Students at MWSU receive specialized training in the use of their voices, performance practices and musicianship. Six highly skilled teachers and performers on the voice faculty are committed to the professional and personal welfare of the student.

Students have many opportunities for performance and concert attendance. Guest artists are brought in for one and two-day residencies for master classes, recitals, lectures and informal discussions. Students gain poise and skill in performance in studio, student and senior recitals.

Vocal auditions, competitions and membership in professional musical organizations are available. Opportunity to perform in musical theater productions and opera workshops are also provided.

Many of our students attend and participate in regional, state and national conventions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Teachers National Association and Music Educators National Conference. They benefit from the many excellent concerts, workshops and master classes by nationally recognized artist/teachers.

In addition to college scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, practicums and financial assistance are available through many area and local churches who look to the Vocal Studies Area for section leaders, soloists and conductors for church choirs.

MWSU vocal alumni have become successful classroom and studio teachers, church musicians and professional performers. Many have successfully completed advanced degrees.

Vocal Pedagogy
The voice faculty is comprised of active and experienced performers and place great emphasis on preparing the student as performer and teacher. Foundations in Singing I and II provide the freshman voice major with the fundamentals of singing, study of the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet and its application to Italian, German, French and English. Study of at least one foreign language is strongly encouraged in order to provide the student with a valuable tool for greater understanding of the music and poetry.

MUS 33402, Pedagogical Practices: Voice, serves as an introduction to studio teaching. It includes lecture-demonstrations, research, observation and supervised instruction of voice students who perform for the class in a studio recital at the end of the term. Students are also introduced to the use of the Computerized Speech Laboratory. With this preparation, there are opportunities to teach through the Midland Empire Community Arts [MECA] program, in music stores and private studios.

Faculty: David Benz, Sharon Gray, Leslie Heinz, Janice Ragland, Frank Thomas