Opera Performance Practicum 1 (MUSI90160)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 18.75On Campus (Southbank)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | February |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This practicum is the start of a suite of subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum representing the foundational experience.
Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.
Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.
Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject students will:
- demonstrate foundational understanding of appropriate stylistic vocal performance;
- for the singer, demonstrate foundational stagecraft skills, and for the repetiteur, understand relevant aspects of vocal score playing related to orchestral reductions;
- apply the appropriate foundational principles of practice within an opera production context;
- demonstrate a foundational knowledge of the historical and stylistic conventions, correct lyric diction and interpretative framework of the opera constituting the work performed during the study period;
- demonstrate foundational written capacity for critical, reflective and evaluative insight into the rehearsal and performance process.
Generic skills
- demonstrate the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
- demonstrate skills in achieving practical outcomes;
- demonstrate analytical skills in the context of artistic performance;
- plan effectively to meet rehearsal and performance deadlines.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous experience in opera scenes/production would be useful.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Singers and repetiteurs: Direct translation of role written above part, with IPA. Due: Final music call rehearsal (in third week of music calls)
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Singer's role to be sung from memory at the final music call rehearsal. Repetiteurs to have score under technical control. Due: Final music call rehearsal (in third week of music calls)
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Final studio run-through of opera production in which students are assessed on their synthesis of the elements studied. Due: Fifth week of production rehearsals
| During the teaching period | 25% |
Final performance Performance date TBC
| During the teaching period | 40% |
Written reflection on learning stages and outcomes. Due: Two weeks after final performance
| During the assessment period | 5% |
| Hurdle requirement: In order to pass this subject students must attempt all assessment items. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Blocking notes to be written into singers' scores. Due: Fifth week of production rehearsals | During the teaching period | 0% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Jane Davidson Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours Five weeks of rehearsals and production totalling 150 contact hours. Total time commitment 255 hours Teaching period 3 February 2020 to 16 March 2020 Last self-enrol date 11 February 2020 Census date 6 March 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 8 May 2020 Assessment period ends 26 June 2020
Time commitment details
255
Additional delivery details
At audition, students will be cast into a role for the opera in this subject. It will be expected that students will have studied this musical material prior to commencing the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
Last updated: 3 November 2022