Music

Collaborative Piano
This course is designed to provide students with training and experience in collaborating with and accompanying singers and instrumentalists in both private lessons and performances. It will also give students the opportunity to accompany a variety of ensembles both in rehearsals and performances.

Teaching Internship
This course is designed to provide students with “hands-on” training and experience in teaching students piano/voice under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Students will both observe private lessons being taught and will be given opportunity to teach beginning and intermediate students from a variety of age groups. If possible, students will also have the opportunity to work with special needs students.

Piano Pedagogy I
This course is a one-term upper-level music course that uses resources and literature to acquaint music majors with current methods and materials in piano teaching and their practical applications. This course also includes insights on business practices for music teachers, and an introduction to the latest music teaching technology and apps for iPad to enhance piano lessons.

Piano Pedagogy II
This course is a continuation of the work in Piano Pedagogy I and is designed to provide students with the information, tools, and skills to effectively teach piano students from a variety of age groups and in a variety of situations. Topics will include not only teaching the physical act of playing the piano but also mental strategies for successful performances. The business of piano teaching will also be addressed.

Vocal Pedagogy
This course covers the structure and function of the vocal mechanism with application to both performance and the teaching of singing. Topics include exploring the relationship of function to artistry, breathing, coordination of vocal process, historic traditions, vocal health, methods for self-evaluation, performance challenges, teaching skills and studio management.

Vocal Choral Pedagogy
Students learn the science, mechanics, and methodologies available to twenty-first century instructors of voice and lead them to be able to apply these in both private voice lessons and in vocal ensemble rehearsals. In addition to providing the student with proven methods for achieving the best possible sounds from singers, the course helps them determine the most effective ways to practice, develop mental skills, understand performance psychology, and structure learning for the best possible outcome.

Teaching Internship
This course is designed to provide students with “hands-on” training and experience in teaching students piano/voice under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Students will both observe private lessons being taught and will be given opportunity to teach beginning and intermediate students from a variety of age groups. If possible, students will also have the opportunity to work with special needs students.

Conducting I
Choral conducting requires the development of physical coordination and the mental discipline necessary to elicit expressive music making from a choral ensemble. Students learn the physical skills of traditional conducting patterns, entrances, and cutoffs. They develop a philosophical basis for choral conducting and the mental skills involved with score study, analysis, teaching basic vocal technique, how to pronounce words to produce the desired choral sound, and rehearsal preparation and techniques. Students conduct rehearsals of choral music in class.