OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

Musical Theatre BFA

Goal
Vocal Proficiency - Musicianship
Each musical theatre student will acquire the knowledge and the vocal skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency and artistry necessary to success in both the academic and professional worlds.

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.  This will be followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Vocal Juries Assessment
Vocal juries show that 80% of the students scored above average on musicianship in vocal juries.

Action
Juried Assessment-voice
Each semester musical theatre students will be assessed during juries by faculty in the area of vocal performance in musical theatre

Goal
Dance Proficiency - Basic Technique
Each musical theatre student will acquire the knowledge and dance skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency and artistry necessary to be successful in both the academic and professional worlds.

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.This will ne followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Dance Jury Assessment
Students showed improvement in all areas from Fall'14 to jury in Spring '15. During Fall '14 juries there was a 50% improvement overall.  In Spring'15 there was an overall 85% improvement in all areas.

Action
Juried Assessment 2
Each semester musical theatre juries will be assessed during juries by faculty in the musical theatre area.

Goal
Acting Proficiency
Each musical theatre student will acquire the knowledge and the acting skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency and artistry necessary to be successful in both the academic and professional worlds.

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.This will be followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Acting Juries Assessment
Musical theatre majors showed a marked improvement from Fall '14 to Spring '15 acting juries.  During Fall '14 87% showed improvement.  During Spring'15 96% of the students showed increaded proficiency in all areas.


Action
Juried Assessment-Acting
Each semester musical theatre students will be assessed during juries by faculty in acting in the area of theatre and musical theatre

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. This will be followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Dance Jury Assessment-execution Of Combination 1
Musical Theatre students increased in proficiency of execution of dance combinations in fall '14 to 50%.  In Spring '15 there was a marked improvement to 90%. 

Action
Juried Assessment 2
Each semester musical theatre juries will be assessed during juries by faculty in the musical theatre area.

Goal
Vocal Proficiency - Technique
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.This will be followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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 Juries Assessment - Technique
Musical Theatre students increased in proficiency of vocal technique in fall '14 to 70%.  In Spring '15 there was a marked improvement to 85%.

Action
Juried Assessment-voice
Each semester musical theatre students will be assessed during juries by faculty in the area of vocal performance in musical theatre

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. This will ne followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Vocal Juries Assessment-artistry
Musical Theatre students increased their skills in artistry in vocal performance from 75% in Fall '14 to 93% in Spring '15


Action
Juried Assessment-voice
Each semester musical theatre students will be assessed during juries by faculty in the area of vocal performance in musical theatre

Action
Juried Assessment 2
Each semester musical theatre juries will be assessed during juries by faculty in the musical theatre area.

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. This will be followed up by a self assessment interview with the student.

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
Vocal Juries Assessment-voice Characteristics
Musical Theatre students increased their proficiency in voice characteristic in Fall '14 from 68% to 85% in Spring '15. Vocal training is diverse among those accepted into musical theatre. New students in particular have varying levels of training and ability.  During the first semester of each school year new students spend considerable time working on and attempting to apply the basics.  There is a large upsurge in proficienct in spring semesters.

Action
Juried Assessment-voice
Each semester musical theatre students will be assessed during juries by faculty in the area of vocal performance in musical theatre


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement The sophomore gate has proved valuable since it allows an indepth discussion with students about their progress as well as their needs.  The Platform Performance seems to also be very effective as it creates a venue in which students learn through practice and performance how to function musically as an effective member of an ensemble.  We will continue with both.

Plan for continuous improvement Ongoing assessment of musical theatre students by theatre, dance and musical theatre faculty will continue. Juries are a vital component of that assessment process.  The newly added sophomore gate has proved valueable as it allows discussion of strength and needs of the student. Additional assessment will continue on an as needed basis for all classifications of students.