Coaching

PAR 4. Piano Accompaniment and Opera Coaching (pianists, training)

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025:

ERASMUS students (STT) may choose a mobility of minimum 3 – maximum 6 months during the academic year 2024-2025

Content:

This module offers an entirely specific traineeship for piano accompaniment of voice and opera scenes, designed for pianists who consider a future in the world of opera by adding to their curriculum a first work experience in this various and challenging environment. Trainees will accompany singers on the piano in different settings:

  • singing lessons,
  • scenic interpretation lessons,
  • staging
  • preparation for exams and concerts and during public performances. This always under supervision of a tutor.

The goal is to improve the knowledge of opera repertoire and to practice the specific skills requested.

The trainee will receive weekly tasks from the coordinator of piano accompaniment.

A module for professional pianists who wish to broaden their knowledge of the operatic repertoire in compliance with all the specific attitudes. With a full immersion into Italian opera together with the opportunity to develop the best practice in Italian language applied to opera. To exercise, develop and improve their skills as a pianist in accompanying different voice parts.

Specialty of this module in comparison with other courses in Europe

A full immersion into Italian opera together with the opportunity to develop the best practice in Italian language applied to opera. Choice of repertoire (title and characters) according to student’s needs. Exchange and collaboration with other students of the Conservatory (from all over the world) working on the same repertoire.

A unique opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the rich operatic music culture of the territory, attending places of unique musical interest, within the Conservatory (Musical Section of Libreria Palatina, Boito’s Studio and Toscanini’s Studio) or the nearby of it (the Library of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Verdiani, the Museo dell’Opera, the Casa della Musica etc).

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Nicola Mottaran (Coordinator of Piano accompaniment) Fabio Ferrucci (Tutor)
  • Teaching staff  (Piano Accompaniment Teachers)  from the Singing and Music Theatre Department of the Conservatory.

Possible extras in addition to this module:

Upon request a little tour of the main “music treasures” of Verdi’s land: the birthplace of Verdi and Villa Sant’Agata, the Toscanini Museum, the world-renowned Teatro Regio, the beautiful Teatro Farnese (17th century), the Casa del Suono, etc. Opportunity to join Italian Course level A2+B1 in the first semester or English Course level B1 or B2 in second semester. October is the month of the Parma Verdi Festival. Facilities are offered to enrolled students who want to experience a show at the Teatro Regio and/or other planned locations.

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

1-5 (no max limit)

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module

  • Semester 200 hours (about 10 hours per week)

Number of ECTS within master accreditation

Depending on the effective number of hours.

Entrance examination:

Online examination through the Application, that needs to include

  • CV
  • Repertoire
  • Videos
  • Motivational letter (optional)

Final examination:

30-minute performance in piano accompaniment of voice (and/or opera scenes).

Teaching language/Required level of language

Italian (min A2 to be improved) and English (B2)

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included/excluded in this price

Erasmus students (SMS) only. No extra fees.

Deadline for applications:

  • 1st deadline: 30 April 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 October 2025

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 30 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 December 2025
By admin, ago

FLO 2. The Maestro Collaboratore (Vocal coach)

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025:

  • 01 February 2025 – 04 May 2025

Meet the Italian Belcanto tradition in the town that hosted the first operatic creation. An all-Italian experience on the operatic repertoire from Baroque to Verdi and Puccini. Piano accompanying lesson on style and technique, repertoire study with vocal coaches, Italian language and diction class, Opera class with acting and staging seminars, final concert with semi-staged performance of full operatic scenes.

Study repertoire:

  1. Two Opera vocal scores in Italian, from Mozart to Puccini
  2. A group arias in Italian, including recitativos and/or cabalettas, if present
  3. A group of Italian Art songs

Participants:

Pianist / vocal coach

Specialty of this module in comparison with other courses in Europe:

We give the participants the possibility to develop their skills as a vocal coach (maestro collaboratore). Our teachers and coaches have a long experience in the tuition of international students, as in our Vocal studies Faculty more than 50% of students are from all the continents. Being in Firenze (Dante’s home town) allows you to absorb the good “reference” Italian diction directly from the people you will meet in the street, as the Florentine language is the basis of the modern Italian language.

Name(s) of the professor(s):

  • Piano and Vocal Coaching Teachers: Andrea Severi, Antonella Bellettini, Ulla Casalini, Anna Toccafondi, Elisabetta Sepe, Daniela Freschi, Marco Bargagna, Elisabetta Sepe
  • History of Opera: Guglielmo Pianigiani
  • Art song practise/ Italian diction for coaches: Leonardo De Lisi

Possible extras:

  • Masterclass with renown singers and opera
  • Free entrance to rehearsals at Teatro del Maggio Musicale
  • A short programme (incl. city tour) concentrating on special ‘musical’ aspects of the city: Palazzo Pitti (where the first opera ever was staged in 1600, Peri’s “L’Euridice”), Accademia Bartolomeo Cristofori (historic pianos), Museo degli Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia,

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students:

1/6

Number of teaching / production hours:

Up to 20 hours/week

Number of ECTS within master:

3 months Module will award 24 ECTS

  • “Piano accompaniment lessons” 1-to-1 6 ECTS
  • “Repertoire practice lessons” 1-to1 3 ECTS
  • “Conducting techniques for opera coaches” 3 ECTS
  • “Italian Diction for singers/coaches” 3 ECTS
  • “History of Opera” 3 ECTS
  • “Art song practise” 6 ECTS

ONLY Erasmus mobilities for Studies or Traineeship from EOA partners will be accepted

Entrance examination:

Before 08 May, 2024, by email erasmus@consfi.it only:

  1. Please, send a link to a recent performance of yours (from not more than 1 year ago) including at least:
  • ONE piano solo piece of free choice or TWO Lieder (or Art Songs) accompanying a singer
  • ONE operatic aria or scene, accompanying a singer
  1. A brief curriculum and a complete list of studied operatic vocal score in Italian (only word or pdf file, please, or link to personal artistic website)

By May 15, 2024, candidates will receive a response about selection. If successfully selected, students will be required to confirm their choice before June 30.

Description of the final Examination:

  • Module: Semi-staged operatic scenes and recital with arias/songs in public concerts at the end of the module
  • Erasmus mobility : each class will award a note of evaluation by the teacher and ECTs

Teaching language/ Required level of language:

  • Italian (main)
  • English (secondary)
  • We require that EOA students have a minimum B1 Italian language level.

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included / excluded in this price:

Erasmus mobility: no tuition fee

ONLY Erasmus mobilities for studies or traineeship from EOA partners will be accepted

Contact person:

Prof. Leonardo De Lisi

e-mail: erasmus@consfi.it

By admin, ago

VAL 3. Repetiteur training (pianists)

(Title to be announced)

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025:

  • From 08 January 2025 to 15 April 2025 (Easter holidays from 29 March to 08 April 2025)

Description of the EOA module:

Specific training as repetiteur working in the preparation of a fully staged opera production (title to be announced).

This includes:

  • Attendance at individual Singing and Repertoire lessons of the cast. Vocal coaching
  • Language training
  • Musical rehearsals with the conductor and singers
  • Stage rehearsals with the stage director, the conductor and the singers
  • Chorus rehearsals with the chorus director

Kind of voice and role (Title and roles to be announced)

Speciality of this module in comparison with other courses:

Valencia is a major cultural centre and encourages immersion into the professional opera and music scene:  Palau de les Arts Opera House, concerts and presentations by major international musicians.

In addition, there are many events and festivals throughout the year (i.e. Las Fallas). With a rich history in modern architectural masterpieces (City of Arts and Sciences), Valencia’s deep, multicultural roots, cosmopolitan flavor, and warm climate to make it a true Mediterranean gem.

Also, Valencia is one of Spain’s (and Europe’s) most affordable cities for student accommodation.

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Singing: Gloria Fabuel, Carlos López Galarza, Pilar Moral, Amparo Quevedo, Ofelia Sala, Charo Vallés
  • Opera coaches: Laïla Barnat, Carles Budó, Pablo García-Berlanga, Adrià Gràcia, Diego Sánchez, Miquel Carbonell, Francesc Gamón
  • Conductor: Juan Pablo Hellín
  • Stage director: Jaume Martorell, Araceli Bergillos 

Possible extras besides the module

  • Masterclasses
  • Concerts at different venues in Valencia
  • Attending opera performances at Palau de les Arts
  • Exchange and collaborate with other students of the Conservatory working on the same production.

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

  • Minimum 1 student
  • Maximum 3 students

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module:

Teaching: The first 8 weeks

  • Working with the singing teachers
  • Working with the opera coaches
  • Working with the conductor and vocal coaches
  • Working with the stage director and vocal coaches

Production: The following 4 weeks

  • Ensemble rehearsals with the singers and conductor
  • Ensemble rehearsals with the singers and stage director

Number of ECTS within master accreditation:

25 ECTS

Entrance examination:

Contact the coordinator:

Charo Vallés

master.opera@csmvalencia.es

The materials to submit with your application are:

  • CV
  • Repertoire
  • Two Videos (it can be a link to YouTube or any other platform)

Deadline:

  • 1st deadline: 01 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 September 2024

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 15 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 30 September 2023

Description of the final Examination:

Public performance of a fully staged chamber opera at the Concert Hall of the Conservatory Superior of Music

Teaching language:

Spanish, English, Italian, French and German

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included/excluded in this price:

  • Free for students in Erasmus Programme
  • Module is available within an Erasmus exchange
By admin, ago

STO 2. Site specific opera performance

Period of the EOA module in 2024 – 2025:

  • 2nd of September-2nd of November 2024 (possible extension to 19/1 2024 for a full term )
  • Open for: 1 to 3 vocal students

In this module, the singer students explore how working in other venues and spaces than the opera theatre can influence the music-dramatic expression. The students work on selected Opera scenes with a stage director and an opera coach/pianist,  and bring their work into the chosen venue to  stage a performance for a small audience. The students, together with the  teachers,  take an active part in deciding how to use the chosen space and how to place the audience in the performance. The module, besides the stage work in preparation for the performance, includes singing lessons, musical interpretation sessions. It also includes coaching in Italian lyric diction where appropriate to the chosen repertoire. The repertoire is for the performance is chosen in June, in dialogue with the students.

The module can be extended to include the entire term january December with  work on a staged concert with conductor and piano or orchestra.

Name(s) of the professor(s) of this module:

  Stina Ancker,  Assistant professor of music dramatic performance

                    Martin Hellström, Assistant professor of musical performance

  1. 120 hours

13,5-30  ECTS

 

Possible extras:

  • seminars on aspects of opera as an artform and of the opera singer’s profession

  • seminars on artistic research

Entrance examination:

We choose our EOA-students via recorded material. With the application we need recordings of sound and video.

Formats:

  • Sound: Wav or
  • Video: Mov or mp4

Description of final examination:

  • Students are examined through the staged performance in the chosen space, through the staged concert and a subsequent reflective discussion in the group and individually

Teaching language/ Required level of language:

  • Communication language: EN, level 5

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included / excluded in this price:

  • There are no tuition fees for EU/EES citizens
By admin, ago

STO 1. Italian opera scenes – language, expression, communication

Period of the EOA module in 2024 – 2025:

  • 2nd of September-2nd of November 2024 (possible extension to 19/1 2024 for a full term )
  • Open for: 1-3 vocal students

Explore the connections between language, music, acting and movement through scenes from Italian Opera and recitative. You will work with language, musical performance, acting, vocal skills and stage movement in parallel, often with several teachers cooperating in the same session. The module will contain:

  • Investigation of the influence of language on stage thought, action and performance
  • vocal coaching and musical preparation of opera scenes in original language, individually and in group
  • Practical role analysis and stage work
  • Stage movement classes
  • An intensive course focusing on the secco recitative. The course gives methods for preparation, musically and language-wise, as well as methods for achieving spontaneity and meaning in the performance of recitative through improvisational methods
  • Performing arias and select ensembles in a concert with orchestra
  • Performing opera scenes with piano in our studio theatre

The repertoire is selected to suit the students in the course. The repertoire will be discussed and decided in June 2024.

Name(s) of the professor(s) of this module

  • Patrik Sörling, stage director, assistant professor of stage movement
  • Giuseppina Penta, language coach, senior lecturer of Italian lyric diction
  • Christine Morgan, assistant professor of musical interpretation

  1. 120 hours

 

13,5- 30 ECTS

Possible extra’s beside the module:

  • Seminars on opera as an artform and the opera singer’s profession with invited guests from the professional field
  • Seminars on performance psychology for singers

Entrance examination:

We choose our EOA-students via recorded material. With the application we need recordings of sound and video.

Formats:

Sound: Wav or AIFF. Video: Mov or mp4

Description of the final Examination:

Students are examined through the performance of  the Italian opera scenes, a concert with orchestra and through a reflective seminar.

Teaching language/ Required level of language:

Communication language: EN, level 5

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included / excluded in this price:

  • There are no tuition fees for EU/EES citizens
By admin, ago

PAR 3. Piano Accompaniment in Opera (Pianists, Traineeship for pianists)

Period of the EOA module in 2024 – 2025:

ERASMUS students (STT) may choose mobility within one or two semesters in 2024-2025: 

  • Winter Semester: 1 October 2024 – 2nd week of February 2025
  • Spring Semester: 3rd week of February 2025 – 30 June 2025

Content:

This module guides the student to master the complex and difficult art of the piano accompaniment in opera.

  • Performance practice and repertoire (individual lessons, on specific operas according to student’s needs and choices, main opera repertoire, analysis, study and practice on chosen opera scores, different (vocal) accompaniment techniques according to different music styles)
  • Répétiteur and coach techniques (theoretical and practical lessons on the basso continuo, as a stage-rehearsal accompanist, how to play under direction)
  • Specialized practice (vocal repertoire: chamber music and opera scores)
  • Score playing (reading piano- and orchestra opera scores)
  • Little practical internship in Singing lessons and Scenic Art lessons (different needs, different skills)
  • Possible participation in Masterclass(es), essays and concerts as a piano accompanist.

Classes will be held in Italian and English.

ERASMUS students might have to choose other courses among those annually proposed by the Conservatory, to reach the total number of required credits.

Specialty of this module in comparison with other courses in Europe

This module represents a perfect opportunity to get to know and experience the tools to become an Opera accompanist, in a welcoming atmosphere of exchange and collaboration with the other students of the Conservatory, from all over the world.

A unique chance to fully immerse themselves in the rich operatic music culture of the territory, attending places of unique musical interest, within the Conservatory (Musical Section of Libreria Palatina, Boito’s Studio and Toscanini’s Studio) or in the immediate nearby of it (the Library of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Verdiani, specialized in 19th century opera and music in general, with particular emphasis on the life and work of Giuseppe Verdi, the Museo dell’Opera, the Casa della Musica, Teatro Regio, etc).

Name(s) of the professor(s) of this module:

  • Nicola Mottaran (Coordinator of Piano accompaniment)
  • Fabio Ferrucci (Tutor)
  • Teaching staff  (Piano Accompaniment Teachers)  from the Singing and Music Theatre Department of the Conservatory.

Possible extras in addition to this module:

Upon request a little tour of the main “music treasures” of Verdi’s land: the birthplace of Verdi and Villa Sant’Agata, the Toscanini Museum, the worldrenowned Teatro Regio, the beautiful Teatro Farnese (17th century), the Casa del Suono, etc. Opportunity to join Italian Course lev. A2+B1 in the first semester or English Course level B1 or B2 in second semester. October is the month of the Parma Verdi Festival. Facilities are offered to enrolled students who want to experience a show at the Teatro Regio and/or other planned locations.

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

2 piano students

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module

  • 60 teaching hours per semester

Number of ECTS within master accreditation

Min 24 ECTS/semester (but possibly increasing according to the Learning Agreement)

Entrance examination:

Online examination through the Application, which needs to include

  • CV
  • Repertoire
  • Videos
  • Motivational letter (optional)

Final examination:

30-minute performance in piano accompaniment of voice (and/or opera scenes) 

Teaching language/Required level of language

Italian (min A2 to be improved) and English (B2)

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included/excluded in this price

Erasmus students (SMS) only. No extra fees.

Deadline for applications:

  • 1st deadline: 08 May 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 October 2024

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 30 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 December 2024
By admin, ago

OSL 2. Opera repetiteur

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025:

15 September – 15 December, 2025

Content:

Get possibilities of coaching from our professors and conductors, and play for stage rehearsals, performances and concerts.

Names of the professors:

  • Jacopo Spirei
  • Luca de Marchi
  • Olesya Tutova
  • Markus Kvits
  • Anne Sofie von Otter
  • Bengt Forsberg
  • Solveig Kringelborn
  • Toril Carlsen

Possible extras in addition to this module:

  • Italian language course

Open for:

2 pianists

Number of teaching / production hours of the EOA module:

Preparation 180 hours

Production 200 hours

Number of ECTS:

12

Description of the final examination:

  • CV
  • Repertoire
  • Two videos of accompanying W.A. Mozart: Il contes aria and G. Puccini: Mimis aria

Description of the final Examination.

  • Performances and concerts in November/December.
  • Play for a masterclass with Anne Sofie von Otter and Bengt Forsberg

Deadline for applications: 

  • 1st deadline: 08 May 2024

Deadline for expected answers: 

  • 1st deadline: 01 June 2024
By admin, ago