Vocal Preparatory Program

Spring Schedule

Lessons begin: January 30

Tuition due: February 10

Make-up lessons: April 10 -15

Recital Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, April 12th, 4:30-5:45 pm

Recital: Saturday, April 15th, 2023 1 pm

(Rehearsal and Recital in Goranson Hall, Fine Arts Building, ISU Campus)

Eligibility

High-school students grades 9-12:
Preference will be given to those who are participants in their high school choral program.

Select Middle-school students age 12 and older:
Preference will be given to those students who are participants in their middle school choral program.

Voice Lessons

Beginner

Beginning voice lessons are designed for students who have had no previous private voice lessons and fewer than two years of participation in their school choral program. The basics of singing in tune, posture and breath, clear diction, and learning and performing a song from memory are addressed. Literature includes folk music, art song, and some musical theater selections specially curated for this level.

Intermediate

Intermediate voice lessons include those students who have had at least one year of private study, as well as two or more years of participation in their school’s choral program. Vocal technique goals would include aspects of breath control and refinement of tone and phrasing and elements of expressive performance. This level would involve the introduction of more advanced song literature, which might include a beginning Italian, German, or English art song.

Advanced

Advanced Intermediate voice lessons are reserved for students with two or more years of private voice study, as well as more than two years of participation in their school’s choral program. Other qualifications for this level would involve solo performing experience, including but not limited to: state solo contests; participation in a NATS or MTNA festival or adjudication; and participation in school or community musical theater productions. Literature assigned would increase technical mastery for breath control, resonance, range, and consistency. Appropriately challenging literature could include all forms of art songs in various languages along with selections from operetta and musical theater.

Cost

$185 per semester

This includes

10 half-hour lessons, ($16 per lesson)
$25 program fee which covers sheet music, program accompanist and program assistant

Tuition payment is due by Friday Febraury 10th.

Checks, made out to:
ISU Vocal Preparatory Program

Mail to:
ISU Music Department
921 South 8th Avenue
Stop 8099
Pocatello, ID 83209

Cash must be delivered to:
Music Department Administrative Assistant
ISU Fine Arts Building, room 204

Tuition

All students receive 10 lessons, a dress rehearsal and a recital performance. All lessons take place in the Fine Arts Building at Idaho State University. Lesson times are arranged directly with the assigned instructor.

A Vocal Preparatory Program accompanist will be provided four times during the semester: during two lessons, the recital dress rehearsal, during week 10, and at the recital on the afternoon of 11/19.

All instructors are select junior and senior voice majors in the music department at Idaho State University. They are supervised and observed by Professor Kathleen Lane (Preparatory Program director, voice and opera professor).

Mission Statement

The ISU Vocal Preparatory Program was founded to serve a dual purpose: To offer quality private voice instruction to students age 12+, and to provide ISU Voice majors the necessary and guided teaching internships that will ensure their professional success.

About the Program

Students will be evaluated by Professor Kathleen Lane, Director of the Vocal Preparatory Program, and will be matched with qualified ISU upper-division student vocal instructors. Lessons can be considered at a Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with repertoire provided to match the skill level of the student. Each teacher balances a traditional vocal method with various styles, which include musical theater, folk song, and art song. The type of song repertoire and difficulty level is chosen to match each students experience and skill level by the student instructor from the curated library compiled for young singers. Vocal preparatory participants receive instruction in vocal technique, skill development, and performance etiquette. All participants will perform as part of a Vocal Preparatory Recital, which serves as the Capstone project and final evaluation.

A weekly vocal pedagogy seminar is in place for ISU Vocal Prep instructors. Discussion questions, techniques, challenges and successes, are among the topics addressed. Feedback, problem solving and encouragement are provided by student colleagues and Professor Lane.