Vocal performance majors are required to complete a minimum of two credits of Class Piano or Secondary Piano, as assigned. The adviser may approve Secondary Piano based upon the student's prior piano study. Students study at their own pace until target proficiencies are acquired and must pass a 10-minute proficiency examination, which is scheduled at the end of the semester in which the student and his or her instructor feel that the student is prepared. Students who enter with no piano background may require more than two semesters to attain the target proficiencies. After the proficiency examination is passed, students may elect further study in piano by advisement, paying the elective study private instruction fee.
In the satisfaction of foreign language requirements, vocal performance majors will normally take Italian 101 and 102, German 101 and 102, and French 101 and 102. High school study in any of these languages does not replace these courses. A student may, however, take the university's Modern Language Test, and, if placed out of 101 or 102 level in a given language, will be permitted to substitute academic electives for the missing language credits.
An evaluation by the vocal performance faculty to determine acceptability for admission to junior level courses will take place during the third semester jury.
Students must complete 240 crew hours of production work in order graduate.
In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a fee for each dance class taken at The Catholic University of America. Contact the Departments of Music for applicable fees.
Coaching is available for undergraduate vocal performance majors by request, for one semester hour of credit only, and only in the semesters in which the junior and senior recitals are scheduled. Exceptions require the permission of the vocal division head. For this coaching, students pay the elective study (higher) private instruction fee.
If it becomes necessary for a vocal performance major to take more than one set of vocal performance lessons in a given semester, all lessons must be taken with the same instructor. Students are not permitted to study for credit with two different vocal performance instructors in any given semester, with the exception of "open studio" lessons.
MUS 337, 420, 420A, 472A, and 472B are offered on a rotational basis, and students may take these courses out of the sequence listed, if necessary.
Music elective credits, when used as substitutes for music course credits, must be satisfied by MUS courses. Private instruction (MUPI) may not be used.
In order for MUPI credits to count toward the degree, a jury is required.
Each vocal performance major is expected to audition for all opera productions and actively participate as assigned by the vocal division. This may entail specific roles or participation in opera chorus as needed.