Voice Studio
Class, Non-Majors, & Majors
The voice faculty at Hinds CC is devoted to providing a comprehensive training program to students with an emphasis on technique and performance practice. Whether students intend to pursue performance, music education, music industry, or sacred music, the faculty will guide the student to a level of technical and artistic competence that will provide a strong foundation for these careers. Additionally, the faculty instructs dedicated avocational singers who desire to increase their musicianship, vocal technique, and artistry.
Vocal Study at Hinds CC is taught on a variety of levels based upon the needs and development of the student. Some students begin vocal studies in class voice and progress to private lessons as technical facility and musicianship develop. Voice Majors and Choir Scholarship students are required to enroll in voice lessons.
- Class Voice
- Group Voice Lessons
- Private Voice Lessons for Elective Students
- Private Voice Lessons for Music Majors
Students who wish to take voice lessons should contact Mr. Andrew Head or Dr. Mandy Spivak to schedule an audition appointment. In addition, all voice majors are required to participate in choir, chamber choir and/or clefs.
Please keep in mind that instructors may not be available for summer appointments. Please call when scheduling appointments outside the regular fall and spring semesters.
Audition Requirements
- Submit all applications on Future Students page
- Submit a Music Major Application
- 2 songs of contrasting styles
- Contact Mr. Head or Dr. Spivak for other requirements
Class Voice
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of singing and to elementary to moderate levels of vocal literature in a group setting. Students study vocal technique, musicianship, performance skills, language/diction, and audition technique.
The instructor will determine how many songs are studied per semester, and students are required to memorize them for performance. Foreign language is not required. Two solo selections will be performed in a final voice jury.
Prerequisite: None
Elective (non-major/secondary) Voice
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of vocal technique and to elementary to moderate levels of vocal literature. Students study vocal technique, musicianship, performance skills, language/diction, and audition technique.
Students are required to memorize a minimum of four songs per semester. More selections may be studied. Two selections will be performed for a grade in a final voice jury.
Prerequisite: Permission of Voice Faculty
Music Industry Voice Majors
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of vocal technique and to elementary to moderate levels of vocal literature. Students study vocal technique, musicianship, performance skills, language/diction, and audition technique.
Vocalises (vocal exercises) and songs in numerous styles will be studied. Students are required to memorize a minimum of five songs per semester. More selections may be studied. One selection in a foreign language is required. Two selections will be performed for a grade in a final voice jury.
Prerequisite: Permission of Voice Faculty
Voice Majors
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of vocal technique and to elementary to moderately advanced levels of vocal literature. Students study vocal technique, musicianship, performance skills, language/diction, and audition technique.
Elements studied will include, but are not limited to: posture and anatomy, breathing and energy control, resonance and focus, diction and language, imagery and interpretation, and more.
Vocalises (vocal exercises) and songs in numerous languages and styles will be studied. Students are required to memorize a minimum of five songs or arias per semester. Two of these must be in a foreign language. Previously studied literature will not fill this repertoire requirement. A performance in Recital Class is required each semester. All five selections will be performed in a final voice jury at the end of the semester.
Prerequisite: Permission of Voice Faculty
FAQs
Students at Hinds Community College receive a thorough and individualized music education from a team of dedicated teaching faculty at an extremely affordable cost. Located in the picturesque Jackson Prairie, Hinds is the largest community college in Mississippi and provides an excellent education in a variety of academic and technical fields. Additionally, Hinds offers the student the option to live on campus for a more traditional college experience.
Any student admitted to Hinds Community College may declare music as his or her major. That student may enroll for music major classes such as music theory. If the student is sufficiently prepared to begin serious study of singing, the student will be enrolled in private voice lessons for music majors. If the faculty feels that student must address vocal or musical deficiencies before enrolling in voice as a major, that student may opt to enroll in class voice or an elective voice lesson until those deficiencies have been addressed.
We hold two sets of scholarship auditions, one in one in February, and one in March. In April, the entire faculty comes together to make scholarship decisions; we hope to tell you as early as possible after that and certainly by the end of the month.
Music major scholarships are available up to the amount of full tuition.
If you have a teacher preference, we will do our best to accommodate your request; otherwise, the student will be placed with the instructor best suited for the student based on his or her audition.