Vocal and Drama Studies

      The first week of classes in Spoleto saw incredible artistic progress in each of the music and drama students. The choir continued to work with guest teacher, Elga, on classical and contemporary pieces that will be performed in the coming weeks. She helped the students to learn their voice parts in choir, sing fluid lines and phrases, pronounce Latin text correctly, and most of all, to sing with heart in every rehearsal. This week, we are excited to welcome back Terry Rhodes as choir director and vocal teacher.  

Additionally, both vocal and drama students have been working with Jack Zerbe in his acting workshop. Students have been applying dramatic concepts to their performance pieces, including  "focusing their energy," finding an objective, identifying obstacles, maintaining eye contact, communicating directly, creating a strategy, and performing with confidence. Jack has the class play fun, interactive games that embody these concepts and create scenarios in which the students must focus and work together. (See photos below).

In the coming week, students will continue to practice both solo and small ensemble pieces with Terry, Jack, and vocal coach, Angelo. On Friday we will host a performance class in which students will showcase their works for their fellow classmates. 

Elga directs the choir in singing "Ave Maris Stella" by Martini.

Jack's drama class plays a focusing game in which students
toss the ball to a target while avoiding a center obstacle. Each
player must maintain long-term focus to be ready to catch the ball.

Students play "red light, green light" to simulate a dramatic scenario in which one
must create a strategy to achieve a goal and respond to the other players. 

Students practice directing their energy to central point of focus while performing a vocal piece
or monologue.