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Curriculum

BM, Vocal Performance: Contemporary Voice

Our 128 credit Contemporary Voice degree blends the study of voice with live performance. Curriculum covers movement, acting, dance and voice training by professionals from the New York performance community. 

The degree’s core requirements foster a deep understanding of the foundations of contemporary culture and scientific inquiry as well as expository writing as well as music history, theory and keyboard skills. Your studies also include specialized subject matter, such as voice concentration, hip-hop dance culture, concert management and business structure of the music industry.

Vocal workshops center around your recording and performance skills, vocal production and musicianship skills. Courses in stagecraft, business and speech/ diction are included, while electives in music technology, music business and music education are offered to diversify your future performance skill set. 

Contemporary voice students master the skills of communicating through song by studying song analysis and learning how the rhythm of the language plays a pivotal role in composing and performance. Opportunities to explore musical theatre, classical voice and contemporary ensembles are available to you via workshops, productions and concerts led by our industry professionals. 

Further training delves deeply into your vocal technique, vocal function, and the basics of vocal anatomy and physiology. All of this while learning that the best singing is a combination of your freely produced sound and personal need to communicate. Your degree culminates with a fully staged concert. You graduate with the necessary skills to pursue the performance category you are interested in.

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language
Select four credits of a foreign language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced Writing and Research4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Societies and the Social Sciences4
Select one of the following:4
Expressive Culture
Cultures and Contexts
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
Quantitative Reasoning4
Physical/Life Science4
Other Liberal Arts Requirements
MPATC-UE 1195Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs I2
MPATC-UE 1196Songwriting History and Criticism: 14 Songs II2
Select two of the following by advisement:4
MPATC-UE 1067
Music History I
MPATC-UE 1068
Music History II: Baroque & Classical
MPATC-UE 1077
Music History III
MPATC-UE 1078
Music History IV: Twentieth Century
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Specialization Requirements
Required Music Courses
MPATC-UE 1301Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 12
MPATC-UE 1312Theory & Practice II: Popular Music2
MPATC-UE 1333Advanced Theory & Practice: Non-Western Music2
MPATC-UE 1334Advanced Theory & Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age2
MPATC-UE 1302Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music1
MPATC-UE 1322Aural Skills II: Popular Music1
MPATC-UE 1343Advanced Aural Skills: Sight-Singing1
MPATC-UE 1344Advanced Aural Skills: Popular Music Transcription1
MPAPE-UE 72Keyboard Skills I1
MPAPE-UE 73Keyboard Skills II1
Vocal Performance Specialization Required Courses
MPAMB-UE 100Business Structure of The Music Industry3
MPAVP-UE 1152Vocal Prod for Singers2
MPAVP-UE 1111Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 221
Contemporary Voice Concentration Courses
MPAMB-UE 200Concert Management2
MPATE-UE 1022Rcdg Tech for Non Majors3
MPAVP-UE 1112Vocal Coaching 34
MPAVP-UE 1121Fundamentals of Performance1
MPAVP-UE 1168Introduction to Song Analysis2
MPAVP-UE 1181NYU Chamber Ensembles 41
Complete 4 credits of dance or movement, by advisement.4
Contemporary Voice Workshop Courses
MPATC-UE 1052Introduction to Songwriting2
MPAVP-UE 1251Contemporary Voice Workshop: Techniques I2
MPAVP-UE 1252Contemporary Voice Workshop: Studio Vocals Lab2
MPAVP-UE 1253Contemporary Voice Workshop: Live Performance Lab2
MPAVP-UE 1254Contemporary Voice Workshop: Business Skills Showcase2
MPAVP-UE 1255Contemporary Voice Workshop: Recording Capstone2
MPAVP-UE 1259Contemporary Voice Workshop: Phonetics for the Vocalist1
Unrestricted Electives
Select 16 Unrestricted Elective credits16
Total Credits128
1

Students are placed into this course through a placement exam.  Students who do not place into this course will first enroll in MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals. 

2

Students take 3 credits per semester for 7 semesters. 

3

Students take this 2-credit course twice for a total of 4 credits. 

4

Students take 1 credit per semester for 3 semesters for a total of 3 credits. 

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAVP-UE 1121 Fundamentals of Performance 1
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 2
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music 1
MPAPE-UE 72 Keyboard Skills I 1
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
MPAVP-UE 1152 Vocal Prod for Singers 2
MPAVP-UE 1181 NYU Chamber Ensembles 1
MPATE-UE 1022 Rcdg Tech for Non Majors 3
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
 Credits18
2nd Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAPE-UE 73 Keyboard Skills II 1
ACE-UE 110 Advanced Writing and Research 4
MPAMB-UE 100 Business Structure of The Music Industry 3
MPAVP-UE 1181 NYU Chamber Ensembles 1
MPAVP-UE 1168 Introduction to Song Analysis 2
MPAVP-UE 1259 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Phonetics for the Vocalist 1
MPATC-UE 1312 Theory & Practice II: Popular Music 2
MPATC-UE 1322 Aural Skills II: Popular Music 1
 Credits18
3rd Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPATC-UE 1052 Introduction to Songwriting 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
Dance 1
MPATC-UE 1333 Advanced Theory & Practice: Non-Western Music 2
MPATC-UE 1343 Advanced Aural Skills: Sight-Singing 1
Vocal or Choral Ensemble 1
MPAMB-UE 200 Concert Management 2
Electives (by advisement) 2
 Credits18
4th Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1251 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Techniques I 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
MPATC-UE 1334 Advanced Theory & Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age 2
MPATC-UE 1344 Advanced Aural Skills: Popular Music Transcription 1
Music History 2
Dance 1
Elective 2
 Credits14
5th Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAVP-UE 1252 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Studio Vocals Lab 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
Music History 2
Elective 2
Dance 1
 Credits14
6th Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAVP-UE 1253 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Live Performance Lab 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
Music History 2
Dance 1
Elective 2
 Credits14
7th Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAVP-UE 1254 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Business Skills Showcase 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
Music History 2
MPAVP-UE 1112 Vocal Coaching 2
Electives 4
 Credits17
8th Semester/Term
MPAVP-UE 1111 Vocal Training (Private Lessons) 3
MPAVP-UE 1255 Contemporary Voice Workshop: Recording Capstone 2
Liberal Arts Requirement 4
MPAVP-UE 1112 Vocal Coaching 2
Elective 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits128