University of Essex

EA117-4-FY-LO:
Music and Singing I

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: East 15 Acting School

Campus: East15 (Loughton) Campus

Term: Full Year

Level: Undergraduate: Level 4

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 27 June 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 11 April 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA W411 Acting,
BA W411MV Acting,
BA W83A Acting (International),
BA W441 Acting and Contemporary Theatre

Module description

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of good voice production and begin to acquire a sense of rhythm and aural awareness. You will be introduced to warm-ups and will develop the technical skills to progress to an increasingly demanding range of repertoire and emotional situations.

By the end of the module you will have acquired knowledge of vocal technique and an ability to begin the control of nerves in performance. You will have begun to understand the individual characteristics of your own voice and the appropriate care needed to maintain it. You will also have a basic working knowledge of music theory.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

Establish a daily warm up routine to keep the voice healthy and agile

Identify and critically analyse various singing styles and techniques

Begin to appreciate the role of music as an entity in theatrical performance

Understand the connection to be made between singing, music, movement, voice and acting in approaching song performance

Develop the ability to make objective criticism of vocal performance

Understand basic music theory

Start to adjust vocal approaches to the varied contexts in which they are working

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to desmonstrate:

Technical

Breathing (correct use of techniques)

Rhythm (feeling the pulse of the music)

Resonance and placement (intonation, free and unrestricted tone)

Physicality (posture, alignment, release)

Articulation (energised text, use of vowels and consonants)

Sung Material

Ensemble and small group singing

Ability to follow a vocal score

Solo song (demonstration of journey through song/communication)

Application of technical skills to support character through song

Development (ownership of voice, working though inhibition)

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

Students work with music and singing tutors in group practical classes.

Students will be expected to practise music and singing in independent study.

Formative verbal assessment and feedback from tutors at the end of Terms One and Two.

Written report with summative assessment and tutor's comments at the end of Term Three.

Bibliography

Merlin, B. (2014) The complete Stanislavsky toolkit. Rev. ed. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1725505.
Benedetti, J. (2008) Stanislavski: an introduction. 4th rev. ed. London: Methuen Drama. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=140700.
Benedetti, J. (1998) Stanislavski and the actor. London: Methuen Drama. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1576032.
Caldarone, M. and Lloyd-Williams, M. (2004) Actions: the actors’ thesaurus. London: Nick Hern. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5149866.
Toporkov, V.O. and Benedetti, J. (2023) Stanislavski in rehearsal. London: Routledge. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2348561.
Demidov, N.V. (2016a) Nikolai Demidov: becoming an actor-creator. Edited by A. Malaev-Babel and M.N. Laskina. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315621685.
Chekhov, A.P., Hercher, J. and Urban, P. (2011) Chekhov on theatre. London: Nick Hern. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5286985.
Davies, O.F. (2019) Performing Shakespeare: [preparation, rehearsal, performance]. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5965209.
Benedetti, J. (2005) The art of the actor: the essential history of acting, from classical times to the present day. London: Methuen. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1074537.
Demidov, N.V. (2016b) Nikolai Demidov: becoming an actor-creator. Edited by A. Malaev-Babel and M.N. Laskina. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Available at: http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315621685.
Annett, M. (2004) Actor’s guide to auditions & interviews. 3rd ed. London: A. & C. Black. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6160017.
Bishop, N. (2009) Secrets from the casting couch: on camera strategies for actors from a casting director. London: Methuen Drama. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=692114.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Practical	Continuous Assessment	50%
Practical	folk-song	10%
Practical	solo song term 3	30%
Practical	ensemble singing exercise	10%

Additional coursework information

Continuous assessment through observation of contribution to class work. (50%) Performance of devised folk-song in groups of approx. 4 students in term 2. (10%) Performance of solo song to a large audience in term 3. (30%) Performance of ensemble singing at the leavers’ ceremony in term 3. (10%) Assessment is based on the extent to which a student is able to demonstrate the above learning outcomes.

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Mr Neil Somerville, email: nasome@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Neil Somerville and staff

Contact details: East 15 Acting School Hatfields Campus Rectory Lane Loughton, IG10 3RY

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Ms Lucy Skilbeck

Name: Mr Michael Andrew Hayden

Institution:

Academic role:

Name: Ms Isobel Beatrice Pemberton

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: No lecture recording information available for this module.

Further information

Department website: East 15 Acting School

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Module Directory

EA117-4-FY-LO:Music and Singing I