Level three vocal students expectations:

Students have developed their vocal skill and now demonstrate refined vocal technique. Repertoire at this level should be more extensive and expansive and allow students to demonstrate the full extent of their vocal range.

For Achieved, breathing is consistent with the repertoire chosen. All notes and phrases should be clean and well-prepared. There should be attention to shape and diction. In addition to well-controlled use of vowels, consonants such as “t”, “d”, “k” should be tightly controlled and the use of the final “s” cleanly released. Vocal tone at all times demonstrated forward projection. Students should be demonstrating ability to communicate with their accompanist and audience rapport should be clearly evident.

Students demonstrating Merit will be using contrasting repertoire to demonstrate advanced breathing technique which may require longer vocal phrases, controlled use of melisma, more intricate rhythms and scale passages over a wider range of music. There will be a clear awareness of the need for forward tone and dynamic control, clean dictition and focused articulation. Posture will be natural and movement in the shoulders and chest minimal. Students will show understanding of not only the vocal style required, but also the context and history of the music. Students may choose to do a combination of traditional and contemporary repertoire which require a different vocal approach.

At Excellence level students will show themselves to be highly commensurate performers demonstrating total control of forward, well projected tone, pitch, breathing, phrasing, intonation, diction and presentation. Repertoire should be challenging enough to allow students to demonstrate a range of syles and genres. This may include fast, rhythmic, ornate passages and slow sustained melodic material. If possible students should select repertoire that allows them to perform accurate and demanding chromatic as well as diatonic passages. Communication with the audience should demonstrate considerable personality as well as musicianship. This may include the use of engaging facial and hand gestures to support the “telling of the story”.

General considerations for the contemporary voice

There should be an accurate sense of pitching, intonation and rhythm which allows for the style of the music to be maintained. There is more opportunity for a flexible vocal approach but there should still be a sense of cohesion with the style. Vocal projection should be evidenced and if the sound is amplified there should be close attention to not over or under-singing into the microphone. The use of the microphone should be seen as an extension of the voice rather than a barrier between the singer and the audience. Vocal production should still be relaxed and there should be no obvious tension or strain around the mouth neck or jaw. For this purpose, students should be guided away from performing Screamo Metal (or similar) which involves raucous and unmoderated vocal control. If students have opted to perform an extract of rap music, this should be fluent, and highly rhythmic with a well controlled tone.