English Diction for Singers Syllabus 2017 MUAG 1905.003 Monday & Wednesday 8 AM to 8:50 AM MUSI 289 MUAG 1905.001 Monday & Wednesday 11 AM to 11:50 AM MUSI 289 MUAG 1905.002 Tuesday & Thursday 11 AM to 11:50 AM MUSI 2006 INSTRUCTOR: Helen Dewey Reikofski, D.M.A. - aka Dr. R E-MAIL: Helen.Reikofski@unt.edu AND heldewski@gmail.com OFFICE HOURS: Mondays 9:15AM 10AM, or by appointment. Bain Hall 208 REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS purchased not rented 1. Kathryn LaBouff. Singing and Communicating in English (ISBN: 9780195311396) 2. Daniel Jones. Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary. Edited by Peter Roach, Jane Setter, and John Esling. 18th ed. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 2011. REQUIRED SUPPLIES 3-RING BINDER with paper for in-class work, handouts and notes. Pencil. USB drive. Course Description MUAG 1905 is introductory course for music majors, or related disciplines, that is designed to acquaint the student with the basic symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet used in spoken and lyric diction, and the rules for pronunciation in the English language in classical vocal music. Course Objectives This course will promote ease and clarity in singing English language songs, arias, and choral works, and will build skills, through the use of IPA (the International Phonetic Alphabet) and techniques of enunciation, in singing in three major dialects: American Standard (AS), the neutral pronunciation used for North American repertoire; Received Pronunciation (RP), both historic and modern, used for repertoire by composers and/or poets of the British Isles; and Mid-Atlantic (MA), a hybrid of North American and British diction used in European and other works that do not specifically require a British or American character. Upon completion of this course a student should be able to 1. Employ the International Phonetic Alphabet as a valuable tool to aid diction choices, demonstrating proper pronunciation of all basic IPA symbols in transcriptions of songs, 2. Prepare their vocal texts using rules for pronunciation, enunciation, and expression taught in Singing and Communicating in English by Kathryn LaBouff, 3. Identify which dialects may be called for, considering composers, poets, librettists, and production needs, 4. Speak and sing texts in English with understanding, through the examination of syntax and sentence structure, and word stress and inflection, 5. Sing expressively, and with greater ease, allowing the texts to flow smoothly, or be accentuated without adding tension, 6. Access resources for pronunciation, meaning, and further research related to diction, 7. Utilize skills developed through in-class participation, and personal application, on their own repertoire, and class assignments. 1
Grading Policy A: 90%+higher B: 80%+ higher C: 70%+ higher D: 60%+ higher F: Below 60%. Your final semester grade will be based upon the average of your grades in the following five categories: Attendance and Participation; Quizzes, often taken in the first ten minutes of class; Mid- Term Exam; Assignments; Final Exam. See below. Grading Criteria Attendance and Participation in class, includes your presence, discussion, in-class written work, and day-to-day singing or speaking. Percentage of Final Grade 20% Quizzes, which are often taken in the first 10 minutes of class. 20% Mid-Term Exam: oral, and in-class written exam. 20% Assignments, worksheets, items due online or at the beginning of class. 20% FINAL 003: MONDAY December 11, 2017 (8am-10am) 001: MONDAY December 11, 2017 (10:30am-12:30pm) * 002:TUESDAY December 12, 2016 (10:30am-12:30pm) * * Note earlier start time 20% Attendance/Participation: This includes class attendance, participation, preparedness, and demonstrating personal growth with using IPA in speaking and singing applications. Attendance: One (1) absence is allowed without a grade penalty. Save it for late in the term, or incase of an illness. Your final grade will be lowered by five percent for each absence beyond one (1). If UNT causes you to be absent, such as TMEA, or a choir tour, that will not count as your 1 nopenalty absence. Any absence caused by UNT has no effect on your grade, if documentation is received before the absence. Warning: Three (3) tardies will count as one absence. Each absence following the 1 free absence will result in a lowering of the semester grade by 5%. If you have a 94%A, it will become a 89%B. You are responsible for any notes, assignments, or announcements given in class, regardless of reason for the absence. You are advised to check BlackBoard and a classmate or two, to get notes and discussion points on the class session missed. It is not possible, due to time constraints, to expect your professor to be the source to catch you up. Quizzes: Ten quizzes will be added together to form one grade. Mid-Term: This includes written, spoken and sung sections. Final: A Final Exam will be given on the date and at the time assigned by the University. Note that this exam, as listed on this syllabus, often meets earlier than the scheduled class for some sections. ON TIME ASSIGNMENTS/Extra Credit: Assignments are due on my desk at the beginning of each class, unless otherwise advised to hold them for in-class corrections. Some assignments will be turned in by submitting them to BlackBoard or email. Late work will rarely, if ever, be considered. NEEDED: A FLASH DRIVE AND A 3-RING BINDER TO SAVE COPIES OF YOUR WORK. PLEASE SAVE ALL WORK RETURNED TO YOU, UNTIL THE SEMESTER IS OVER. 2
SCHEDULE Week 1 AUG 28-31 Week 2 SEP 4-7 Week 3 SEP 11-14 Week 4 SEP 18-21 First class of the week Mon or Tues Introduction of class and IPA, discussion of Syllabus & Course Objectives, vowel chart, common consonants, & Eng [ŋ] Assignment ONE due: Turn in incomplete Day One Questionnaire on my desk, just before leaving class. Labor Day- No class on Monday DUE TUESDAY BY NOON: Assignment THREE: Create 1 email with subject MUAG 1905 and in the email state a) your name b) your voice teacher s name, c) all of your choir or vocal ensembles, and send to both email addresses: Helen.Reikofski@unt.edu AND HELDEWSKI@gmail.com - any details not yet assigned, please state not yet assigned. DUE: Assignment FIVE Read Chapter 2. Mark the stresses in poem Be prepared to show the pencil marks and read the poem on page 9 aloud. Use pencil to mark a few places where 'stress' helps to keep the metrical flow of the poem. For example: "And think of goose and yet of choose" is short-long, short-long, short-long, short-long. Use curved lines for "short" and dashes for "long." Be able to mark stress/unstress (long/short) anywhere in the poem. Quiz 1. (Note diagram 2.1) Assignment SEVEN Read Chapter 3 and pencil # and notes on each Rule 1-10 Quiz 2 (perhaps Binder) Second class of the week Wed or Thur Vowel chart, common consonants, Eng, List voiced/unvoiced. Use book. DAY 2 SING & TRANSCRIBE Assignment TWO due: Bring your 3- Ring Binder, both textbooks, and smart phone or tablet/device. Discuss YouTube DUE: Assignment FOUR. Complete Exercises in Chapters 1 p.14-16, excluding #4. Continue to bring binder, and your LaBouff and Cambridge textbooks, to each class. Take notes. In-Class Open Book Grade. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a written system of symbols that aids in the correct pronunciation of any sound in any language, regardless of spelling. DUE: Assignment SIX Transcribe The Daisies from p. 27 #2 and Circle Nouns & Verbs Circle nouns & verbs in your book. On a separate piece of paper (the one provided) transcribe the text in pencil. Assignment EIGHT Transcribe AND THE GLORY Use pencil. Turn it in on my desk before class begins. 3
Week 5 SEP 25-28 Week 6 OCT 2-5 Vowel Chapters 4-8. Including Liquid U/Daniel Sitteth Rule) Assignment NINE due. Quiz 3. (perhaps oral) Consonants Chapters 9-12. Assignment ELEVEN due. Quiz 4 Assignment TEN due. Bring 2 copies of your voice-teacher-assigned piece: single sided, 3-hole punched both sides. Bring a document of the text, with long lines, and triple spaced. Collaborations with pianists begin. P1 Assignment TWELVE due. P2 Week 7 OCT 9-12 Week 8 OCT 16-19 Week 9 OCT 23-26 Week 10 OCT 30- NOV 2 Week 11 NOV 6-9 Week 12 NOV 13-16 Week 13 NOV 20-23 Assignment THIRTEEN due. Review p. 128-130 Begin I Attempt ad Bright is Quiz 5 Midterm In-class: Written Exam Assignment FIFTEEN due. Assignment SEVENTEEN Read Chapter 13 Focus on p.186-188. Create a word document of IPA as required. Bring to class. Quiz 6 Assignment NINETEEN: Read Chapter 15 & Appendix 3 Quiz 7 Review Quiz 8. Assignment FOURTEEN due IPA p.52 exercise 2, and p.53 exercise 3 in RP print out text. Hand write IPA. Turn in on desk. Singing applications P3 Midterm Speak and sing and transcribe. NO P Assignment SIXTEEN due: Singing applications Assignment EIGHTEEN. Speak and sing and transcribe. Assignment TWENTY. P6 In-class application. Individual assignments as needed. In-class application. P7 Individual assignments as needed. BINDER CHECK: On your own, see that all quizzes are organized, all assignments and notes are in binder. THANKSGIVING WEEK no class THANKSGIVING WEEK no class Quiz 9. Remote Video Quiz NOV 27-30 Quiz 10. Prepare for FINAL EXAM Prepare for FINAL EXAM Week 15 DEC 4-7 Week 16 DEC 11-14 Class meets. Possible JURY WEEK. DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR JURY DURING A CLASS TIME. FINALS P4 P5 DO NOT SCHEDULE YOUR JURY DURING A CLASS TIME. Class meets. 003: MONDAY December 11, 2017 (8am-10am) 001: MONDAY December 11, 2017 (10:30am-12:30pm) * 002:TUESDAY December 12, 2017 (10:30am-12:30pm) * * Note earlier start time Closed Front [e] and Open Front [ɛ] Bright [a] and Dark [ɑ] Open Back [ɔ] and Closed Back [o] Closed Back [u] and Closed Mixed [y] Consonant R, Vowels r-colored Stressed UH [ ʌ ], Unstressed uh Schwa [ǝ] 4
COURSE-RELATED ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) The UNT College of Music does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students. The content of this class requires each student to: (a) participate in a safe manner (b) spontaneously process visual and verbal cues, respond verbally and in writing (c) read and prepare written assignments, some by hand, some need to be computer products The student has the responsibility of informing the instructor of any condition that requires modifications. If you have a disability and feel you are unable to meet the requirements of this class without reasonable accommodations, please contact the Office of Disabilities Accommodation on campus. The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323 LINK: disability.unt.edu. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY In accordance with the University policies on student conduct, any acts of dishonesty, including, but not limited to, Cheating, Facilitating Academic Dishonesty, or Plagiarism, (which includes 1. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. 2. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency, the selling of term papers or other academic materials. ) will result in automatic failure of the assignment in question and probable failure of the course and suspension from the University as deemed appropriate by the instructor, the Dean of Students office, and the Academic Integrity Officer. All issues of Academic Integrity will be submitted to academic.integrity@unt.edu. See http://vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm In addition, cases of conduct will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Please refer to https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct for more information. According to the UNT catalog, the term cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. LINK: http://facultysuccess.unt.edu/academic-integrity COLLEGE OF MUSIC BEHAVIOR IN REHEARSALS AND CLASSROOMS Musicians are aware of the discipline needed in rehearsals. In this classroom, similar to rehearsals, students are expected to refrain from side explanations or talking, and are encouraged to ask questions of the professor, or of colleagues, at the appropriate time. 5
UNT POLICY ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM Student behavior that interferes with an instructor s ability to conduct a class or other students opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. Link: https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct SEMESTER DROP DATES: Students who wish to drop a course before the census date (12th class day during long semesters) may do so without instructor permission; they may do so online by visiting my.unt.edu or in person at the Registrar s Office (in the Eagle Student Services Building). After the 12th class day, students must first receive written permission from the instructor, prior to dropping a course. Information about add/drop dates for the Fall Semester: http://www.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/fall/withdraw.html Calendar at a glance https://www.unt.edu/catalogs/2017-18/calendar Final Exam Schedule: http://registrar.unt.edu/exams/final-exam-schedule/fall 2017-2018 Semester Academic Schedule (with Add/Drop Dates) Link: http://catalog.unt.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=1737 FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS Undergraduates: A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed attempted credit hours above 150% of their required degree plan. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility. If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-requirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is recommended that you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course. Graduates: A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility. If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-requirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is recommended that you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course before doing so. LINK: http://financialaid.unt.edu/sap 6
STUDENT EVALUATION of CLASSES UNT s course evaluation system is called SPOT Student Perceptions of Teaching. There will be a short online survey, made available to you at the end of the semester. UNT considers SPOT to be an important part of your participation in this class. UNT allows extra credit to be offered to the whole class if 85% or more complete the SPOT. SUCCEED AT UNT UNT endeavors to offer you a high-quality education and to provide a supportive environment to help you learn and grown. And, as a faculty member, I am committed to helping you be successful as a student. Here s how to succeed at UNT: Show up. Find Support. Get advised. Be prepared. Get involved. Stay focused. To learn more about campus resources and information on how you can achieve success, go success.unt.edu/. ACCESS TO INFORMATION EAGLE CONNECT Your access point for business and academic services at UNT occurs at my.unt.edu. All official communication from the university will be delivered to your Eagle Connect account. For more information, please visit the website that explains Eagle Connect. LINK: eagleconnect.unt.edu/ RETENTION OF STUDENT RECORDS Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor of record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws and the university s policy in accordance with those mandates. Link: http://ferpa.unt.edu/ RESPONDING TO STUDENTS IN DISTRESS: UNT CARE TEAM Please visit the CARE Team website to tips to recognize students in distress and what you need to do in cases of extreme behavior or references to suicide. Link: http://studentaffairs.unt.edu/care FINAL NOTES Please be sure to SAVE A COPY OF ANY WORK YOU TURN IN FOR THIS CLASS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER AND SAVE ALL WORK THAT IS RETURNED TO YOU UNTIL THE SEMESTER IS COMPLETE. It is required that you save a copy of your computer generated work on a flash drive, and each hard copy you are returned in a 3-ring binder. Blackboard LEARN is very useful, when it works as intended. A student saving his work on a flash drive that he brought with him to class DID save his grade on a Blackboard situation in a previous term. ALL PORTIONS OF THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE Keep informed by attending each class, checking Bb, and connecting with classmates. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 7