Course overview
All students will participate in a Music Education Choir/Ensemble, in which students will develop their singing, instrumental, ensemble and direction skills in a two hour weekly rehearsal. In Seminars students will explore the essential pedagogical principles underpinning professional standard choir/ensemble direction and rehearsal. They will explore core pedagogical repertoire that supports the sequential building of skills in student choirs/ ensembles, and will establish their own resource files of musical materials suitable for a variety of ages and ability levels. Students will be given opportunities to direct the choir/ensemble as well as to arrange music in a variety of styles. They will broaden their knowledge of varied genres of music as typically used in the profession, such as classical, jazz, pop, calypso, gospel and folk. Teaching methods that can maximise motivation, progress, concentration and focus within choral and instrumental ensembles will be discussed and explored in class.
Course learning outcomes
- Exhibit technical and musical skills that, through accuracy, fluency and stylistic awareness, illustrate a strong and maturing conceptual and interpretative understanding of the student's instrument and chosen repertoire.
- Exhibit effective practising strategies which arise from independent, imaginative and creative approaches to problem solving including the use of contemporary technologies.
- Manifest critical understanding of the performance standards required for professional endeavour and an ability to assess one's own performances and those of fellow musicians
- Exhibit professional standards of choir/ensemble conducting and direction
- Establish a broad level of knowledge of resource material and repertoire used in pedagogical choir/ensemble/band rehearsals and performances