MUSC 31400 - Commercial Applied Voice

Vocal study at the 30000 level in Commercial Voice is required for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Music in Commercial Music. Commercial voice study emphasizes healthy and sustainable vocal production across a range of popular styles and genres, including pop, rock, jazz, R&B, country, and other contemporary commercial idioms. Students will work toward technical mastery, stylistic fluency, improvisational flexibility, and stage performance skills that prepare them for the demands of today’s music industry.

Preparation for Course
P: Department permission required. Restricted to students admitted to a program in the School of Music.

Cr. 2.
Notes
May be repeated for credit.
Lab fee for material costs and studio maintenance.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Diagnose and refine breath, resonance, and register strategies to sustain healthy production in multiple styles; justify technical choices in relation to style and range.
2. Identify and perform repertoire from at least three contemporary genres (e.g., pop, R&B/soul, country, rock, jazz), demonstrating idiomatic diction, groove, ornamentation, and tone color; defend interpretive decisions.
3. Apply handheld/stand mic technique (distance, angle, proximity, plosive control), monitoring, and stagecraft; evaluate and adapt settings for room, band mix, and dynamics.
4. Create melodic embellishments, riffs, scatting/ad-libs, and rhythmic variations that fit harmony and groove; evaluate effectiveness and revise on a second take.
5. Plan and integrate musical ideas in solo and collaborative settings–entrances, cues, dynamics, BGVs/call-and-response, form tags–while justifying arrangement choices.
6.  Exhibit professional behaviors in rehearsal/performance/industry contexts–punctuality, prepared materials, score/track management, attire, feedback etiquette, basic contract & promo readiness.