“Awaken people’s curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark.” Anatole France
Teaching and Learning Plan for Fall 2013…
1. I would like to develop and foster a mentor-ship program that would pair singers from first and fourth years to enrich the experience of the new students while providing an opportunity for the more experienced students to share their knowledge about what lies ahead in and out of the school environment. I would host a meet-and-greet with those students at the beginning of the year.
2. Workshops are an invaluable hands on method to let professionals in the city share information with our students. I would introduce new sessions that cover the technical aspect of how different types of microphones work and the understanding of how to effectively use classroom mixing boards.
3. For the first time next year I will be bringing in artists like Dianne Reeves or Theo Bleckman into the classroom via skype. This session called a Fire-Side Chat, would compliment my master class and allow the students to interact and discuss issues related to singing with musicians around the world in an intimate setting.
4. Specific teaching initiatives for next fall in my master class will include doing a full unit on how to effectively rehearse the Rhythm section, chart writing assignments done in groups focusing on intros, interludes and endings and a special unit in collaboration with Steve Mancuso dealing with improvisation, the rhythmic subtleties of scat singing and how the syllables used can help to shape and define one’s approach and sound.
5. In my Creative Development courses I feel the one major improvement on the existing structure would be to clarify the various criteria expected to be addressed at the performance by designing a much more specific final recital proposal template.
6. I will augment the available ensemble options open to vocalists by working with the other faculty members to establish two new performance groups. A gospel choir and a small R+B/Soul ensemble will definitely broaden the range of styles to be studied at the college.
7. Private Voice Lesson content is always flexible dependent on the student but next year I will revamp content by putting more emphasis on sight singing, rhythmic reading and conducting. Lesson assignments will align better with the themes discussed in the master classes and 3rd and 4th year students will spend more time respectively focusing on recital repertoire and original content.
1. I would like to develop and foster a mentor-ship program that would pair singers from first and fourth years to enrich the experience of the new students while providing an opportunity for the more experienced students to share their knowledge about what lies ahead in and out of the school environment. I would host a meet-and-greet with those students at the beginning of the year.
2. Workshops are an invaluable hands on method to let professionals in the city share information with our students. I would introduce new sessions that cover the technical aspect of how different types of microphones work and the understanding of how to effectively use classroom mixing boards.
3. For the first time next year I will be bringing in artists like Dianne Reeves or Theo Bleckman into the classroom via skype. This session called a Fire-Side Chat, would compliment my master class and allow the students to interact and discuss issues related to singing with musicians around the world in an intimate setting.
4. Specific teaching initiatives for next fall in my master class will include doing a full unit on how to effectively rehearse the Rhythm section, chart writing assignments done in groups focusing on intros, interludes and endings and a special unit in collaboration with Steve Mancuso dealing with improvisation, the rhythmic subtleties of scat singing and how the syllables used can help to shape and define one’s approach and sound.
5. In my Creative Development courses I feel the one major improvement on the existing structure would be to clarify the various criteria expected to be addressed at the performance by designing a much more specific final recital proposal template.
6. I will augment the available ensemble options open to vocalists by working with the other faculty members to establish two new performance groups. A gospel choir and a small R+B/Soul ensemble will definitely broaden the range of styles to be studied at the college.
7. Private Voice Lesson content is always flexible dependent on the student but next year I will revamp content by putting more emphasis on sight singing, rhythmic reading and conducting. Lesson assignments will align better with the themes discussed in the master classes and 3rd and 4th year students will spend more time respectively focusing on recital repertoire and original content.