Musical Theatre Program

ChiArts Musical Theatre Program Graduation Requirements & Course Descriptions

CHIARTS MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

The Musical Theatre Performance Program is designed to train actors in a wide range of skills, techniques and experiences that provide a broad overview of theatrical performance, practice, history and literature. The overall arc of the program is to begin by establishing a foundation in the first year, moving into progressively more challenging work in years two and three, and finally exploring each students unique artistic voice in the final year. As this is a new program, it is understood that this arc and the specific courses listed below may change as the school, the program and the students develop. However, the end goal remains to provide a high level of instruction and experiences that prepare students for further study at the college level or entrance into the professional.

MUSICAL THEATRE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Acting I/II/III/IV 4
Dance I/II/III/IV 4
Vocal Techniques 4
Chorale 2
Music Theory 1
Musical Theatre History 1
Theatre Production 1
Keyboard 1
Elective 1
Professional Development 1
TOTAL 20

1st Year – Foundations

Vocal Techniques I
In this progression of courses, students will lay a lifetime foundation of healthy vocal habits. The class will cover exercises that develop posture, breath management, production of sound in the three vocal registers (head, passagio, and chest), diction, and musical expression. Students will also study vocal literature to actively apply these concepts.

Music Theory
Upon completion of a music theory test, students will be placed in one of the following sections for Music Theory.

Music Theory Fundamentals
This course is for students with no previous experience in reading and writing music. It will introduce students to treble and bass clefs, rhythmic notation, simple meters, intervals, the construction of major and minor scales, key signatures, and triads. Aural recognition of these musical elements also will be a significant component of this course.

Music Theory I
This course is designed for students who demonstrate mastery of the material covered in Music Theory Fundamentals. It will introduce students to chord inversions, seventh chords, chord progressions, basic Roman numeral analysis, the function of non-chord tones, modulations, and compound meters. Aural skills training will continue to develop the student’s accuracy in identifying intervals and chords at increasingly sophisticated levels and will also include sightsinging and dictation.

Chorale
This performing ensemble is for Vocal and Music Theatre majors. The group will explore choral literature from all periods and styles. Rehearsals will actively reinforce the concepts of good breathing, vocal tone production and diction, as taught in the Vocal Techniques curriculum. It is anticipated that Chorale will give a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participate in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Dance I – Ballet
The fundamentals of Classical Ballet technique. Barre-work teaches the basics of working in a turned out position, stretching and pointing the feet, proper alignment of the body, and strengthening the muscles of the legs and torso. Students are expected to achieve an extraordinary level of self-discipline and physical control with correct body placement and alignment.

Acting I
Using improvisation as a basis for the fall semester, students will explore a connection to the self and their ensemble. They will begin with exercises and techniques developed by Viola Spolin to explore and heighten their connection to sensory life, environment and relationship in order to develop their creativity, imagination and understanding of human behavior. They also will develop skills related to scenic objectives, listening, impulse, problem solving, physical and verbal communication and given circumstances. Building on the work of the fall, students will begin to work with text (existing and self-generated) such as monologues and short scenes in the spring semester. They will be expected to take all the skills they have developed in the first half of the year and to begin to apply them to the text.

2nd Year – Realism & Musical Theatre pre-1960s

Keyboard Skills
Students will develop strength and agility of all fingers and independent coordination of the two hands. Reinforcing the material taught in Music Theory Fundamentals, the class will incorporate tonic-dominant chords and major scales. The skill of note reading will also be emphasized. By the end of this class, students will be able to play simple right hand melodies accompanied by block chord or arpeggiated harmony in the left hand.

Vocal Techniques II
A continuation of the first year’s study with the addition of repertoire from the musical theatre canon up to the 1960s.

Chorale
A continuation of the first year’s course.

Dance II – Jazz
The fundamentals of jazz dance technique in diverse styles (lyric, blues, hip hop, and Broadway) with a focus on musicality and the ability to move through space.

Acting II
One semester of scene study and acting techniques with a focus on 19th and 20th century realism, and one semester of musical theatre scene study with a focus on material up to the 1960s.

3rd Year – Contemporary Musical Theatre

Acting III
One semester of scene study and acting techniques with a focus on contemporary material, and one semester of musical theatre scene study post 1960s.

Vocal Techniques III
Further exploration of vocal music techniques including repertoire from the musical theatre canon post 1960s.

Musical Theatre History & Literature
A survey of the history of musical theatre production, practices and literature.

Dance III – World Dance
An exploration of dance from different cultures such as Hip Hop, West African, Latin Dance, Classical Indian Dance.

Theatre Production
An overview of theatrical production, basic stagecraft and design.

4th Year – Artistic Voice and Preparation

Acting IV
An exploration of an original musical theatre or cabaret work created, developed and produced by the students.

Vocal Techniques IV
Further exploration of vocal music techniques including repertoire from contemporary popular music.

Elective
An opportunity for students to explore other areas. Classes may include Musical Improvisation, Theatre History (non-musical), Social Dance and Independent Study.

Dance IV – Tap
The fundamentals of tap dance technique.

Professional Development
Preparation for college auditions and/or entrance into the profession including an overview of the business of musical theatre performance and audition preparation.