1. To build a regular habit of practicing.
2. To develop the muscles and muscle memory that support a quality singing technique.
3. To give our students the opportunity to sing a variety of literature.

This course will teach students the necessary skill set to publicly perform with a Classical singing technique. Topics discussed will be diction, tone, foreign languages, interpretation, and vowels.

Each class will be a private lesson. Each will build upon the last session to grow the student’s talent as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Students will be assigned a piece to work on and will be expected to practice 5 days per week to be prepared for each lesson.

Attendance: Please be prompt for your lesson. Knock on my office door at your lesson time. If I do not respond, please knock again until I answer the door. If you must miss your lesson for any reason call me at 903 693-2061, with at least 3 hours notice. If you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, we will not meet. Please do not expose me or other singers to colds, strep, bronchitis, etc. Please do not ask me to reschedule your lesson because you are tired or unprepared.
Students are allowed to miss one lesson during the course of the semester although Dr. Petzet still requires prior notice of the absence.
Attendance policy: All students are expected to attend ALL lessons, masterclasses, and performances. Students are allowed one absence without penalty. Beginning with the second absence, the semester grade will drop one letter with each successive absence. Tardies count as one half absence. Obviously, there are situations where absences will be excused: illness, death in family, family emergency, school activities, etc.
Masterclass: Each studio teacher conducts laboratory opportunities in which students of that studio perform for each other and/or the teacher conducts a master class format. Masterclasses will be from 4-5pm on Wednesdays. You are responsible to know your teacher’s expectations. Your performance in labs will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion. Attendance is MANDATORY!!!!
Recital: This is a public concert during which some vocal (and instrumental) students shall perform.
Final Exam (Jury): At the end of each semester you will present a performance for the music faculty. This exam is given during finals week, days and times to be determined by the music faculty. Each student will sign up for a jury time on scheduling sheets to be posted on the Choir Room door approximately one week prior to finals week.
CD reviews: Students will be given a compact disc of various recordings of singers to review and write a paragraph (minimum 4-5 sentences) about each track. Students should discuss what they like and dislike but talk specifically about vocal issues-resonance, vowels, tone, diction, etc....These are due 4/1/10.
Smartmusic Training: Smartmusic is a computer program that provides electronic piano accompaniment to students when practicing their music. The software is located on the 3 practice room computers. The instructor will give a training session on a designated date. Students are expected to use the software at least 4 sessions for 30 minutes each.

Grades: 10%-recital, 10%-jury, CD reviews-10%, and 20%-masterclass, and weekly grade-50%

Singing Protocol and Expectations with regard to Grades-All of the following directly affect a student’s grade:
-All music chosen must be approved by the teacher, and must be fully prepared and memorized for performances. Any time a student performs, be it a jury, recital, masterclass, etc…music must be memorized and prepared and rehearsed to the maximum potential.
-Students and their accompanists must have practiced ample time before any performance, recital, or jury. Accompanists must always be treated with the utmost respect. Performance attire must be of the utmost quality. A formal dress or tuxedo is not required but jeans, T-shirts, and cutoffs are not allowed. Men should wear a button up shirt, slacks, (and a tie). Ladies should wear a nice dress or a suitable outfit of class. Gaudy earrings, hair dews and overbearing perfumes distract audiences and will not be allowed. Dress conservatively [The less skin showing, the better, as not to be distracting]. We want the music to be the focus.
-Stage instructions: When you take the stage, you will enter with your accompanist, bow to the audience, (motion to your accompanist), announce your name, title and composer of the piece(s) that you will be singing. Then, you will compose yourself, nod to your accompanist, and then begin. There will be no talking, no stopping and starting, and no fidgeting.
-Individual Preparation: You must come to lessons prepared. You must practice between lessons. It is recommended that you practice a half-hour at least 5 days a week. This schedule is much more valuable than 2 hours the day before your lesson.
-Warm-ups: Please come to your lessons warmed up vocally. In this manner, we can make the most of your lesson time. If you don’t, then we waste 5-10 minutes on warming up. The earlier in the day your lesson time is scheduled, the more time you will need to warm up. COME PREPARED: WARM UP AND PRACTICE
-Students are required to purchase vocal books and are to learn a minimum of 2 pieces over the course of the semester.
-Students must come prepared to lessons; once I play the notes and introduce a new piece (unless it is a particularly long piece), I expect students to come to the next lesson with their notes and rhythms learned (this is where the tape recorder is really handy) so we can work on expression, diction, color, etc…; if a student is not prepared for their lesson, then the weekly grade will reflect that.