The Vocal Studies Program at The Collective is designed for the vocalist/musician.

Courses focus on developing the student in the areas of vocal technique, vocal performance in important styles and genres, musicianship, and practical professional skills and knowledge.

The Vocal Studies Program is divided into six 10-week quarters of study. The first four quarters cover the basics of musicianship, exposure to important musical styles, and the opportunity to gain experience rehearsing and performing in a live band setting. Semesters five and six give each student the opportunity to apply what they have learned, in the live performance arena as well as the recording studio. Each student produces six original or cover songs for use in their own professional and promotional material.


Vocal Studies – Quarter 1

Level 1
 (14 Credits) (128.5 Contact Hours)

This course is designed as the Collective’s entry-level course of study, and focuses on developing the rudimentary technical and musicianship skills required for further study, as well as an introduction to the ensemble performance and the study of Classic Rock repertoire.

This program includes the following courses:

Musicianship 1: (9 class sequence – 13.5 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Keyboard 1 and introduces the basic theoretical concepts and skill sets required for every well trained musician, and applies them in a direct and immediate way to the keyboard. Course work covers rhythm and pitch notation, scales, key signatures, practical aspects of lead sheet notation, and chart writing.

Keyboard 1: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Musicianship 1 and begins the study of keyboard technique with an emphasis on developing basic chromatic and major scale and chord performance skills.

Sight Singing/Ear Training 1: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work on a wide range of sequential material, including aural comprehension of basic pitch and rhythmic elements, and single line and part singing in a variety of keys, meters, and musical settings.

Styles Prep: Rock/Traditional R&B: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is preparation for the Style Rhythm Section Class. Students work with their teacher, who is a specialist in the styles being studied, repertoire, as well as stylistic and performance considerations of the styles.

Styles Rhythm Section: Rock/Traditional R&B: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students perform the prepared styles with a professional rhythm section. Each performance is critiqued by the course instructor and band members.

Semester-End Recital: (1 class – 2 contact hours)
All students in the vocal performance program participate in the semester-end vocal recital. Students are able to select and rehearse pieces to be performed at this event.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course gives students the opportunity to perform together in a wide variety of styles and settings, while developing the skill sets required to work on the highest levels of recorded commercial and live performance vocal music. Each subsequent semester deals with different aspects of this challenging lucrative field.

Weekly Vocal Technique Private Lessons: (9 class sequence – 9 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor as well as their principle teacher and advisor. Students meet with this teacher on a weekly basis, usually starting in week 2 of the semester. Course focus is, in part, preparing for the weekly Real Deal Rehearsal.

Real Deal Rehearsal: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students “lead” an ensemble of professional musicians and are expected to be able to communicate effectively on a musician-to-musician basis, using material they have prepared, in advance, in other classes.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the weekend, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.


Vocal Studies – Quarter 2

Level 2 (14 Credits) (128.5 Contact Hours)

This program continues the work done in semester I and includes the following courses:

Musicianship 2: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Keyboard 2 and continues the music theory and ear training sequence, focusing on major scale and triadic chord progressions. Course work covers rhythm and pitch notation, scales, key signatures, practical aspects of lead sheet notation, and chart writing.

Keyboard 2: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Musicianship 2 and continues the study of keyboard technique with an emphasis on mastering all the major scales and simple triadic chord progression skills.

Sight Singing/Ear Training 2: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work on a wide range of sequential material, including aural comprehension of basic pitch and rhythmic elements, single line and part singing in a variety of keys, meters, and musical settings.

Styles Prep: Traditional R&B (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is preparation for the Style Rhythm Section Class. Students work with their teacher, who is a specialist in the styles being studied, on repertoire, stylistic and performance considerations of the styles.

Styles Rhythm Section: Traditional R&B (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students perform the prepared styles with a professional rhythm section. Each performance is critiqued by the course instructor and band members.

Semester End Recital: (1 class – 2 contact hours)
All students in the vocal performance program participate in the semester-end vocal recital. Students are able to select and rehearse pieces to be performed at this event.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course gives students the opportunity to perform together in a wide variety of styles and settings, while developing the skill sets required to work on the highest levels of recorded commercial and live performance music. Each subsequent semester deals with different aspects of this challenging lucrative field.

Weekly Vocal Technique Private Lessons: (9 class sequence – 9 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor as well as their principle teacher and advisor. Students meet with this teacher on a weekly basis, usually starting in week 2 of the semester. Course focus is, in part, preparing for the weekly Real Deal Rehearsal.

Real Deal Rehearsal: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students “lead” an ensemble of professional musicians and are expected to be able to communicate effectively on a musician-to-musician basis, using material they have prepared, in advance, in other classes.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the week end, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.


Vocal Studies – Quarter 3

Level 3
 (14 Credits) (128.5 Contact Hours)

This program continues with the work done in the semester 2, and includes the following courses:

Musicianship 3: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course coordinates with keyboard 3 and continues the music theory and ear training sequence, focusing on mastering the major scales, and diatonic chord progressions in all the major keys. 7th chord structures are introduced in this course. Course work covers rhythm and pitch notation, scales, key signatures, practical aspects of lead sheet notation, and chart writing.

Keyboard 3: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Musicianship 3 and continues the study of keyboard technique with an emphasis on mastering all the major scales and simple triadic chord progression skills, as well as introducing 7th chord structures.

Sight Singing/Ear Training 3: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work on a wide range of sequential material, including aural comprehension of basic pitch and rhythmic elements, single line and part singing in a variety of keys, meters, and musical settings.

Styles Prep: Jazz Standards: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is preparation for the Style Rhythm Section Class. Students work with their teacher, who is a specialist in the styles being studied, on repertoire, stylistic, and performance considerations of the styles.

Styles Rhythm Section: Jazz Standards: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students perform the prepared styles with a professional rhythm section. Each performance is critiqued by the course instructor and band members.

Semester End Recital: (1 class – 2 contact hours)
All students in the vocal performance program participate in the semester-end vocal recital. Students are able to select and rehearse pieces to be performed at this event.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course gives students the opportunity to perform together in a wide variety of styles and settings, while developing the skill sets required to work on the highest levels of recorded commercial and live performance music. Each subsequent semester deals with different aspects of this challenging lucrative field.

Weekly Vocal Technique Private Lessons: (9 class sequence – 9 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor as well as their principle teacher and advisor. Students meet with this teacher on a weekly basis, usually starting in week 2 of the semester. Course focus is, in part, preparing for the weekly Real Deal Rehearsal.

Real Deal Rehearsal: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students “lead” an ensemble of professional musicians and are expected to be able to communicate effectively on a musician-to-musician basis, using material they have prepared in advance in other classes.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the week end, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.


Vocal Studies – Quarter 4

Level 4
 (14 Credits) (128.5 Contact Hours)

This program continues with the work begun in the semester 3, and includes the following courses:

Musicianship 4: (9 class sequence – 13.5 contact hours)
This course coordinates with Keyboard 4 and completes the 4-course musicianship sequence, focusing on 7th chord construction and blues progressions. Course work covers rhythm and pitch notation, scales, key signatures, practical aspects of lead sheet notation, and chart writing.

Keyboard 4: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course completes the 4-course keyboard sequence. The focus of this course is on 7th chord progressions including the blues progressions.

Sight Singing/Ear Training 4: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work on a wide range of sequential material, including aural comprehension of basic pitch and rhythmic elements, single line and part singing in a variety of keys, meters, and musical settings.

Styles Prep: Contemporary R&B/Pop: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is preparation for the Style Rhythm Section Class. Students work with their teacher, who is a specialist in the styles being studied on repertoire, stylistic, and performance considerations of the styles.

Styles Rhythm Section: Contemporary R&B/Pop: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students perform the prepared styles with a professional rhythm section. Each performance is critiqued by the course instructor and band members.

Semester End Recital: All students in the vocal performance program participate in the semester-end vocal recital. Students are able to select and rehearse pieces to be performed at this event.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course gives students the opportunity to perform together in a wide variety of styles and settings, while developing the skill sets required to work on the highest levels of recorded commercial and live performance vocal music. Each subsequent semester deals with different aspects of this challenging lucrative field.

Weekly Vocal Technique Private Lessons: (9 class sequence – 9 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor as well as their principle teacher and advisor. Students meet with this teacher on a weekly basis, usually starting in week 2 of the semester. Course focus is, in part, preparing for the weekly Real Deal Rehearsal.

Real Deal Rehearsal: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students “lead” an ensemble of professional musicians and are expected to be able to communicate effectively on a musician-to-musician basis, using material they have prepared in advance in other classes.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the weekend, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.


Advanced Vocal Studies – Quarter 5

Level 5
 (14 Credits) (124.5 Contact Hours)

The Advanced Vocal Studies Program is an intensive period of study, which focuses on musicianship skills, style performance competencies, and professional performance experiences. This is the first part of this two-part program.

This program includes the following courses:

Musicianship 5: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students in this course work on refining their aural skills. Course work includes advanced sight-singing, transcription and transposition work.

Keyboard/Guitar Songwriting 1: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is the first of two courses focusing on the basics of practical keyboard and or guitar self-accompaniment for vocalists.

Four Class Recording Sequence 1

Recording Prep: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work with the faculty coordinator to select material and look over arrangements for the upcoming rehearsal and recording cycle. This teacher also acts as the student’s principle teacher and advisor.

Band Rehearsal: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students rehearse material to be used in their final demo package.

Recording: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students record with a live rhythm section the material they have selected and rehearsed.

Overdubbing/Mixdown Session: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students continue to work with the project engineer to overdub and mix down the material recorded in the previous recording session.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students in the advanced program who have completed the 6-semester sequence of this course, may opt to take an elective class in its place.

Weekly Vocal Coaching Private Lessons: (9 class sequence – 9 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor and helps them select and prepare material to be used in the 4-class performance sequence.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the weekend, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.


Advanced Vocal Studies – Quarter 6

Level 6
 (14 Credits) (124.5 Contact Hours)

The Advanced Vocal Studies Program is an intensive period of study, which focuses on musicianship skills, style performance competencies, and professional performance experiences. This is the second part of this two-part program.

This program includes the following courses:

Musicianship 6: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students in this course work on refining their aural skills. Course work includes advanced sight-singing, transcription and transposition work.

 

Keyboard/Guitar Songwriting 2: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
This course is the second of two courses focusing on original song composition and the basics of practical keyboard and/or guitar self-accompaniment for vocalists.

Four Class Recording Sequence 2

Recording Prep: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students work with the faculty coordinator to select material and look over arrangements for the upcoming rehearsal and recording cycle. This teacher also acts as the student’s principle teacher and advisor.

Band Rehearsal: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students rehearse material to be used in their final demo package.

Recording: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students record with a live rhythm section the material they have selected and rehearsed.

Overdubbing/Mixdown Session: (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students continue to work with the project engineer to overdub and mix down the material recorded in the previous recording session.

Vocal Ensemble: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students in the advanced program who have completed the 6-semester sequence of this course, may opt to take an elective class in its place.

Weekly Vocal Technique Private lessons: (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
Students are assigned a private teacher who acts as their vocal technique instructor. Advanced students have the option of taking an elective class in place of these lessons.

Daily Individual Practice Time: Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the week end, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.