Master of Music (Opera Performance)

This practicum is the start of a suite of subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum representing the foundational experience. 

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Students will study the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the Italian language in order to fully convey the emotional expression of operatic singing to ensure a clearer understanding by the audience. Students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of phonetics and phonology of Italian through the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as an ability to correctly configure the oral tract to produce the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants in order to ensure an accurate representation and performance of the Italian language as required of professional opera performers. The study of Italian will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will also undertake the study of the basic structures of Italian to develop their ability to fully appreciate operatic text and develop beginning conversational ability.

Students will study the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the French language in order to fully convey the emotional expression of operatic singing to ensure a clearer understanding by the audience. Students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of phonetics and phonology of French through the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as an ability to correctly configure the oral tract to produce the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants in order to ensure an accurate representation and performance of the French language as required of professional opera performers. The study of French will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will also undertake the study of the basic structures of French to develop their ability to fully appreciate operatic text.

Students will study the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the German language in order to fully convey the emotional expression of operatic singing to ensure a clearer understanding by the audience. Students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of phonetics and phonology of German through the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as an ability to correctly configure the oral tract to produce the speech sounds of the different vowels and consonants in order to ensure an accurate representation and performance of the German language as required of professional opera performers. The study of German will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will also undertake the study of the basic structures of German to develop their ability to fully appreciate operatic text.

This practicum is the second of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the second stage of development. 

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Students will continue their study of Italian phonetics, pronunciation, basic grammar (including the conjugation of verbs in the present, present perfect and past tenses), dictionary usage for literal translation of texts being prepared for operatic performances, and language coaching in the Italian operatic repertoire. This study of Italian language and diction will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will continue to develop their Italian language skills through a range of activities aimed at developing their writing, reading, speaking, listening and grammatical capacities.

Students will continue their study of French phonetics, pronunciation, basic grammar (including the conjugation of verbs in the present, present perfect and past tenses), dictionary usage for literal translation of texts being prepared for operatic performances, and language coaching in the French operatic repertoire. This study of French language and diction will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire.

Students will develop a body of knowledge that includes basic principles of physiology, anatomy and somatic learning (Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Classes), which are applicable to performing and teaching music performance. Students will receive thorough training in theoretical concepts and practical applications of human movement studies pertinent to a wide range of physiological concerns, ranging from both instrument-specific and general postural issues, to repetitive strain injury (RSI) prevention. Through understanding the underlying causes and the effects of habitual postural patterns, participants are challenged to consider new ways of thinking about the physical side of performing and teaching music performance.

This practicum is the third of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the third stage of development. 

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

Students will continue their study of Italian phonetics, pronunciation, grammar, a range of text types (including professional communication) and language coaching in the Italian operatic repertoire. This study of Italian language and diction will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will continue to develop their Italian language skills through a range of activities aimed at developing their writing, reading, speaking, listening and grammatical capacities.

This practicum is the final of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the capstone stage of development. 

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale capstone project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required of principal in an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

Students will be involved in further study of the pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation of the German language in order to fully convey the emotional expression of operatic singing to ensure a clearer understanding by the audience. This subject continues to develop students’ understanding of the phonetics and phonology of German and the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Students will hone their capacity to accurately and appropriately reproduce the speech sounds of German in a sung environment to achieve maximum effect and comprehension. This study of German language will be applied to specific role(s) that students may be undertaking in the operas being performed during the semester and/or to other operatic repertoire. Students will continue the study of the basic features of the German language.

Studies in Musicology is co-taught with honours level elective subjects. For subject options, please visit: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2017/!BH-MUS-SPC%2B1003

Studies in Musicology is co-taught with honours level elective subjects. For subject options, please visit: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2017/!BH-MUS-SPC%2B1003

This subject provides students with the tools and skills necessary to devise and conduct professional research in music at graduate level. Through group discussions and peer review sessions students will engage with the key principles of research and academic writing and apply them to a context relevant to them.

Students will be supported in defining and focusing their research questions, developing a critical summary of the literature, constructing an adequate conceptual framework, adhering to and meeting deadlines, and presenting their work persuasively, both in oral and written form. The main outcome will be a full research project that could potentially serve as the basis of an application for a graduate program.

This subject explores the holistic performance elements required by professional opera singers. Combining text analysis and movement principles, this subject is designed to build skills of dramatic interpretation and individual expression required for professional opera performance opera performance.

Students are encouraged to integrate imagination and physical skills with their vocal skills to develop characters and interpret text.

An extension of Acting for Opera Performance 1, Acting for Opera Performance 2 explores in greater depth the holistic performance elements required by professional opera singers. Combining text analysis and movement principles, this subject is designed to further build the skills of dramatic interpretation and individual expression required for professional opera performance. Students are encouraged to integrate imagination and physical skills with their vocal skills to develop characters and interpret text.