German Language for Opera 1

This subject is not offered in 2014.

60 hours.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students will study the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the German language in order to fully convey the emotional expression of operatic singing to ensure a clearer understanding by the audience. Students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of phonetics and phonology of German through the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as an ability to correctly configure the oral tract to produce the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants in order to ensure an accurate representation and performance of the German language as required of professional opera performers. The study of German will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will also undertake the study of the basic structures of German to develop their ability to fully appreciate operatic text.

On completion of the subject, students will be able to:

• demonstrate foundation level skills in the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the German language in operatic performance
• demonstrate understanding and application of the general principles of the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the German language in opera production relevant to their roles within a fully professional opera company
• demonstrate a basic knowledge of the stylistic conventions and the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants of German in relation to the opera repertoire
• demonstrate a beginning understanding of the major features of the phonetics and phonology of German, and its representation using the International Phonetic Alphabet
• demonstrate a familiarity with the basic structures of the language
• demonstrate the capacity to understand basic written and spoken texts in German

50%: Continuous assessment of language based work including written and oral production.

20%: Phonetic transcription exercises (up to four).

30%: Final performance and annotated write up.

Adams, D. (2007), A Handbook of Diction for Singers: Italian, German, French, Second Edition (OUP)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:
• demonstrate the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
• demonstrate skills in evaluative thinking, and in the application of theoretical / analytical criteria to practical outcomes; and
• demonstrate analytical skills in the context of artistic performance.