Repetiteur Skills (MUSI90232)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Repetiteurs in this class will advance their skills by focusing on nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first century repertoire, with particular emphasis given to the concerns of score reduction and conducting ensembles from the keyboard, the class being taught on piano. Students will learn techniques to reduce predominant orchestral scoring styles and be given effective techniques for scanning and sight-reading the full score.
Attention will be paid to score reduction to provide melodic and harmonic clarity and support for the singers. The subject also explores how to conduct from the keyboard, especially in ensembles where the repetiteur is both playing the piano and conducting. To achieve these skills, students will work collaboratively with the lecturer to read through a range of opera scores, and prepare materials for a specific opera or opera scenes.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- employ score reduction techniques used by repetiteurs;
- interpret stylistic and historical factors that have influenced the development of the opera full and vocal score from the nineteenth century through to the present day.
- evaluate critically the piano part of the vocal score and what it can and cannot achieve when rehearsing opera with singers;
- demonstrate skills of playing and the ability to follow a conductor, as appropriate for an opera repetiteur.
- critique and self-evaluate score reduction and conducting techniques, when working in collaboration with singers.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Play and sing vocal entries from three prepared operatic excepts, as well as sight reading of score reduction and conducting, totaling 25 minutes.
| End of the teaching period | 50% |
Annotation of two existing vocal score reduction excerpts, demonstrating critical choices that facilitate the performance of the vocal score, and may include vocal score piano reduction errata (400 words each) Due: Weeks 3 and 9
| During the teaching period | 25% |
Two 10-minute oral presentations critiquing video footage of opera conducting (sourced from library video/DVD archive or YouTube). Due: Weeks 6 and 11
| During the teaching period | 25% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Jane Davidson Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 24 hours, comprising weekly coaching in tutorial and individual settings Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Jane Davidson: j.davidson@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
Last updated: 4 March 2025