Voice Department: View a Typical Voice Student's Schedule

This page offers prospective students an idea of the voice curriculum and what classes they could expect to take were they to attend Berklee.

Required Courses for all voice principles:

• Berklee College Core Courses (ear training, harmony, arranging, etc.)
  
  
  
  AND
  
  
  

• Two of any Vocal Styles Labs
• Two of any Sight Reading Techniques Labs
• Elements of Vocal Technique

A typical voice student's first and second semester schedule would include:

• 1 Vocal Styles lab (pop/rock, R&B, or jazz) (.5 credit)
• 1 Sight Reading Techniques lab or Performance Skills for the Live Background Vocalist (.5 credit)
• 1 ensemble: either Rhythm Section Grooves (course supervised/taught by the Voice Department), OR a Rhythm Section /Vocal ensemble 1 credit
• 1 Private lesson (2.0 credits)

** If you have enough credits available first or second semester, other courses might include Elements of Vocal Technique, and Beginning Improvisation for Vocalists.

A typical voice student's third and fourth semester schedule would include:

• Advanced Vocal Performance Lab (1.0 credit)
• Elements of Vocal Technique (1.0 credit)
• Beginning Improvisation for Vocalists (.5 credit)
  
  OR
  

• Studio Techniques for the Lead and Background Singer (.5 credit)
  
  OR
  

• Advanced Performance Skills for the Background Singer (.5 credit)
  
• Vocal Sight Reading Techniques 2 or 3 or Adv. Sight Reading Tech. (.5 credit)
  
• Private lesson (2.0 credit)
  
• Ensemble elective (1.0 credit)

A typical voice student's fifth and sixth semester schedule would include:

• Advanced Vocal Performance Lab 2 (1.0 credit)
• Practice Skills for the Studio Singer (1.0 credit)
• Rehearsal Techniques for the Vocalist (1.0 credit)
• Private Lesson (2.0 credit)
• Ensemble elective (1.0 credit)

Performance Major/Voice Principle

If you are considering choosing Vocal Performance as your major, you should first make an appointment with the Chair or the Department Faculty Advisor. Department advisors:

• Jan Shapiro, Chair, Room 3N
• Bob Stoloff, Asst. Chair, Room 3M
• Charlie Sorrento, Faculty Advisor Room 3Y1

Required Courses:

• Berklee College Core courses (ear training, harmony, arranging, etc.)
  
  AND:

• Two of any Vocal Styles Labs
• Two of any Sight Reading Techniques Labs
• Elements of Vocal Technique
• Microphones, PA Systems, and The Singer
• Survey of Vocal Styles
• Advanced Vocal Improvisation Techniques
• Performance Ear training For Vocalists 1 and 2

A typical voice performance major's first and second semester schedule would include:

• 1 Vocal Styles lab (pop/rock, R&B, or jazz) (.5 credit)
• 1 Sight Reading Techniques lab or Performance Skills for the Live Background Vocalist (.5 credit)
• 1 ensemble: either Rhythm Section Grooves (course supervised/taught by the Voice Department), OR a Rhythm Section /Vocal ensemble (1.0 credit)
• 1 private lesson (2.0 credits)

** If you have enough credits available first or second semester, other courses might include Elements of Vocal Technique, and Beginning Improvisation for Vocalists

A typical voice performance major's third and fourth semester schedule would include:

• Advanced Vocal Performance Lab (1.0 credit)
• Elements of Vocal Technique (1.0 credit)
• Sight Reading Techniques 2, 3 or Adv. Sight Reading (.5 credit)
• Beginning Improvisation for Vocalists (.5 credit)
• Studio Techniques for the Lead and Background Singer (.5 credit)
• Microphones, PA Systems, and the Singer (.5 credit)
• Private lesson (2.0 credit)
• Ensemble elective (1.0 credit)

A typical voice performance major's fifth and sixth semester schedule would include:

• Advanced Vocal Performance Lab 2 (1.0 credit)
• Practice Skills for the Studio Singer (1.0 credit)
• Rehearsal Techniques for the Vocalist (1.0 credit)
• Private Lesson (2.0 credit)
• Ensemble elective (1.0 credit)
• Survey of Vocal Styles (2.0 credits)
• Private Lesson (2.0 credits)
• Recital Preparation Lesson (2.0 credits)
• Recital Preparation Lab (Fifth Semester)
• Vocal Course Electives

NOTE: During the 6th semester, performance majors are required to prepare and present a 10-minute performance to be observed by Voice Faculty

A typical voice performance major's seventh and eighth semester schedule would include:

• Private Lesson (2.0 credits)
• Recital Preparation Lesson (2.0 credits)
• Performance Ear Training 1 and 2 (2.0 credits)
• Advanced Vocal Improvisation Techniques (2.0 credits)
• Stage Performance Workshop (2.0 credits)
• Vocal Course Electives

NOTE: During the 7th semester, performance majors are required to prepare and present a 30-minute performance to be observed by Voice Faculty

8th semester performance majors perform a one-hour senior recital in a Berklee Recital Hall.