EA406-7-FY-LO:
Music and Singing
2025/26
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 26 June 2026
15
29 January 2026
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
EA601, EA602, EA603, EA604
(none)
MA W41012 Acting,
MFA W41020 Acting
The aim of the module is to develop students’ technique and confidence in song as a dramatic language. Students will first learn part-songs, rounds etc, singing in harmony and counterpoint in ensemble. The module enables the student to develop the fundamentals of good voice production (posture, breath, onset of tone etc.); a sense of rhythm and aural awareness; and the ability to recognise and employ various singing styles and technique in a dramatic context.
The module is focused on cultivating both the ability of the student to act through song and use song as an acting tool. Through learning, playing with, and performing solo, duet and group songs, the student actors will apply singing to, and integrate singing with, their acting training.
The aims of the module are:
- To develop technique and confidence in song as a dramatic language
- To develop voice production, rhythm and aural awareness, and an awareness of various singing styles.
- To cultivate the ability to act through song and use song as an acting tool.
- To select and prepare suitable material for audition purposes.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to demonstrate:
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 (energized text, use of vowels and consonants)
- Vocal health (understand the importance of, and demonstrate an ability to, regularly warm up the voice)
Sung Material
- Solo songs: a variety of styles, but not limited to; including; folk, historical; musical theatre , and pop/ rock
- Ensemble songs (unison and harmony singing)
- Connection (demonstration of dramatic journey through song)
- Duet: playing scenes in song with another actor
- Application of technical skills
- Development (ownership of voice, working through inhibition)
Term 1: Singing technique; folk songs: : Introduction to Acting Trough Song.
Term 2: Singing technique; Acting Through Song application; repertoire-building; direct contact songs (duets); songs to support the term’s acting projects.
Term 3: Solo Song as drama; integration of song into acting projects; audition preparation where appropriate.
This module will be delivered via:
- Practical classes.
- Workshops.
- Tutorials.
- Rehearsals.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Solo song (audience) |
|
50% |
| Practical |
Continuous Assessment |
|
50% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Colin Sell, email: casell@essex.ac.uk.
Colin Sell, Musica and Singing Tutors
For further information please email casell
No
No
No
Prof Anthony Dean
University of Winchester
Emeritus Professor
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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