Course Description
Fundamentals for singing in German, including symbols and sounds of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Applied elements included with special focus on the Lieder and opera.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to present more sophisticated
musical selections and will be graded more strictly on their
class presentations in accordance with their level of technical
and musical accomplishment . This will apply to their analyses
of listening assignments as well, which will be expected to be
in greater depth and detail. In addition, they will be required
to write a essay on the relationship between diction and vocal
production for the language they are studying.
Athena Title
GERMAN DICTION
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Permission of major
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of major
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
MUSI 4462/6462
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The student will be able to: *use and apply IPA to reading, pronunciation, and transcription in German; *describe articulators and their use in accurate and stylistic lyric diction; *demonstrate accurate and stylistic pronunciation both within and outside of a song or aria; *discuss physiological production of the proper vowel and consonant sounds.
Topical Outline
Topics will include: 1. Enunciation exercises; 2. Special features of German diction; 3. IPA transcriptions of songs and arias; 4. Drill sessions, both at the board and orally; 5. Preparation and performance of songs and/or arias in German; 6. Listening assignments and practice on selected musical examples.
Syllabus