Course Title: Choir Performance and Leadership

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Choir Performance and Leadership

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PERF2044

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007

PERF2045

City Campus

Undergraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007

Course Coordinator: Ms Faye Dumont

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7826

Course Coordinator Email:faye.dumont@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Participation in the RMIT Concert Choir and class, performance in a public concert, and making a CD, make this a practical music Elective. A wide range of music is sung - classical, spiritual, folk and pop arrangement. Both music readers and non-readers are welcome as music reading is assisted in choir rehearsal. Students are given credit for participation in events; keeping a journal of choir experiences; research into one piece being sung; and have opportunity to learn to conduct


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The following skills will be taught and built upon:

  • stance
  • level of conducting stand
  • beating patterns
  • entries and cut-offs
  • dynamics
  • knowledge of the score
  • management of choir and accompanist
  • verbal instructions and non-verbal gesture


The following skills will be taught and built upon:

  • stance
  • level of conducting stand
  • beating patterns
  • entries and cut-offs
  • dynamics
  • knowledge of the score
  • management of choir and accompanist
  • verbal instructions and non-verbal gesture


Overview of Learning Activities

The choir is in its 11th year in 2006, and has been providing a source of enjoyment for students and staff choristers, and audiences, continually in that time. There are staff members who have been with the choir the full 11 years: and some students who come into the choir to do the Elective (12 point) subject and stay on until they have left the university. Some alumni still sing with the choir; and the choir now welcomes some members of U3A in the City.

The choir has been making a CD of the music of each semester for some time, and now has 10 to its credit.


Overview of Learning Resources

Music sung is greatly varied. There have been Gregorian chants, classics from the Renaissance to Baroque, Classical, Romantic and modern. The choir often sings African songs and African American spirituals or gospel arrangements. Folk music from many countries has so far been in the repertoire – from Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, America, England, Ireland, Scotland and Latvia. The choir has sung medleys and individual items from musicals – such as Les Miserables and West Side Story; and has a wide range of jazz standards and popular music choral arrangements.


Overview of Assessment

1 Events credited
40% marks

2 Reflective journal
20% marks

3 Research project
20% marks

4 A demonstration of conducting skill
20% marks