Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners
CUAPRF407A Mapping and Delivery Guide Develop expertise in musical theatre techniques
Version 1.0 Issue Date: April 2024
Qualification
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Unit of Competency
CUAPRF407A - Develop expertise in musical theatre techniques
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to add range and depth to musical theatre techniques. Musical theatre encompasses the disciplines of dance, drama and singing.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application
This unit applies to performers who are consolidating their career in contexts where musical theatre performance skills are required. Performances could be in commercial or competition settings and performers would usually be performing as members of an ensemble, though some solo work could be expected.At this level, performers are constantly refining their technique and expression to produce performances that convey the mood and style of music through complex dance and vocal sequences. While supervision and guidance are provided in practice sessions and rehearsals, dancers are expected to display a high level of motivation and sense of responsibility for themselves and others when it comes to applying dance technique in a live performance context.
Duration and Setting
X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners
Student Learning Resources
Handouts Activities
Slides PPT
Assessment 1
Assessment 2
Assessment 3
Assessment 4
Elements of Competency
Performance Criteria
Element: Maintain a physical conditioning program
Consult with relevant personnel to identify a range of techniques to improve stamina, strength and flexibility
Set realistic physical conditioning goals aimed at improving musical theatre techniques
Identify risk factors that may inhibit the achievement of goals and seek professional advice as required
Take fatigue, personal limitations and boundaries into account when undertaking physical conditioning program
Always perform warm-up and cool-down procedures in conjunction with dance activities
Always perform vocal warm-up procedures in conjunction with vocal activities
Ensure that clothing and footwear are appropriate for undertaking exercise regime and practising dance technique
Element: Use practice sessions to increase level of expertise in dance techniques
Follow safe dance practice
Apply correct posture and body alignment appropriate to musical theatre style and movements
Apply isolation and coordination of upper and lower body within complex movement sequences
Apply balance, flexibility, stamina, coordination and weight transfer skills, and control and articulation of individual body parts in an integrated manner in a range of exercises
Apply memory retention, control and attention to detail when performing complex phrases of dance movements
Practise dance combinations to a mixed metre
Incorporate musicality, rhythm and correct timing into performances
Apply understanding of the relationship between musical theatre styles and the accompanying music or other media
Incorporate spatial awareness, connectivity and interactive skills when performing with others
Element: Use practice sessions to increase level of expertise in musical theatre techniques
Apply correct posture and breathing techniques
Apply appropriate dynamics and pitch
Practise singing in tune with others
Ensure phrasing is appropriate to the music
Experiment with various acting styles and methods as appropriate
Sustain complex characterisation through musicality, dance and voice phrasing, and correct timing as choreographed
Work on incorporating complex expressive qualities into musical theatre techniques
Incorporate complex dance and vocal techniques to confidently portray choreographic and dramatic intentions
Element: Maintain expertise
Continuously practise and refine combinations of complex movements and routines
Maintain and update knowledge of musical theatre terminology
Use feedback from teachers and mentors to identify and develop ways to improve own musical theatre techniques
Regularly view performances by industry practitioners as a way of sourcing new ideas and trends, maintaining motivation, and improving own technique
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
perform, in a learning environment, a range of routines in at least one musical theatre style in a way that demonstrates:
respond appropriately to constructive feedback on own performance.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
relevant music, resources and equipment
appropriate dance performance areas or spaces.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence
third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
verbal or written questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit
case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and challenges that arise in the context of performing musical theatre
evaluation of live or recorded performances
direct observation or video recording of the candidate in practice sessions or rehearsals.
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
CUADAN407A Develop expertise in dance performance skills
CUAPRF401A Employ a range of acting skills in performance
CUAPRF402A Develop conceptual and expressive skills as a performer
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
communication skills to:
discuss dance and physical conditioning issues with relevant personnel
respond appropriately to feedback on own skill development
initiative and enterprise skills to:
work creatively with music and dance
perform with style and strong stage presence
communicate the mood or style of dances and songs
use props confidently and effectively
maintain own expertise
identify and apply relevant aspects of the culture and history of the musical theatre style
develop and implement a personal physical conditioning program
develop a movement memory
listening skills to:
maintain correct tempi in movement sequences
maintain musical sensitivity, awareness and phrasing in movement sequences
planning and organising skills to plan practice time
self-management skills to:
arrive punctually at classes and practice sessions
dress appropriately
observe dance discipline and follow direction
apply safe dance and vocal practice
teamwork skills to work collaboratively with others involved in classes and practice sessions.
Required knowledge
well-developed knowledge of:
principles underlying dance movements and techniques, such as:
relationship with gravity
spatial awareness
successional movement
use of breath
folding
extending
rotating
shifting weight
principles underlying vocal techniques in a musical theatre performance context
anatomical foundations, including:
articulation of the spine
engagement of the feet
bases of support, including feet, legs, hands, arms and torso
range of joint motion
differentiation of the legs and pelvis
importance of healthy food choices in relation to wellbeing and injury prevention, including five food groups and recommended daily amounts
musical theatre terminology
stage geography and directions
musical rhythms, including:
time signatures
beat
tempo
syncopation
overview knowledge of:
history of musical theatre, including:
theatre of the ancient Greeks
prominent dancers, composers and choreographers
range of musical theatre styles
ways of notating musical theatre.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Relevant personnel may include:
coaches
colleagues
family members
medical practitioners
mentors
nutrition experts
performers
teachers.
Risk factors may relate to:
body image and eating disorders
consistency of a physical fitness regime
expectations of others
gender-appropriate performance techniques
gender issues
poor nutrition
incorrectly fitting footwear
injury-prevention strategies
insufficient hydration
own ambition.
Warm-up and cool-down proceduresmay include:
aerobic activities
anaerobic exercises
body conditioning and strength development
breathing techniques
coordinated breathing activities
flexibility exercises
floor work
isolation and mobility of body parts
joint-mobility exercises
stretching.
Vocal warm-up proceduresmay include:
deep breathing exercises, especially for abdominal breathing
exercises to loosen mouth, such as:
tongue
lips
soft palate
exercises to loosen face muscles, such as:
cheek
eye
jaw
gentle open vowel singing
maintaining good throat hydration with gentle gargling
tongue twisters
whole body relaxation exercises, such as:
tai chi
yoga
vocalising exercises beginning in mid-range, before extending to upper and lower registers.
Safe dance practice may include:
adjusting performance to venue
breathing exercises
correct execution of dance steps
appropriate clothing and footwear
doing exercises and performing routines on flooring appropriate to genre and style of dance, including:
sprung softwood
tarkett
sprung parquet
tongue and groove hardwood
logical sequencing of dance movements
nutrition and diet
spatial awareness
understanding the body’s capabilities and limitations, including:
alignment
flexibility (mobility)
strength (stability)
cardiorespiratory endurance
muscular endurance
warm-up and cool-down procedures, such as:
gentle stretch
aerobic exercises
anaerobic exercises.
Body alignment refers to:
proper alignment of the torso, hips, limbs, spine and shoulders in poses and movements, such as:
ear over the shoulder over the hips
knee over the ankle
skeletal alignment throughout movements.
Exercisesmay relate to practising:
complex elevation techniques
complex falling techniques
complex turning techniques
complex weight transfer techniques
demonstrating an awareness of personal and general space when travelling and stationary
focusing eyes and mind while performing
interpreting rhythm to movement
isocentric and polycentric isolations
locomotor exercises and sequences, such as:
pirouettes
posés piqués
pencil turns
châinés
kicks
jumps and leaps
maintaining rhythm and tempo
non-locomotor techniques, such as:
balance
stillness
using arm lines appropriately and extensively
working at differing tempos
working on centre and off centre
working in a cohesive partnership with a peer and interpreting a dance style.
Complex phrasesrefer to:
‘chaining’ or joining and sequencing of steps and movements or combinations of steps and movements.
Accompanying music may include:
a cappella
contemporary or soundscape
instrumental
live or recorded
traditional or folk
vocal.
Other media may include:
design elements, such as performance lighting
projections
props.
Dynamics refers to:
variations of the intensity of resonance (volume).
Pitchrefers to:
range from high to low.
Acting styles and methods may include:
melodrama
comedy
tragedy
Stanislavski method.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Consult with relevant personnel to identify a range of techniques to improve stamina, strength and flexibility
Set realistic physical conditioning goals aimed at improving musical theatre techniques
Identify risk factors that may inhibit the achievement of goals and seek professional advice as required
Take fatigue, personal limitations and boundaries into account when undertaking physical conditioning program
Always perform warm-up and cool-down procedures in conjunction with dance activities
Always perform vocal warm-up procedures in conjunction with vocal activities
Ensure that clothing and footwear are appropriate for undertaking exercise regime and practising dance technique
Follow safe dance practice
Apply correct posture and body alignment appropriate to musical theatre style and movements
Apply isolation and coordination of upper and lower body within complex movement sequences
Apply balance, flexibility, stamina, coordination and weight transfer skills, and control and articulation of individual body parts in an integrated manner in a range of exercises
Apply memory retention, control and attention to detail when performing complex phrases of dance movements
Practise dance combinations to a mixed metre
Incorporate musicality, rhythm and correct timing into performances
Apply understanding of the relationship between musical theatre styles and the accompanying music or other media
Incorporate spatial awareness, connectivity and interactive skills when performing with others
Apply correct posture and breathing techniques
Apply appropriate dynamics and pitch
Practise singing in tune with others
Ensure phrasing is appropriate to the music
Experiment with various acting styles and methods as appropriate
Sustain complex characterisation through musicality, dance and voice phrasing, and correct timing as choreographed
Work on incorporating complex expressive qualities into musical theatre techniques
Incorporate complex dance and vocal techniques to confidently portray choreographic and dramatic intentions
Continuously practise and refine combinations of complex movements and routines
Maintain and update knowledge of musical theatre terminology
Use feedback from teachers and mentors to identify and develop ways to improve own musical theatre techniques
Regularly view performances by industry practitioners as a way of sourcing new ideas and trends, maintaining motivation, and improving own technique
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
CUAPRF407A - Develop expertise in musical theatre techniques
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
Student ID:
I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
Student signature:
Result: Competent Not yet competent
Feedback to student
Assessor name:
Signature:
Date:
Assessment Record Sheet
CUAPRF407A - Develop expertise in musical theatre techniques
Student name:
Student ID:
Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
(add lines for each task)
Feedback to student:
Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent