DIVISION OF VOICE & OPERA
DIVISION OF VOICE & OPERA
Policies & Requirements
Policies & Requirements
It is each student’s responsibility to be familiar with the policies, requirements, and procedures of the division. If you have any questions, contact your advisor immediately to avoid delay in fulfilling requirements. In addition to knowing the policies and requirements of the division, students should read and become familiar with the academic policies described in the beginning of this handbook.
All undergraduate music majors must complete the MUSC 099 requirement as outlined in this handbook.
Attendance at noon recitals is required Tuesdays 12:30-1:45. Students who have more than three unexcused absences will have their studio grades lowered one whole letter grade (e.g. an A- becomes B-). All undergraduate voice students are required to perform once each semester in the divisional noon recital. For scheduling a Noon Recital time and date, refer to the Noon Recital syllabus. The choice of repertoire may not exceed eight minutes and is to be chosen in consultation with the studio teacher. The performance schedule is posted on the Noon Recital bulletin board next to room 3125 and is also available through the applied music teacher. It is the students’ responsibility to know when they are scheduled to perform. A completed program form must be turned in (either electronically or by placing the form in the envelope on the Noon Recital bulletin board) by 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the student’s noon-recital performance. Students who do not meet the deadline will not be allowed to perform and will have their studio grades lowered one half grade (e.g. an A- becomes a B+). Only the division coordinator can excuse a student from any portion of the Noon Recital requirement.
Enrollment is required in an approved ensemble each semester a student is registered for applied voice study. The approved vocal ensembles are:
MUSC 329A: University Chorale
MUSC 329B: Chamber Singers
MUSC 329W: Women’s Chorus
MUSC 329M: Men’s Chorus
MUSC 329O: Opera Chorus (This ensemble is an elective and may be taken concurrently with one of the approved ensembles listed above.)
At the beginning of each semester, students will receive an emailed version of the syllabus outlining the requirements for their series of lessons. These syllabi outline the expectations for each course and the requirements for the jury examination and/or the recital repertoire requirements and expectations. In each semester of study, students must learn and memorize a minimum amount of new repertoire as listed in the syllabus. Students are expected to prepare for each lesson and are responsible for providing an accompanist as well as printed musical scores of assigned repertoire. Individual studio teachers may also have requirements in addition to those found in the syllabus. These additions should be given to you in writing at the beginning of the semester.
When students register for voice lessons, they must select the section number that is attached to their assigned studio teacher. Lessons take place in the studio of the assigned instructor at mutually agreed upon times. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher to arrange for a lesson time.
Studio Teacher Room Section Number Email address
Diba Alvi 3125 0101 dalvi@umd.edu
Jennifer Casey Cabot 3126 0401 jcabot@umd.edu
Delores Ziegler 3123 0601 dziegler@umd.edu
Kevin Short 3124 0701 kshort@umd.edu
Gran Wilson 3121 1001 gnwilson@umd.edu
Each of the eight courses in the eight-semester series comprise fourteen lessons plus assigned independent practice and preparation. At least ten hours of preparation time is expected each week including individual practice, work with an accompanist, research, translations, etc. Information about jury examinations and other requirements may be found in the syllabi.
Students and Faculty may access the Jury Portal at this link.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree will enroll in the Major Series of applied lessons:
Freshmen Courses MUSP 119B 120B
Sophomore Courses MUSP 217B 218B
Junior Courses MUSP 315B 316B
Senior Courses MUSP 419B 420B
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music Education (BME) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees will enroll in the Principal Series for applied lessons:
Freshman Courses MUSP 109B 110B
Sophomore Courses MUSP 207B 208B
Junior Courses MUSP 305B 306B
Senior Courses MUSP 409B 410B
When a student is pursuing a dual degree BM in voice and BME, the BM degree syllabus requirements will take precedence. For students seeking the BME degree, MUSP 410 is the terminal semester of applied study, and it is usually taken during the seventh semester (instead of 409). For students seeking the BA degree, MUSP 305 is the terminal semester of applied study. Students seeking lessons beyond the terminal semester must secure approval through the process described in this handbook.
BM degree students must complete one accelerated semester (level 103) of each of two different languages chosen from Italian, French, and German. Students may satisfy the requirement by successfully testing out of the level 103 course in a given language. BA degree students must complete a language course through the intermediate level (level 203). Transferred foreign language credits will be evaluated for equivalency.
Studio classes are held in various venues, usually on Thursdays from 12:30–1:50. Although they may not be held every week, students are expected to keep this Thursday time open in their schedules so that they can perform as well as listen to others in their studio. Teachers will post the dates and places of their studio’s classes well in advance.
Announcements, auditions, brochures about summer programs and graduate schools, the hearing schedule, recital announcements, jury schedule, etc. will be posted on the bulletin board across from room 3123. Students should check the board on a regular basis for updated information.
Faculty will have office hours when students can meet with them outside of the voice lesson time. Please see your teacher for those times.