Opera preparation

Students,

I feel like I'm repeating myself here, but it seems necessary.

If you are not note-perfect in your coaching session, your final grade will suffer. Sessions with me and Dr. Steele are NOT for teaching notes; they are for making music and building ensemble. This is why you are only called a few minutes per week: the understanding is that you are using the time you are NOT called to learn your music.

Remember also that each time you are unprepared, you pull down those who are prepared. You are not only wasting my time, you are wasting theirs. Get together BEFORE you are called to rehearsal to get solid on your notes.

Thoughts on that, as well: working together before working with me shouldn't mean that your friends teach you the notes. You do that yourself before meeting with anyone else. Please do not expect someone else to pull you along out of the goodness of his or her heart. That's neither kind nor fair. I know you are all good, caring people, so bear in mind that your actions affect others.

Several of you are already teetering on the B range for the semester, and it's only the fourth week of class. This is based on your [lack of] preparation. There is no "extra credit" or "making it up later." Be sure your grade doesn't fall lower by continuing to hold up the process.

Those of you who have been prepared have been told; those of you who have not been prepared have been warned, in some cases repeatedly. You know who you are; fix it if you must.