Vocal Performance
Requirements for the major can be found at Music - Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
Vocal performance majors are required to complete a minimum of two credits of Class Piano or Secondary Piano, as assigned. The adviser may approve Secondary Piano based upon the student's prior piano study. Students study at their own pace until target proficiencies are acquired and must pass a 10-minute proficiency examination, which is scheduled at the end of the semester in which the student and his or her instructor feel that the student is prepared. Students who enter with no piano background may require more than two semesters to attain the target proficiencies. After the proficiency examination is passed, students may elect further study in piano by advisement, paying the elective study private instruction fee. Students may not register for MUS 499VP (senior recital) until the proficiency exam has been passed.
In the satisfaction of foreign language requirements, vocal performance majors will normally take ITAL 101 and ITAL 102, GER 101 and GER 102, and FREN 101 and FREN 102. High school study in any of these languages does not replace these courses. A student may, however, take the university's Modern Language Test, and, if placed out of 101 or 102 level in a given language, will be permitted to substitute academic electives for the missing language credits.
An evaluation by the vocal performance faculty to determine acceptability for admission to junior level courses will take place during the third semester jury.
Students majoring in vocal performance are required to earn crew credits. They accrue one crew credit by working satisfactorily for a minimum of 60 hours on one or more mainstage productions or events in the School of Music, Drama, and Art. The work may include set construction, costume construction, light, sound, property, running crews, or other duties as assigned. Students must earn one crew credit for every year (or portion thereof) they are in the department. This amounts to 240 hours of work over four years. Transfer students must earn one crew credit for each year (or portion thereof) that they spend in the Department of Music Performance. Complete regulations are available in the student handbook which is available online and in the Main Office.
In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a fee for each dance class taken at The Catholic University of America. Contact the music office for applicable fees.
Coaching is available for vocal performance majors by request, for one semester hour of credit only, and only in the semesters in which the junior and senior recitals are scheduled. Exceptions require the permission of the vocal department area head.
If it becomes necessary for a vocal performance major to take more than one set of voice lessons in a given semester, all lessons must be taken with the same instructor. Students are not permitted to study for credit with two different voice instructors in any given semester, with the exception of "open studio" lessons.
MUS 337, MUS 420, MUS 420A, MUS 472, MUS 472A, and MUS 472B are offered on a rotational basis, and students may take these courses out of the sequence listed, if necessary.
Music elective credits, when used as substitutes for music course credits, must be satisfied by MUS courses. Private instruction (MUPI) may not be used.
In order for MUPI credits to count toward the degree, a jury is required.
Each vocal performance major is expected to audition for all opera productions and actively participate as assigned by the vocal performance area head. This may entail specific roles or participation in opera chorus as needed.