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Vocal Music
Vocal Music
The NOCCA Vocal Music Department accepts talented students who have an aptitude and interest in pursuing vocal music. The Vocal Music Curriculum is designed to develop the student’s vocal technique, performance skills, and musicianship by focusing on classical vocal repertoire and technique in order to build a solid vocal foundation, which can then serve as a basis for future collegiate musical study in a variety of genres. Classes include Voice Class (vocal technique and repertoire), Music Theory, Musicianship (ear training and sight singing), Piano Class, Opera Workshop and Choral Ensemble.
Audition Requirements
Students currently in 8th-11th grades may apply for the Half-Day Arts Conservatory (9-12 Grade)
Each applicant will:
- Upload to the application a 1-2 minute video of the applicant answering the question, “Why do I want to train at NOCCA?”
- Upload to the application a copy of the most recent report card. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA.
- Be prepared with the email of an adult who is not related to you to complete your recommendation. Your recommender will receive an email from Acceptd with a link to fill out a recommendation form online.
At the live in-person audition, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes, you will be asked to:
- Demonstrate a singing voice with potential by singing one prepared and memorized song from the following list:
- Any Italian art song from the 24 Italian Art song book (G. Shirmer). We recommend Caro mio ben or Sebben crudele for beginning students.
- One of these songs: “Danny Boy,” “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes”
- Two verses of a hymn
- A traditional spiritual
No other song genres are permitted. Some of these songs are linked below for download. Please bring the sheet music in your key for our accompanist to play for you at your audition. You must sing with our piano accompanist- no a capella singing, please. Please dress nicely for your audition and memorize your audition piece
- Demonstrate the ability to match pitches and melodies that will be played for you on the piano.
- Repeat clapped rhythms (example available in link below).
- Sing a major scale ascending and descending.
- Be able to discuss with the Vocal Music faculty your grades and your desire to explore Vocal Music at NOCCA.
- Demonstrate basic music sight-reading skills involving simple rhythmic and melodic sequences (An example of the sight singing may be downloaded from the link below)
- Answer basic music theory questions.
- Read aloud a short poem in English that will be given to you at the audition.
Click here for clapped rhythm and sight singing examples, and click here for song examples.