Each musical theatre student will acquire the vocal skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Vocal Technique
Each student will demonstrate, through a juried performance, proficiency in vocal technique relative to flexibility, breath support, diction, registration shifts, intonation, and control.
Indicator
Musical Theatre End Of Semester Vocal Assessment
Each musical theatre student is required to complete a juried vocal performance. The juries consist of Theater and Musical Theatre faculty.The performance is evaluated using a 100 point departmental rubric (attached). A final, comprehensive score representing the evaluation of all vocal areas of proficiency is determined.
Criterion
Vocal Proficiency Standards
Scores resulting from the end of semester juries are categorized as 95-100= Excellent; 90-94= Above Average; 80-89= One or more area need development; 70-79= Below Average. As a unit, the department considers above average proficiency by 90% of students to be a success.
Finding
Vocal Technique Success
Students met the challenge of having 90% score above average. The remaining students met for feedback individually with their vocal coaches to receive coaching related to flexibility, diction, breath support, registration shifts, intonation, and control.
Action
Proven Methods
The Musical Theatre faculty have found that individual sessions allow for the most benefit to students when being coached on control, intonation, registration shifts, diction, breath support, and flexibility.
Goal
Vocal Proficiency - Artistry
Each musical theatre student will acquire the vocal skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Artistry
Each student, through a juried performance, will demonstrate proficient artistry in vocal performance. Specifically, students will be evaluated on communication of text, playing objectives, acting, and personality/type.
Indicator
Musical Theatre Juried Vocal Assessment
Each musical theatre student is required to complete a juried vocal performance. The juries consist of Theater and Musical Theatre faculty. The performance is evaluated using a 100 point departmental rubric. A final, comprehensive score representing the evaluation of all vocal areas of proficiency is determined.
Criterion
Vocal Standards
Scores resulting from the end of semester juries are categorized as 95-100= Excellent; 90-94= Above Average; 80-89= One or more area need development; 70-79= Below Average. As a unit, the department considers above average proficiency by 90% of students to be a success.
Finding
Ninety Percent Success
90% of students met the target criterion. The remaining 10% met with vocal coaches in a one-on-one situation to receive coaching regarding communication of text, play objectives, personality/type, and acting.
Action
Voice Artistry
Vocal coaching with students regarding their personality/type, their acting skills, and communication of text has met with much success and will be ongoing.
Goal
Vocal Proficiency - Voice Characteristics
Each musical theatre student will acquire the vocal skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Voice Characteristics
Each student, through a juried performance, will demonstrate prficient voice characteristics. Specifically, they will be evaluated on quality, evenness of registration, and belt range.
Indicator
Musical Theory Juried Assessment
Each musical theatre student is required to complete a juried vocal performance. The juries consist of Theater and Musical Theatre faculty. The performance is evaluated using a 100 point departmental rubric. A final, comprehensive score representing the evaluation of all vocal areas of proficiency is determined.
Criterion
Voice Characteristics Standards
Scores resulting from the end of semester juries are categorized as 95-100= Excellent; 90-94= Above Average; 80-89= One or more area need development; 70-79= Below Average. As a unit, the department considers above average proficiency by 90% of students to be a success.
Finding
Voice Characteristics Success
We were pleased that 90% met the target. However, to give appropriate feedback, vocal coaches met individually with students to provide feedback regarding their voice quality, registration evenness, and belt range.
Action
Ongoing Feedback
Our experience is that individually delivered feedback is the most effective in helping students with specific voice characteristics, particularly belt range, registration, and quality.
Goal
Vocal Proficiency - Musicianship
Each musical theatre student will acquire the vocal skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Musicianship
During a juried performance, the student's proficiency in musicianship will be evaluated relative to rhythm, tempo, dynamics, musical sensitivity, and appropriate styling choices.
Indicator
Musicianship Juried Assessment
Each musical theatre student is required to complete a juried vocal performance. The juries consist of Theater and Musical Theatre faculty. The performance is evaluated using a 100 point departmental rubric. A final, comprehensive score representing the evaluation of all vocal areas of proficiency is determined.
Criterion
Musician Criterion
Scores resulting from the end of semester juries are categorized as 95-100= Excellent; 90-94= Above Average; 80-89= One or more area need development; 70-79= Below Average. As a unit, the department considers above average proficiency by 90% of students to be a success.
Finding
Musicianship Success
We are delighted that 90% of our students reached the criteria of above average. Those who did not meet the criteria met invidually with vocal coaches to work on rhythm, tempo, dynamics, musical sensitivity, and styling choices.
Action
Individual Feedback
Vocal coaching on an individual level seems to be best in helping students improve musicianship related to musical sensitivity, rhythm, tempo, and style.
Goal
Dance Proficiency - Basic Technique
Each musical theatre student will acquire the dance skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Basic Technical Dance Skills
During a juried performance, the student's proficiency in basic technical dance skills will be evaluated. These skills include subsets of techniques from ballet, tap, jazz, modern and lyrical.
Indicator
Dance Musical Theatre Combined Jury
All musical theatre majors are required to complete a combined jury focusing on a combination of three areas: voice, acting, and dance. At the jury, the student is taught one or two new dance combinations of different genres during the jury session and are required to perform those combinations with a minimum of rehearsal. Students' dance proficiency is evaluated on a 1 to 5 scale on each combination by each judge. Judges discuss scores and come to a holistic determination about the students' proficiency and where improvement may be needed.
Criterion
95% Of Meet Dance Proficiency Standards For Musical Theatre
Individual student's jury performance is either accepted or rejected based on the actual score and the improvement in score from previous juries. We expect at least 95% of Musical Theatre students to meet this benchmark.
Finding
85% Success
Only 85% of students were judged as accepted. The remaining 15% met individually with their dance instructors to gain feedback regarding techniques including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical.
Action
Individual Meetings
The individual meetings with instructors are imperative for students to become aware of their strengths and weaknesses so they become proficient in lyrical, modern, jazz, tap, and ballet dance techniques.
Goal
Dance Proficiency - Execution Of Combinations
Each musical theatre student will acquire the dance skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Execution Of Combinations
During a juried performance, the student's proficiency in combination execution will be evaluated. Students are evaluated on use of space, energy, expressiveness and stylistic choices while performing a piece introduced during the jury session.
Indicator
Dance Musical Theatre Jury
All musical theatre majors are required to complete a combined jury focusing on a combination of three areas: voice, acting, and dance. At the jury, the student is taught one or two new dance combinations of different genres during the jury session and are required to perform those combination with a minimum of rehearsal. Students' dance proficiency is evaluated on a 1 to 5 scale on each combination by each judge. Judges discuss scores and come to a holistic determination about the students' proficiency and where improvement may be needed.
Criterion
95% Of Students Will Be Judged As Accepted
Individual student's jury performance is either accepted or rejected based on the actual score and the improvement in score from previous juries. We expect at least 95% of Musical Theatre students to meet this benchmark.
Finding
90% Success
90% of students were judged by the jury to be acceptable. Those not making the target criterion met with their dance instructors one-on-one regarding performances and received specific instruction and feedback in the areas of use of space, energy, expressiveness, and stylistic choices.
Action
One-on-One Discussions With Instructor
Personal discussions between students and instructors have been found to provide the most efficient feedback to students regarding their stylistic choices, expressiveness, energy, and use of space.
Goal
Acting Proficiency
Each musical theatre student will acquire the acting techniques necessary to demonstrate proficiency through a juried performance.
Objective
Musical Theatre Majors Will Demonstrate Proficiency In Character Development
During a juried performance of a pre-prepared monologue, the student will demonstrate proficiency in character development including effective movement, playing objectives, textual clarity, and vocal energy.
Indicator
Acting - Musical Theatre Combined Jury
All musical theatre majors are required to complete a combined jury focusing on a combination of three areas: voice, acting, and dance. At the jury, students prepare two contrasting monologues ( each 1min to 1.5 mins in length ) for the jury session and are required to display proficiency in character development including effective movement, playing objectives, textual clarity, and vocal energy. Students' acting proficiency is evaluated on a 1 to 5 scale on each monologue by each judge. Judges discuss scores and come to a holistic determination about the students' proficiency and where improvement may be needed.
Criterion
95% Must Meet Acting Proficiency Standards
Individual student's jury performance is either accepted or rejected based on the actual score and the improvement in score from previous juries. We expect at least 95% of Musical Theatre students to meet this benchmark
Finding
Monologue Results
90% of students met the targeted criterion and were acceptable. For those unable to achieve the criterion, individual meetings with acting coaches were arranged to help the individual student with the movement, objective, clarity, and energy issues.
Action
Acting Coaches
Individual feedback discussions between students and acting coaches have proved effective in helping students work on effective movement, their objectives for playing the role, textual clarity, and vocal energy.