Complete syllabus here.   Course calendar here.  

Course Description

Intermediate and advanced work in the piano and vocal skills needed for leadership in classroom and community music settings. Students will refine their own vocal and piano techniques, will learn strategies for leading and accompanying group singing, and will gain an understanding of vocal development and pedagogy for children and adolescents. These skills will help students lead effectively in K-12 music education, church, and community music programs.

Course Objectives

Course objectives are designed to help students grow in terms of the Discipline-Based Professional Teaching Standards for Teachers of Music found on p. 21 of the 1999 Connecticut Common Core of Teaching (since the 2010 revision, thus far, only includes general teaching standards), particularly:

1. Knowledge of Music
2. Applied Musicianship.

V.             Performing Music

VII.             Learning Environment

VIII.             Reflection and Professional Growth

Undergraduate students successfully completing this course will:

• Perform simple piano accompaniments suitable for elementary classroom music or community music, from notation and from a lead sheet (II, V).
• Refine their singing to acquire or develop a healthy, vibrant and expressive vocal technique (II, V).
• Learn and successfully demonstrate strategies for fostering and leading group singing (II, V, VII, VIII).
• Gain a basic understanding of vocal development and pedagogy for children and adolescents including strategies for avoiding vocal harm (I, II, V).
• Learn a variety of song repertoire for elementary classroom music and explore music appropriate for developing secondary choral groups, church and community settings (I, V). 
• Be prepared to begin observing or assisting in K-12 music education, church, and community music programs (I, II, V, VII, VIII).

Graduate students successfully completing this course will:

• Perform simple piano accompaniments suitable for elementary classroom music or community music, from notation and from a lead sheet, as well as accompany (live or via MIDI) simple choral octavos appropriate for developing middle and high school choirs (II, V).
• Further develop and refine a healthy, vibrant and expressive vocal technique (II, V).
• Demonstrate ability to foster a learning environment that encourages enjoyable, healthy and expressive singing (II, V, VII, VIII).
• Refine one’s understanding of vocal development and pedagogy for children and adolescents including the pedagogical use of vocal warmups as well as strategies for avoiding vocal harm (I, II, V).
• Learn a variety of song repertoire for elementary classroom music and choral repertoire appropriate for developing secondary choral groups, church and community settings (I, V). 
• Be ready to assume a teaching/leadership position in K-12 music education, church, and community music programs (I, II, V, VII, VIII).