Singing Biennio – Study Plans and Didactic Regulations

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Didactic Regulations of the 2nd Level Academic Diploma Course

Music School of Singing – CODI/23

Career opportunities

Professional concert activity oriented toward performing as a soloist or in chamber and ensemble groups.

General Statement

The area concerns the acquisition of the technical skills and musical, cultural and interpretive competencies related to Opera Singing necessary to deal, with full awareness of related performance practices, with the different repertoires of the various eras up to the present day.
It also delves into the performance and interpretative aspects related to vocality in solo, ensemble, and orchestral concert activities.
For the purpose of a complete training of the singer, disciplines referring to the history of vocality, poetry for music and musical dramaturgy, fundamental techniques of piano accompaniment and stage interpretation as well as methodological knowledge referring to the didactics of bel canto are also included in the field.
There is also a focus on relevant treatises and repertoire concerning specific historical periods.

Characteristics of the Final Exam

Free concert program, not identical to any program performed in previous exams, approximately 30 minutes in length, soloist with instrumental or orchestral accompaniment.

Training Objectives.

Upon graduation, Level II Academic Graduates in Singing will have achieved an artistic personality and a high level of professionalism that will enable them to realize and express their artistic concepts; a good knowledge of the styles and instrumental/interpretive techniques associated with them, of the historical as well as contemporary repertoire, so as to be able to perform in a wide range of different contexts; the ability to interpret music from the historical as well as contemporary repertoire with a distinctive and personal flair; the ability to contribute with artistic professionalism both as a soloist and in chamber and orchestral ensembles; to further and independently develop their own aesthetic tendencies in a particular area of specialization; to relate knowledge to practical skills in order to strengthen their own artistic development; to present their artistic concepts both in writing and orally; to undertake artistic projects in new or unfamiliar contexts in an organized manner, including in collaboration with experts from other artistic fields, in the context of musical theater or the production world. Among the elective subjects, the 24 CFAs essential for the participation in the competition for teaching in schools; adequate techniques of posture and emotional control; adequate skills in the field of musical computing as well as those related to a second community language.

Qualifications and skills required for entry

Possession of a bachelor’s degree or a first university degree or a conservatory diploma together with an upper secondary school diploma,
or Any other qualification obtained abroad and recognized as equivalent. It is also necessary that the preparation acquired be consistent with and appropriate to the course of the second of another qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable. It is also necessary that the preparation acquired is consistent with and appropriate for the course of the second
level.
Conditional admission may be sought by applicants who plan to earn the required degrees by the February-March session of the relevant academic year.

Entrance Examination

Practical examination (the board has the right to listen to all or part of the program presented): performance, preferably from memory, of a solo concert program of the candidate’s choice, approximately 30 minutes in length, with a level of difficulty equal to or greater than that presented for the 1st Level Academic Diploma examination, including compositions from different historical periods or styles. The candidate may include in the aforementioned program a composition for ensembles/ensemble groups.
Reading test: extemporaneous performance of a piece assigned by the committee (maximum time allowed before performance: 2 times the duration of the piece).
Oral test: the interview will focus on the training already undertaken and any professional orientations that have already emerged during the last years of training with particular reference to the interests of the specific address. Evaluation of the candidate’s resume.

First year

History of musical forms and repertoires

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

The course of study will focus on an in-depth study of musical forms and repertoires in the period from opera buffa to the present with special emphasis on works related to the course of study.

The form of verification will be established by the teacher.

Performance Practices and Repertoires (for Singing and Piano) I

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 15 – Individual lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Examination program: Performance of three chamber arias for voice and piano, in Italian, from the Repertoire up to the nineteenth century, chosen extemporaneously by the Commission from among five presented by the candidate.

Performance Practices and Repertoires (Lyric-Symphonic Solo for Singing) I

Course year: 1 – Credits: 12 – Hours: 30 – Individual lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Exam syllabus:

Performance of an aria from an oratorio, mass, sung between two presented by the candidate.

Performance of three out of five opera arias* presented by the candidate in any language on a thematic-monographic program (period/composer/language/style) agreed with the teacher during the course.

Performance of a piece from the symphonic repertoire (excluding oratorio, mass or cantata) chosen by the candidate and agreed with the teacher during the course of the course.

*For pieces of the operatic repertoire, it is required to perform in the original language/key and from memory.

Chamber Music I

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 20 – Group lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Exam program: Execution of a program approved by the teacher with a duration of not less than 15 minutes, including a minimum of two compositions from different historical periods. The program may include transcriptions only and exclusively in the absence of an original repertoire. The execution of the program can be integrated by means of a multimedia thesis (production of an audio or audiovisual recording) agreed with the teacher and delivered to the Teaching Office within ten days before the exam. This integration must be considered optional, in addition to the time required for the exam.

The candidate, for the formation of the chamber music group, must make use of students within the Institute who also attend other classes and, in case of impossibility, also of any external collaborators trusted by him and at his own expense.

Diction

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Eligibility Verification Program:

Extemporaneous reading of one or more pieces chosen by the commission.

Recitation from memory of theatrical pieces prepared during the Course; one chosen by the candidate and another previously assigned during the lecture. Questions on the Diction program, taking care to apply what has been acquired during the Course.

Techniques of expression and body awareness

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Group lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Exam program: The exams will be carried out with the presentation, individual or collective, of a creation/improvisation of a vocal/musical movement that will then have to be argued from the mental genesis to its realization and motivated in the expressive details taking into account rhythm, movement and thought. The presentation can also be illustrated by a written paper on the topics elaborated.

Management of cultural events and live entertainment

Course year: 1 – Credits: 3 – Hours: 18 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Verification of suitability.

Program of Study:

• Public and Private: funding, partnerships and collaborations

•Associations

• Certificates, Attestations and Artistic Titles

• The S.I.A.E.: purposes, obligations, exemptions and safeguards.

• The E. N.P.A.L.S: purposes, obligations, exemptions and safeguards.

• Examples of production of a show: soloist, orchestra, opera and new languages

The course includes collaboration, promotion and assistance for a production of the ISSM “Arturo Toscanini”.

The form of verification will be established by the teacher.

Student’s Elective Subject I

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Form of assessment: Assessment or Exam.

Subject and/or activity chosen by the student II

Course year: 1 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Form of assessment: Assessment or Exam.

Le attività saranno valutate in base all’art. 13 del Regolamento Didattico dei Corsi di Diploma Accademico di 2° livello e relativa tabella di valutazione (5h di attività/1 CFA)

Community Foreign Language I (English Language I)

Course year: 1 – Credits: 3 – Hours: 25 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of competence.

The study program will be established by the teacher following an accurate student entrance test and will be preparatory to the acquisition of the B1 level of English.

The form of final assessment will be established by the teacher and will concern the following language skills: Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing.

Second year

Reading of the repertoire

Course year: 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Performance of significant parts taken from pieces of the operatic repertoire and/or the sacred and secular repertoire, chosen by the candidate, and analyzed in its historical, technical and stylistic connotations.

The form of verification will be established by the teacher.

Performance Practices and Repertoires (for Voice and Piano) II

Course year: 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 15 – Individual lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Prerequisites: Performance practices and repertoires (for Singing and Piano I)

Exam program: Performance of three pieces for voice and piano, in any foreign language, chosen extemporaneously by the Commission from among five presented by the candidate;

Performance of a modern piece for voice and piano, from the period from the twentieth century to the present day, chosen by the candidate and agreed with the teacher during the course of the course.

Performance Practices and Repertoires (Lyric-Symphonic Solo for Singing) II (°)

Course year: 2 – Credits: 12 – Hours: 30 – Individual lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Prerequisites: Performance practices and repertoires (Lyric-symphonic soloist for Canto I)

Exam syllabus:

Study of a complete operatic role, from any era in any language.

Execution* of a selection taken from the role studied during the year, lasting at least 30 minutes.

Performance of a piece from the operatic repertoire chosen by the commission and delivered to the candidate three hours before the exam. *For pieces of the operatic repertoire, it is required to perform in the original language/key and from memory.

Musical dramaturgy

Course year: 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 25 – Group lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Exam program: Written paper – to be submitted 10 days before the exam – focused on one of the topics covered during the course previously agreed with the teacher. The exam will also consist of an oral dissertation on the work carried out, as well as on the essential distinctive features of musical dramaturgy, investigating at the same time the peculiar status of the opera libretto and through elements of Italian metrics on the versification of the sung text and on two related theatrical works examined during the course, belonging to different chronological fields.

Chamber Music II

Course year: 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 20 – Group lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Prerequisites: Chamber Music I

Exam program: Performance of a program approved by the teacher with a duration of not less than 15 minutes, including a minimum of two compositions from different historical periods, which is different from the one presented for the exam of “Chamber Music I”. The program may include transcriptions only and exclusively in the absence of an original repertoire.

The execution of the program can be integrated by means of a multimedia thesis (production of an audio or audiovisual recording) agreed with the teacher and delivered to the Teaching Office within ten days before the exam.

This integration must be considered optional, in addition to the time required for the exam.

Gestures and stage movement

Course year: 2 – Credits: 3 – Hours: 18 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Exam program: Discussion of a written paper, to be delivered to the Academic Secretariat at least fifteen days before the exam; Practical part:

a) extemporaneous reading of a piece of prose;

b) singing and stage interpretation of a scene, chosen by the candidate, extrapolated from an opera. The candidate must precede the performance with detailed information on the sources from which the libretto derives, from the summary of the entire libretto, from explanations relating to the character of the character interpreted; c) illustration of the salient points of an opera libretto given to the candidate three hours before the examination. The exam must show the skills acquired to achieve the verisimilitude and authenticity of the representation through gesture and movement as well as the skills on the interpretation of the characters and stylistic aspects connected to them with particular reference to the Opera, the Theater and other forms of musical performance.

Music Informatics

Course year: 2 – Credits: 3 – Hours: 15 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

At the end of the teaching hours, the teacher will express the judgment of suitability based on the verification, for each student, of the attendance, of the performance of the theoretical and/or practical work, both collective and individual, of the achievement of the set educational objectives.

Subject and/or activity chosen by the student III

Course year: 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours: 36 – Form of assessment: Proficiency or Exam.

The activities will be evaluated according to art. 13 of the Didactic Regulations of the 2nd level Academic Diploma Courses and related evaluation table (5h of activity/1 CFA)

Community Foreign Language II (English Language II)

Course year: 2 – Credits: 3 – Hours: 25 – Group lesson – Assessment form: Exam.

Prerequisites: EU Foreign Language I (English Language I)

Program of Study:

Revision of the grammatical structures of the first year;

The study program will be established by the teacher, will include the revision of the grammatical structures of the first year and will be preparatory to the acquisition of the B2 level of English.

Exam syllabus: Students will be tested on their skills and ability to take part in different types of interaction with the teacher with particular regard to the musical discipline.

The final form of exam will be established by the teacher and will cover the following language skills: Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing It will also include the main points of a specific written question with exercises miscellaneous (Quizlet: Written Questions, Matching Terms, Multiple-Choice Questions, and True/False Questions) of both Classical and Jazz Musical Terminology, after having acquired knowledge of the Glossary of Terminology and specialized musical definitions.

Final exam

Course year: 2 – Credits: 9 – Hours: – – Assessment form: Exam

Exam program: Free concert program, not coinciding with another program performed entirely in previous exams, of about 30 minutes, as a soloist with instrumental or orchestral accompaniment

Subjects chosen by the student

History of costume design and scenography

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Verification: Presentation of a written paper on one or more topics covered during the course and concerning the history of the show, styles, costume, staging, furniture and theatrical make-up with particular reference to Opera and other forms of musical performance. The assessment must show an in-depth analysis of the notions acquired.

Community foreign language: German language

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Verification: Test and/or written questions and/or oral interview, or on the basis of a suitable certification presented, that the level of knowledge of the language acquired by the candidate is adequate for the year.

Music Pedagogy

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Exam.

Program: The formation of the personality and the role of the school curriculum in the didactic-educational musical project. The general methodological approach and its declination in the field of music. Music pedagogy in historical and modern methodologies. Emotional communication in music. The “Music” discipline in the 2012 National Indications currently in force.

Ongoing assessment: written test.

Final exam: Final oral discussion on the topics covered in the mid-term test. The final grade is based on the marks obtained in the ongoing tests.

Music Psychology

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Exam.

Program: Emotional perception. Learning and Mental Structures: The Construction of the “Musical Vocabulary”. “Natural” listening and grouping mechanisms. Attention, memory, learning in music.

Ongoing assessment: written test.

Final examination: Final oral discussion on the topics covered in the mid-term test. The final grade is based on the marks obtained in the ongoing tests.

Methodology of historical-musical investigation

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Exam.

Ongoing assessment: Open-ended questionnaire on the topics under study.

Final exam:

Oral exam on the topics studied and covered in the mid-term test.

The final grade is based on the marks obtained in the ongoing tests.

Ornamentation Practice

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Verification of suitability.

Verification: Present a short composition of your choice, taken from the Baroque instrumental repertoire with reference to the candidate’s basic instrument, in particular a piece from Suites, Sonatas, Pieces, which presents a varied richness of embellishments.

Extemporaneously perform a piece already adorned with embellishments, chosen by the teacher, for each instrument (keyboards in general, wind bow, pluck, etc.). Discuss the ornamental stylistic differences of French, German and Italian Baroque composers.

Fundamentals of Composition

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Program: The composition of simple and figurative choirs, as well as short pieces in ternary form and/or sonata-form for chamber ensembles to be agreed with the teacher at the beginning of the lessons, is aimed at developing compositional skills useful for a greater understanding of the artistic articulation of tonal language.

Verification: At the end of the teaching hours, the teacher will express the judgment of suitability based on the verification, for each student, of the attendance, of the performance of the theoretical and/or practical work, both collective and individual, of the achievement of the pre-established educational objectives.

Reading the score

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Program: Perform an extemporaneous piece written in the old keys on the piano, transfer a piece to the piano a tone above or a tone below, perform and intone an ancient aria at first sight. The above pieces and the ancient aria will be assigned by the teacher.

Verification:

At the end of the teaching hours, the teacher will express the judgment of suitability also on the basis of the verification, for each student, of the attendance, of the performance of the theoretical and/or practical work, both collective and individual, of the achievement of the pre-established educational objectives.

Conducting instrumental and vocal groups

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Verification:

Practical test – Demonstrate that they have learned the conducting technique and the basic gestures – in relation to tempo, agogy, phrasing, breathing and crowns – conducting the main simple and composed measures with the help of a chamber ensemble (instrumental and/or vocal) and/or a collaborating pianist.

Theory test – Discuss the topics covered during the course: historical elements of orchestral conducting; the relationship between the soloist and the conductor in the work of analysis and concertation of the score; the figure of the solo conductor in the concert repertoire; Notes on concertation in ensemble music.

Processing, transcription and arrangement

Course year: 1 or 2 – Credits: 6 – Hours of lessons: 36 – Group lesson – Form of assessment: Assessment of suitability.

Program: At the beginning of the lessons, the teacher will agree on the transcription, to be carried out with a guided work in class, of two pieces (one for solo instrument to be transcribed for chamber ensemble and the other for chamber ensemble to be reduced for solo instrument) that are of general interest to the group of attending students.

Verification: At the end of the scheduled teaching hours, the teacher will express the judgment of suitability based on the verification, for each student, of the attendance, of the performance of the theoretical and/or practical work, both collective and individual, of the actual achievement of the set educational objectives.

All active collective or group subjects included in the curricular plans of the Two-Year Regulations of all Schools can also be chosen.

Educational Regulations