Overview of the Vocal Studies Program
The Vocal Studies Program of East Carolina University provides excellence in vocal training at the undergraduate and graduate levels, offering the BM and MM degrees.
Vocal students have opportunities to perform as soloists, in the choral ensembles, and in the ECU Opera Theatre. The Opera Theatre presents one fully-staged opera a year, with orchestra and a scenes program in the alternate semester.
A thorough study of languages and repertoire, is taught by studying literary and musical genres, such as opera, art song, musicals and oratorio. Performing experience is meant to qualify students for significant further graduate study and to enable them to enter the profession. Students are also able to select from the following vocal concentrations: performance, sacred music, music education, music therapy, jazz studies and musical theater. Students in the music theatre concentration are expected to appear in the campus musical production of the music theater department. Students may also elect to minor in voice. Students who choose the voice concentration benefit from a study of voice, which prepares them for their chosen vocation.
OVERVIEW OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES:
For all degrees the curriculum includes: applied lessons, piano minor, diction courses, vocal pedagogy, performing ensembles, and a core of theory, history, conducting and orchestration. All majors have a requirement of a senior recital (performance has a junior recital as well). Voice performance majors additionally take solo vocal literature and opera history. Music education majors take in addition methods courses, music education professional courses and 2 semesters of student teaching. Sacred music majors have courses in choral literature, history, an internship and additional conducting. Music therapy majors take additional psychology courses and a curriculum of specific therapy courses. Jazz students take additional hours in jazz studies and pedagogy. Musical Theatre students have a curriculum of courses in theater and dance taken in the theater department. As the study of piano is an integral part of all voice curriculums, students interested in this major are encouraged to study piano formally prior to admission to ECU.
OVERVIEW OF GRADUATE DEGREES:
All graduate degrees require a graduate recital (or thesis), final project and oral examination.
Voice Performance prepares students for careers as performing musicians or studio teachers. Students study vocal pedagogy, solo vocal literature, diction, opera history. They are expected to participate in the opera and choral activities.
Voice Performance/Pedagogy prepares students for careers as performers/pedagogues. Students study vocal pedagogy, solo vocal literature, diction, opera history. They are expected to participate in the opera and choral activities. Students receive an MM in Performance/Pedagogy, vocal.
Accompanying prepares students for careers as accompanists. Students study vocal pedagogy, solo vocal literature, diction, opera history. They receive an MM Performance in accompanying.
Music Education prepares students to teach music in schools or other group settings from early childhood through adulthood. Students have two options: MAEd (leading toward licensure) and MM (no licensure).
Music therapy has been recognized as an allied health profession that enhances the client's quality of life, health, and wellness, and his or her ability to benefit from other special services and therapies. Students have two options: MM in Music Therapy (AMTA Certification required) and MM in Education (no licensure or certification).
Jazz Studies prepares students for careers as performing musicians in the field of jazz music. Students receive an MM in Jazz Performance.
Sacred music prepares students for vocations as church musicians. Voice students are prepared to work as conductor/singers. Students receive an MM in Performance in Sacred Music: Choral Conducting. Students have an internship with this degree and present a graduate choral conducting recital.
