Stagecraft for Singers

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject enables performers (singers and instrumentalists) to develop further their skills in relation to movement on stage and general presentation in performance. This will be relevant not only to singers of opera and musical theatre but also to those wishing to become involved in multi-media art forms where performance on an instrument is only one facet of a whole event.

Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Have an understanding and a good ability to use intention based- action playing.
• Use specific motivational techniques where necessary.
• Have confidence in spoken dialogue, whether in a libretto or on the concert platform.
• Modify their performance for different situations i.e., for audition, competition, concert platform or staged production.
• Move freely and convincingly around the stage when required.
• Understand and take physical direction from a director or theatre practitioner.
• Maintain a motivated and engaging performance standard whilst occupied with several artistic tasks on stage.
• To utilise specific tools to keep developing the art of convincing an audience that the performance is spontaneous and happening in the moment.

Continuous: Preparation and commitment as demonstrated by performance tasks an/or a regularly updated journal of activities embracing all areas studied (50%) - Hurdle requirement 80% attendance.

Formal: One performance/demonstration of approximately 15 minutes duration (50%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Exhibit extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of their discipline including relevant professional knowledge, skills, discipline and ethics as they relate to the practising musician
• Demonstrate an open and independent attitude towards contemporary cultural developments
• Demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the challenges for the professional musician in the 21st century
• Work at various levels, both individually and as a team member, in a wide variety of musical environments