Performances + Events
NEC Song Lab
A novel approach to vocal studies, Song Lab focuses on the repertoire, interpretation, and performance of art songs.
Through intertwined courses and guest lectures that enhance the creative process, students immerse themselves in the languages and histories of art song, develop their individual approaches, and learn to lead their own productions of song recitals on both traditional concert platforms and the digital stage.
Intellectually curious singers and collaborative pianists who seek a well-rounded approach and a chance to dive deep will find fertile ground for building exceptional musicianship, a personal artistic point of view, and a career of one’s own.
Song Lab is open by audition to NEC graduate pianists and singers in the DMA, MM, AD, and GD programs.
A Unique Curricular Approach
The Song Lab meets twice weekly for two hours and brings together various threads of knowledge and experience required for song performers, including language, lyric diction, poetry, history, analysis, collaboration, communication (writing and speaking), acting, concert program building, and marketing.
The full curriculum will consist of a sequence of four labs (four semesters). Each of the four semesters is distinguished by its focus on one language (German, English, French, and others), providing the student with an immersive experience every semester by focusing on histories, repertoires, and styles associated with a single language.
Over the course of the four semesters, students will delve deeply into the standard classical vocal repertoire and also have a wide range of other experiences, including collaboration with composers in creating new songs, experimentation with some non-classical musical styles, and investigating songs in “non-standard” languages. Each semester also integrates study in concert program design, concert production and marketing, and public speaking.
This curriculum intends to develop well-rounded and fluent musicians who approach their work in the professional world with broad knowledge and wide-ranging abilities. The lab provides core studies that work alongside and enhance other primary studies (i.e., opera, oratorio, chamber music, and pedagogy).
Past Seasons
The 2022–2023 season focused on German Lieder and American Songs.
Guest Teachers
Singers Dawn Upshaw, Oral Moses, Randall Scarlata
Scholars Susan Youens, Benjamin Binder, Helen Greenwald, Deborah Stein, Sharon Krebs
Composers John Harbison, Michael Gandolfi
Song Recital Themes
Goethe Settings
Wolf’s Mörike Lieder
Violet City: Queer Life in New York 1920-2020
African American Songs and Spirituals
Russian Songs
Women Composers and Poets
New Songs by NEC Student Composers
Community Recital Project
The 2021–2022 season focused on French- and Spanish-language songs, with additional projects in the jazz and musical theatre repertoire.
Guest Teachers
Singers Julia Bullock, Dominique Eade
Pianists Pierre Vallet, Margo Garrett, Jorge Robaina, Teresa Rodriguez
Guitarist Juanito Pascual
Scholars Brandon Ruud, Helen Greenwald, Deborah Stein
Song Recital Themes
Shadows in the Garden: The Musical Legacy of Paul Verlaine
Exilers: Composers and Poets Set Adrift
The Ungifted Sex: Pioneer Women Composers of Song in the 19th Century
Spanish and Latin American Songs
Russian and Czech Songs
Sample Semester Curriculum: German
Monday
Introduction to Song Lab with Tanya Blaichand Cameron Stowe
tuesday
Lecture with literary scholar Judith Ryan: Listening for the Voice of Nature
Monday
Lecture with musicologist Benjamin Binder: Schubert and the Biedermeier
Tuesday
Lecture with theorist Deborah Stein: Schubert’s Lieder: Analysis and Performance
Monday
Diction class
Tuesday
Performance class, including oral reports, coaching sessions, bibliographies, and written reports for each song performed in class
Monday
Lecture with musicologist Benjamin Binder: Interpreting Heine’s Poetry: Tone, Ambiguity, and Cultural Critique
Tuesday
Performance class
Monday
Program Note Writing Workshop with Helen Greenwald — following this lecture, students will schedule individual appointments to discuss plans for the final writing assignment.
Tuesday
Diction class
Monday
Diction class
Tuesday
Performance class
Monday
Diction class — prepare assigned poems for in-class recitations; students will be asked to support their expressive choices by presenting an in-depth poetic analysis, reflecting skills learned over the course of the semester.
Tuesday
Text Translation Workshop — students will begin work on their final text translation assignment.
Monday and tuesday
Diction class — prepare assigned poems and listen to assigned recordings of musical performances and poetry recitations; text recitations and exercises in expressive techniques.
Monday
Diction Final Exam, with written and oral components — students will be asked to recite a German poem by memory for the class and will be evaluated on clarity of diction and expressive nuance.
Monday and tuesday
Students will give short oral presentations summarizing their program note writing assignment. Final draft of Program Note Writing and Text Translation assignments are due.
Amplify Your Visibility
Support Song Lab
Song lab is an academic initiative supported by the NEC Fund. Learn more about the many ways you can support artistic excellence at NEC.
Learn More
