Syllabi
Information For All Students
Additional Information For Butler University Private Students
Additional Information For Butler Voice Classes
Additional Information For University of Indianapolis Private Students
Additional Information For University of Indianapolis Voice Classes
Additional Information For Vocal Arts Institute (at North Central High School) Students
Information For All Students
What to bring to your lesson:
In order for a student to accomplish as much as possible, it is important that the student is prepared for a lesson. Please bring the following to every session:
Recording device
Pencil
Books and vocal exercises
Three-ring notebook with blank notebook paper
Practice
Ones growth as a singer and musician will develop in proportion to the amount of time spent developing the craft. It takes concentrated time and effort to establish proper techniques of posture, breathing, and resonance. A physical skill develops quicker and more consistently when it is repeated frequently. For this reason, I recommend an hour a day (for college students) or a half hour (for high school students) spent in the development of basic vocal skills. In addition to the time spent developing good vocalism the student must spend time each day learning music, working on pronunciation of foreign texts, reciting texts as poetry, and developing subtexts for songs.
At the beginning of each term, students will receive a list of repertoire for which they will be responsible by the end of term. Over the course of the term these works will be explored, where pronunciation of language, musical and poetic interpretation, and stylistic considerations of the works will be discussed.
Music Purchases
It is the student’s responsibility to purchase books and music necessary for their training. The books I use for voice class are general stock at Butler University and the University of Indianapolis bookstores. The Vocal Exercise tape that I require for all my students is on sale at the university bookstores as well. I recommend either of these places as the first place to shop. University students use these books for voice class and often sell them back to the bookstore. The bookstore will in turn sell them used. You may pay only half the original purchase price. This will be a great saving for you. I recommend that you call before making the trip to buy them to make sure they are in stock.
Butler University Bookstore-940-9228
University of Indianapolis Bookstore-788-3228
Music can also be purchased at Meridian Music (575-9588) Paige’s Music (577-3436). One can also purchase music over the Internet at Amazon.com or Borders.com.
Lesson /Class attendance
In the event of cancellation, I require a twenty-four hour notice from the student. I understand that in the case of illness, one is not always aware a day in advance. When you are ill, I would appreciate a telephone call (preferably before you miss the class or lesson) so that we can discuss the material missed and any additional homework assignments I may have for you. I will make every effort to reschedule lessons due to illness. If a student misses a class or lesson without an adequate excuse (forgetting to come etc.) the lesson will be forfeited and will not be made up. I the case of private students, payment will be expected in such cases.
There will be occasions when I will be out of town performing. I will provide students with a list of the classes or lessons that will be missed at the beginning of term. I will make up lesson that I miss.
Contact Information
Should you need to contact me, the best way is either calling me at home, or sending or by e-mail. Please refrain from calling after 10:00 PM. Below is my contact information:
Dr. Rickards’ (home telephone) |
(317) 252-4311 |
Dr. Rickards' cell phone |
(317) 414-8374 |
Dr. Rickards’ office telephone |
(317) 788-2109 (Univ. of Indianapolis) |
Dr. Rickards’ offices: |
Butler University-Lilly Hall, room 285
|
University of Indianapolis-Cristel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, room 129
|
Additional information for Butler University Private Students
Jury Requirements
During the jury exam the voice faculty will evaluate you. You will be responsible for singing two songs from your repertoire list from memory. The first song will be your choice, and the second will be the choice of the jury. It is important that you memorize your songs as we go along. Don’t wait until the end of term to memorize your songs. As your instructor, I can help you to sing better, but only you can memorize your music!
Repertoire Requirements for Private Students
Secondary Students
The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Majors and Principals
The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, German Lieder, French Melodie, operatic arias, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Accompanists
Majors and Principals
I would like vocal principals and majors to have an accompanist come to the second half of each lesson once we have reached a place when an accompanist is needed.
Secondary Students
Secondary students are not provided with an accompanist for their lessons. I will play for the majority of your lessons. I require secondary students to have an accompanist for their last three lessons prior to juries at the end of each term. A list of possible accompanists is posted on the bulletin board beside my office door. I would recommend that you arrange for your accompanist early in the term. Please do not wait until the last minute, or you will have trouble finding someone to play for you.
Music for Butler Private Students:
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
The Singing Book (Second Edition)
Meribeth Dayme/Cynthia Vaughn
W.W. Norton & Company (ISBN:13:978-0-393-93052-8)
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
(appropriate to voice-either medium high or medium low)
Sing Solo Sacred
Compiled by Neil Jenkins
Oxford University Press
(appropriate to voice –either high or low voice)
Gabriel Fauré 50 Songs
Edited by Laura Ward and Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
(appropriate to voice-either high or medium/low voice)
Franz Schubert 100 Songs
Edited by Steven Stolen and Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
(appropriate to voice-either high or low voice)
Musical Theatre Anthology Vol.1
Compiled by Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
(appropriate to voice type)
Additional information for Butler Voice Classes
Grades
Class participation/attendance
It is important that each student come to class ready to sing, listen and participate. Repertoire for the term will be introduced in class. We will begin singing each song on the repertoire list as a group. As the classes progress, our classes will be structured in a master class format, where each of you will be singing individually for the class. One can learn a great deal from listening and watching your colleagues being taught. During this process, I will ask students for their impressions and evaluations of their classmates. The evaluations will be presented in a positive and constructive manner.
The semester evaluation will be based on class attendance and musical and vocal progress made on weekly assignments. The final term grade will also be based on your final performance of the jury, which will happen at the end of the term.
Jury requirements
During the jury exam you will be evaluated by at least one other voice faculty member. You will be responsible for singing two songs from your repertoire list from memory. The first song will be your choice, and the second will be the choice of the adjudicator. It is important that you memorize your songs as we go along. Don’t wait until the end of term to memorize your songs. As your instructor, I can help you to sing better, but only you can memorize your music!
Repertoire Requirements
The student will learn five songs a term from memory each term. The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Music for Butler University Voice Classes:
Required for all students:
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
The Singing Book (Second Edition)
Meribeth Dayme/Cynthia Vaughn
W.W. Norton & Company (ISBN:13:978-0-393-93052-8)
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
(not required for the Theater Dept. Voice Class)
Musical Theatre Anthology Vol.1
Compiled by Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
(appropriate to voice type [S.A.T.B])
(required for Theater Dept. Voice Class)
Additional information for University of Indianapolis Private Students
Additional information for Private Students
Grades
Students will be evaluated every lesson. The weekly evaluation will be based on attendance at the lesson, and musical and vocal progress made on weekly assignments. The final term grade will be based on daily lesson grades and the jury grade.
Majors are required to attend the weekly master class on Fridays at noon. Attendance will be taken, and a grade will be given based on attendance and participation.
Departmental Recital
All music majors (with the exception of first semester freshmen) are required to perform on a departmental recital each term. Please sign up for your departmental each term with Holly Garmon in the music office.
Jury requirements
Each term there is a jury exam where you will be evaluated by the voice faculty. In the exam, you will be responsible for singing two (of either five or eight) songs from your repertoire list from memory. The first song will be your choice, and the second will be the choice of the jury. It is important that you memorize your songs as we go along. Don’t wait until the end of term to memorize your songs. As your instructor, I can help you to sing better, but only you can memorize your music!
Repertoire Requirements for Private Students
Secondary Students
The student will learn five songs a term, three of which will be from memory and prepared for the jury at the end of term. The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Majors
The student will learn eight songs a term, five of which will be from memory and prepared for the jury at the end of term. The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, German Lieder, French Melodie, operatic arias, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Lesson Cards
Over the course of the term each student is guaranteed fourteen lessons. Students sign a lesson card for each lesson they take.
Make-up lessons
It is the policy of the university that in the event of cancellation, the instructor receives a twenty-four hour notice from the student. In the case of illness, one is not always aware a day in advance. In such cases I will make every effort to reschedule the lesson. If a student fails to show for a lesson without a prior notice, the lesson will not be made up. This lesson policy will be the same for make-up lessons as it is for regularly scheduled lessons.
There will be occasions when I will be out of town performing. At the beginning of each term, I will provide a make-up schedule. It will be placed on the studio door. The schedule will list the days I am available to give make-up lessons. It is your responsibility to sign up for a time slot. If you are a major (and have an hour lesson each week) you need to sign up for an hour lesson on each of the listed makeup days. If you are a secondary (and have a half hour lesson a week) you need to sign up for either a half hour or an hour slot that will equal the total number of half hour make-up lessons.
Accompanists
Please refer to the student handbook regarding the necessary steps to be followed in obtaining an accompanist. I would like vocal principals to have an accompanist come to the second half hour of each lesson. Secondary students are not provided with an accompanist for their lessons. I will play for the majority of your lessons. I require secondary students to have an accompanist for their last three lessons prior to juries at the end of term.
Music for University of Indianapolis Secondary Level Students:
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
The Singing Book (Second Edition)
Meribeth Dayme/Cynthia Vaughn
W.W. Norton & Company (ISBN:13:978-0-393-93052-8)
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
(appropriate to voice-either medium high or medium low)
Sing Solo Sacred
Compiled by Neil Jenkins
Oxford University Press
(appropriate to voice –either high or low voice)
Music for University of Indianapolis Majors:
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias (appropriate to voice-either medium high or medium low)
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
Sing Solo Sacred (appropriate to voice –either high or low voice)
Compiled by Neil Jenkins
Oxford University Press
Gabriel Fauré 50 Songs (appropriate to voice-either high or medium/low voice)
Edited by Laura Ward and Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
Franz Schubert 100 Songs (appropriate to voice-either high or low voice)
Edited by Steven Stolen and Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
Musical Theatre Anthology Vol.1 (appropriate to voice type)
Compiled by Richard Walters
Hal Leonard
Additional information for University of Indianapolis Voice Classes
Grades
Class participation/attendance
It is important that each student come to class ready to sing, listen and participate. Repertoire for the term will be introduced in class. We will begin singing each song on the repertoire list as a group. As the classes progress, our classes will be structured in a master class format, where each of you will be singing individually for the class. One can learn a great deal from listening and watching your colleagues being taught. During this process, I will ask students for their impressions and evaluations of their classmates. The evaluations will be presented in a positive and constructive manner.
The semester evaluation will be based on class attendance and musical and vocal progress made on weekly assignments. The final term grade will also be based on your final performance of the jury, which will happen at the end of the term.
Jury requirements
During the jury exam you will be evaluated by at least one other voice faculty member. You will be responsible for singing two songs from your repertoire list from memory. The first song will be your choice, and the second will be the choice of the adjudicator. It is important that you memorize your songs as we go along. Don’t wait until the end of term to memorize your songs. As your instructor, I can help you to sing better, but only you can memorize your music!
Repertoire Requirements
The student will learn five songs a term from memory each term. The repertoire will include selections from the following genres: folksong, English and American art song, Early Italian song, sacred selections (appropriate weddings and church services) and selections from the American Musical Theater tradition.
Books for University of Indianapolis Voice Classes
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
The Singing Book
Meribeth Dayme/Cynthia Vaughn
W.W. Norton & Company (ISBN:13:978-0-393-93052-8)
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
Additional Information for Vocal Arts Institute Students (at North Central High School)
The Vocal Arts Institute
The Vocal Arts Institute is an out-reach program sponsored by the Community Music Center at the University of Indianapolis. Through this program students are able to take lesson during the school day. Entry intro the program is at the discretion of the student’s school music instructor.
Lesson Scheduling
Many of my students will receive lessons North Central High School. These students will be taken out of their choir class or study hall. The lessons will be half the length of a class period.
It is not possible to teach all of the students who request lessons during the school day. A number of pupils take lessons after school at North Central. I also teach in the evenings at The University of Indianapolis, Butler University, and at my home.
Number of Lessons and Cost
The cost for the lessons is $230 per term.
Each student’s term of lesson is “floating,” or not running in tandem with the school calendar. This means that the individual student’s term begins with his or her first lesson, and ends with lesson ten.
The ten lessons will be taught weekly over the course of the fourteen-week school term. This four-lesson gap allows for student illness, changes in the school schedule and my performing obligations. If for some reason a student doesn’t complete their lessons in a given school term, the lessons will be made up at the beginning of the next school term, before the second set of ten lessons begins.
In many instances, I am able to teach more lessons than the initial ten. In such instances I am prepared to teach the student extra lessons to finish out the school term. The university will then bill you for the additional lessons taught (pro-rated) at the end of the term.
Lesson Cards
The students sign a lesson card for each lesson they take. This offers protection for both the student and teacher. Using this method, there is never any doubt concerning the number of lessons taken.
Make-up Lessons
The University of Indianapolis observes a twenty-four hour cancellation policy. In certain cases, (accidents, illness), one is not always aware a day in advance. In such cases, I make every effort to reschedule the lesson. If a student fails to show for a lesson without a prior notice, there will be a charge for the lesson.
If there is adequate lead-time before the missed lesson (more that 24 hours) it is often possible to switch lesson times with another student to avoid missing their weekly lesson.
There will be occasions when I will be out of town performing. I will provide you with my away dates as soon as I receive them.
Registration and Payment
It is now possible to register for lessons on line at the following address: http://music.uindy.edu/cmc/registration.php
The administrator for the Vocal Arts Institute is Mary Katherine Davis. Mary Katherine will register students for our program, provide information concerning the various payment schedules, and answer any questions you may have regarding our program. You can reach Mary Katherine through University of Indianapolis Music Department at 788-2109 or by e-mail(davism@uindy.edu). By sending your payment to the following address can pay your bill:
University of Indianapolis Department of Music
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697 (Att. Mary Kathrine Davis)
Practice
The high school student’s schedule can be punishing with its many academic demands and social activities. To this end, it may be difficult for a student to find time to practice every day. Ones growth as a singer and musician will develop in proportion to the amount of time spent developing the craft. One will develop vocally if the techniques of posture, breathing, and resonance are employed every day in your choral class. If one spends an additional half hour a day practicing, the vocal development will be quicker. A physical skill develops faster and stronger when it is repeated frequently. I would recommend at least thirty minutes a day of vocal practice.
Music:
Vocal Arts Institute students will use the following books in their training:
Vocalises Vol.1 (medium voice)
B. Lütgen
G. Schirmer, Inc.
The Singing Book
Meribeth Dayme/Cynthia Vaughn
W.W. Norton & Company (ISBN:13:978-0-393-93052-8)
Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias
Compiled and edited by John Glenn Paton
Alfred Publications
Musical Theatre Anthology Vol.1 (appropriate to vocal classification)
Edited by Richard Walters
Hal Leonard Publications
Auditions, Contests, and Competitions
Competitions and contests offer the student a marvelous venue to practice their skills as a performer. For those students considering the pursuit of music in college, contests and competitions provide tremendous opportunity to present their college audition material.
They also provide audition experience for those who are interested in community theater productions. I encourage all of my students to participate in ISSMA District and State competitions. I often recommend that my more advanced students participate in the Prelude Awards; a competition sponsored by the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. These competitions take place at the beginning of the second semester. It is important that students practice over the Christmas break in order to be on their top form for their competitions.
Accompanists
Students are responsible for finding their own accompanist for competitions and contests. I have provided a list of accompanist on my “teacher” web page. All of the accompanists listed on this page have agreed to accompany my students if they are available. They will all expect to be paid for their services. Please feel free to call or e-mail them directly.