Columbia College

Music 39, Voice Class

John Carter, Instructor

Voice Lesson I

1) Choose your student and arrange a time and place for your first lesson.

2) Prepare ahead of time something easy for them to sing- either a sheet of vocal exercises (Set I) or something else and perhaps a very simple song with limited range (“My Country”?) In the beginning it is better to pick something you think is too easy and have a success than have too high of musical goals and be disappointed. Your main goal is to help them understand and produce with their voice some basic vocal skills; it is not to “teach them a song.” Prepare at the keyboard if you have limited piano skills; learn the piece in low medium and high keys if you can or prepare a basic I IV V accompaniment to go with the tune.

3) The main focus of the time spent together should be giving them basic information and helping

them to apply it to their singing production. You are probably safe in planning one objective (support?) Prepare 4 or 5 images or exercises that you could perhaps use to get your point across. Use your text to help you gain a vocabulary to communicate your concepts. Remember, you are listening in the lesson for results.

4) After the first lesson ask yourself the following self-evaluation questions and give the student the attached evaluation questions.

Self-Evaluation Questions

1) In 10 words or less tell what you were trying to have the student accomplish.

2) In what ways did you feel successful?

3) Where did you feel unsuccessful?

4) What would you do differently next time?

Voice Lesson I

Student Evaluation

Student Name

Please answer these questions as specifically and constructively as you can.

1) Was the objective of the teacher clear?

2) Did they stay focused on the objective until you noticed a difference?

3) Was the vocabulary they used meaningful or become meaningful to you by the end of the lesson?

4) Were there any activities that you could especially relate to and that helped you improve?

5) Consider how the lesson was run. Did you notice any strengths or weaknesses that need to be mentioned and that would encourage or instruct the teacher?

6) Other comments: