGS

In-person 8/17-8/21 Introduction/Course Requirements/Student Expectations Brinson, Ch. 1
The Qualities of a Teacher/Establishing a Philosophy Leck, 6-10
Why Choral Music? +Hoffer, Ch. 1
* ASSIGNMENT - Choral Music Ed Philosophy (Due 8/28)
* ASSIGNMENT - Repertoire Cards (Due 11/13)
* ASSIGNMENT - Journal (Due 11/23)
* ASSIGNMENT - Portfolio (Due 12/4)

In-person 8/24 Teaching Posture/Breathing Leck, 13-22

Virtual 8/26 * Choral Music Ed Philosophy (Turn in 8/28) Brinson, 141-149
In-person 8/28

Virtual 8/31 Effective Choral Warm-ups Brinson, 149-172

In-person 9/2 Warm-ups: You Try!
Virtual 9/4 +Video: Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success, Ch. 2
* ASSIGNMENT - Written Warm-ups (Due 9/9)
* ASSIGNMENT - Feedback from +CWC video (Due 9/11)

In-person 9/7-9/9 Choral Diction +Lamb, Choral Diction

Virtual 9/11 Rehearsal Techniques
* Written Warm-ups (Turn in 9/9)
* Feedback from +CWC video (Turn in 9/11)

Virtual 9/14 Unifying Vowels/Enunciating Consonants +Lamb, Choral Diction

In-person 9/16 Vowel Modification
Virtual 9/18 * Piano Quiz (on 9/18)

Virtual 9/21 Intonation Brinson, 157-160

In-person 9/23 Choral Tone Leck, Ch. 4
Virtual 9/25 +Video: Ready, Set, Sing
* ASSIGNMENT - Feedback from +RSS video (Due 10/2)

Virtual 9/28 Ranges/Tessituras +Heffernan, 51-52

In-person 9/30 Score Study +Roe, 19-21
Virtual 10/2 * Feedback from +RSS video (Turn in 10/2) +Lamb, 166, 177
Brinson, Ch. 10

Virtual 10/5-10/7 Review for Mid-Term Exam

In-person 10/9 * MID-TERM EXAM (on 10/9)
COURSE OUTLINE (continued)

CLASSES TOPICS READINGS

Virtual 10/12 CONDUCTING Phillips, 1-2
In-person 10/14-10/16 Posture/Preparation/Preparatory Gestures

Virtual 10/19 The Four Pattern Phillips, 3

In-person 10/21 +Video: What They See is What You Get
Virtual 10/23 * ASSIGNMENT - Feedback from +WTS video (Due 10/30)
* Piano Quiz (on 10/23)

Virtual 10/26 Internal & Final Releases Phillips, 6

In-person 10/28 The Three Pattern
Virtual 10/30 * Feedback from +WTS video (Turn in 10/30)

Virtual 11/2 The Two Pattern Phillips, 6-7

In-person 11/4-11/6 Daily Dozen Phillips, p. 64
Dynamic Changes
* Conducting Quiz (on 11/6)

Virtual 11/9 Release on One & Two/Entrance on Pickup Phillips, 10-11

In-person 11/11 Varying the Articulation Phillips, 4
Virtual 11/13 * Repertoire Cards (Turn in 11/13)

Virtual 11/16 Varying the Articulation Phillips, 4

In-person 11/18-11/20 Character Terminology Phillips, p. 71, 90, 92
* Conducting Quiz (on 11/20)

Virtual 11/23 Review for Final Exam

* Journal (Turn in 11/23)

Virtual 12/4 10:30am-12:30pm * FINAL EXAM (on 12/4)

* Portfolio (Due at 10:30am on 12/4)
Journal:

The journal must have entries from each observation. Each entry must include two sections:
1. Reporter information:

Who (age and experience level of students and teacher, your role, etc.)
a. What (type of choir, repertoire selections, exercises, etc)
b. When (date and time you observed)
c. Where (what school, if outside of Lexington, what city/state)

2. Reflective information:
a. Why…(…did he/she teach it that way?...did/didn’t the students respond to that?...etc.)
b. How…(…would I teach that?...did my teachers teach me that?...can I explain it?, etc.)
c. Any other thoughts on the given lesson

It is crucial to keep your journal up to date!

Supplemental Materials (found in Canvas Files):

+ Choral Music: Technique and Artistry, Charles Heffernan
+ Introduction to Music Education, 4th ed., Charles Hoffer
+ Choral Techniques, 3rd ed., Gordon Lamb
+ Choral Music Education, Paul Roe
+ Video: Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success, Ch. 2
+ Video: Ready, Set, Sing
+ Video: What They See is What You Get

Portfolio:
This pdf document should function as a resource guide for you as you begin your teaching
career. It should include all sections below, labeled:
A. Table of Contents
B. Syllabus
C. Class notes/Assignments – Dated, in order
D. Philosophy of Choral Music Education
E. Warm-ups
F. Repertoire Lists/Programs
G. Articles/Handouts
H. Piano/Conducting/Quizzes
I. Journal
Excused Absences
Students need to notify the professor of absences prior to class when possible. Senate Rules [Link]
defines the following as acceptable reasons for excused absences: (a) serious illness, (b) illness or
death of family member, (c) University-related trips, (d) major religious holidays, and (e) other
circumstances found to fit “reasonable cause for nonattendance” by the professor.
Students anticipating an absence for a major religious holiday are responsible for notifying the
instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays no later than
the last day in the semester to add a class. Two weeks prior to the absence is reasonable, but
should not be given any later. Information regarding major religious holidays may be obtained
through the Ombud (859) 257-3737,
[Link]

Students are expected to withdraw from the class if more than 20% of the classes scheduled for
the semester are missed (excused) per University policy.
Per Senate Rule [Link], students missing any graded work due to an excused absence are
responsible: for informing the Instructor of Record about their excused absence within one week
following the period of the excused absence (except where prior notification is required); and for
making up the missed work. The professor must give the student an opportunity to make up the
work and/or the exams missed due to an excused absence, and shall do so, if feasible, during the
semester in which the absence occurred.

Verification of Absences
Students may be asked to verify their absences in order for them to be considered excused. Senate
Rule [Link] states that faculty have the right to request “appropriate verification” when students
claim an excused absence because of illness, or death in the family. Appropriate notification of
absences due to University-related trips is required prior to the absence when feasible and in no
case more than one week after the absence.

Academic Integrity
Per University policy, students shall not plagiarize, cheat, or falsify or misuse academic records.
Students are expected to adhere to University policy on cheating and plagiarism in all courses. The
minimum penalty for a first offense is a zero on the assignment on which the offense occurred. If
the offense is considered severe or the student has other academic offenses on their record, more
serious penalties, up to suspension from the University may be imposed.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct. Each student is advised to
become familiar with the various forms of academic dishonesty as explained in the Code of
Student Rights and Responsibilities. Complete information can be found at the following website:
[Link] A plea of ignorance is not acceptable as a defense against the charge
of academic dishonesty. It is important that you review this information as all ideas borrowed
from others need to be properly credited.

Senate Rules 6.3.1 (see [Link] for the current set of Senate Rules)
states that all academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or
other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their own thought, research, or self-
expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism involving their
work, they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before submission.
When students submit work purporting to be their own, but which in any way borrows ideas,
organization, wording, or content from another source without appropriate acknowledgment of
the fact, the students are guilty of plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes reproducing someone else's work (including, but not limited to a published
article, a book, a website, computer code, or a paper from a friend) without clear attribution.
Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another person to alter or revise
the work, which a student submits as his/her own, whoever that other person may be. Students
may discuss assignments among themselves or with an instructor or tutor, but when the actual
work is done, it must be done by the student, and the student alone.
When a student's assignment involves research in outside sources or information, the student
must carefully acknowledge exactly what, where and how he/she has employed them. If the words
of someone else are used, the student must put quotation marks around the passage in question
and add an appropriate indication of its origin. Making simple changes while leaving the
organization, content, and phraseology intact is plagiaristic. However, nothing in these Rules shall
apply to those ideas, which are so generally and freely circulated a to be a part of the public
domain.

Please note: Any assignment you turn in may be submitted to an electronic database to check for
plagiarism.

RECENTLY AMENDED and COVID SYLLABUS STATEMENTS
Accommodations Due to Disability (amended)

If you have a documented disability that requires academic accommodations, please see me as
soon as possible during scheduled office hours. In order to receive accommodations in this course,
you must provide me with a Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
The DRC coordinates campus disability services available to students with disabilities. It is located
on the corner of Rose Street and Huguelet Drive in the Multidisciplinary Science Building, Suite
407. You can reach them via phone at 859-257-2754 and via email at drc@[Link]. Please note that
DRC accommodations are not retroactive and should therefore be established with the DRC as
early in the semester as is feasible.

Excused Absences (amended)

Academic policies regarding excused absences can be found in the Senate Rules under “Excused
Absences.” The Senate Council has interpreted excused absences for the Fall 2020 semester to
include an excuse from required in-person interactions if the student has been directed to self-
quarantine by the University (including its app), a medical professional, public health professional,
or government official.

Face Covering/Distancing Policy

The Senate Council endorses the following recommended syllabus statements for faculty teaching
face-to-face courses.

• In accordance with University guidelines, students must wear UK-approved face coverings
in the classroom and academic buildings (e.g., faculty offices, laboratories, libraries,
performance/design studios, and common study areas where students might
congregate). If UK-approved face coverings are not worn over the nose and mouth,
students will be asked to leave the classroom.

• Students should complete their daily online wellness screening before accessing university
facilities and arriving to class.

• Students should not move chairs or barriers in classrooms and should socially distance at
all times, leaving a six (6) foot radius from other people. Masks and hand sanitizer can be
found {specific location in building} if needed.

• Students should leave enough space when entering and exiting a room. Students should not
crowd doorways at the beginning or end of class.

• The instructor may choose to remove a mask when pedagogically necessary at the front of
the classroom and behind a clear barrier. The instructor's mask will be replaced when it
is no longer necessary to have it removed, or when the class meeting is complete.

Class Recording Notification

The University of Kentucky Student Code of Conduct defines Invasion of Privacy as using
electronic or other devices to make a photographic, audio, or video record of any person without
their prior knowledge or consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.

Meetings of this course may be recorded. All video and audio recordings of lecturers and class
meetings, provided by the instructors, are for educational use by students in this class only. They
are available only through the Canvas shell for this course and are not to be copied, shared, or
redistributed.

As addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, students are expected to follow appropriate
university policies and maintain the security of linkblue accounts used to access recorded class
materials. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not enrolled in the class, or
uploaded to other online environments.

If the instructor or a University of Kentucky office plans any other uses for the recordings, beyond
this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be notified to request consent prior to such
use. In anticipation of such cases, students may be asked to complete an “authorization of use”
form by a faculty member.

Video and audio recordings by students are not permitted during the class unless the student has
received prior permission from the instructor. Any sharing, distribution, and or uploading of these
recordings outside of the parameters of the class is prohibited. Students with specific recording
accommodations approved by the Disability Resource Center should present their official
documentation to the instructor.

All content for this course, including handouts, assignments, and lectures are the intellectual
property of the instructors and cannot be reproduced or sold without prior permission from the
instructors. A student may use the material for reasonable educational and professional purposes
extending beyond this class, such as studying for a comprehensive or qualifying examination in a
degree program, preparing for a professional or certification examination, or to assist in fulfilling
responsibilities at a job or internship.