We were all sitting at a restaurant after rehearsal chattering away—well, at least they were chattering away. Since the only common language was German (which I don’t speak), I was left to pick up whatever words I could and try to smile, even though I felt totally humiliated! One compassionate singer translated now and then, but it was a really painful evening for me.”
As any singer will learn in the professional world, it is one thing to have your diction down cold, but quite another to sit down to dinner with an international cast, work with a stage director who doesn’t speak English or try to get work in another country. For an opera singer, not being fluent in at least one other language seems to send a subtle message to other singers, to your manager and, most importantly, to yourself that you are only planning on a local career.
English is the most common language spoken in classical singing circles, but next comes German, Italian and then French. How can you get the job done?
SELF-DIRECTED STUDY
Diction classes teach most singers how to pronounce just about anything, and lyrics usually give singers a starting vocabulary. Technically, they just need to buckle down and study! One singer contacted her local university and arranged to get copies of the lab tapes for her old textbook so she could study on the road. Another bought a pocket dictionary and carried it everywhere, learning new words each day. Yet another found a lonely elderly woman from Italy—an opera fan—and arranged to visit with her in Italian twice a week. The legendary soprano Jenny Lind learned languages by constant self-study. At one point when she had a vocal problem and needed to be completely silent, she spent that quiet time working on her French, filling notebooks with verb conjugation practice.
GROUP LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
You may have bought all the books, tapes, CD-ROMs and flashcards, but just haven’t found the discipline to get the job done. It may be time for a more structured approach. Keep in mind that if you can get your own group of singers together to take classes, most teachers and programs will work with you to fit your schedule.
Classes
The problem with regular language classes for a singer is twofold: Singers are hard to “level” into the correct class due to their uneven preparation, and it can be hard for a singer to commit to a regular class schedule. Many classes do not allow for refunds if you suddenly get an out-of-town job.
Educational institutions. Most colleges and universities have language programs. If you are sure you’ve got a semester free, this may be the way to go. It is usually the least expenseive route of group instruction. But you might want to think twice about the benefits of being part of a class of unmotivated 18-year-olds! You may do better with an adult extension course. Check community programs and colleges—some high schools offer night courses for a very low fee.
Professional classes. These are easy to find in CS magazine each month, your phone book or Sunday newspaper supplements. Berlitz (888/389-0441 or www.berlitz.com) is one of the most well-known programs, and is available in major cities everywhere. If in New York, check out Accent on Languages on 56th Street (212/355-5170 or www.accentonlanguage. com). Both of these programs offer immersion and one-on-one study.
Private teachers. Particularly in New York, many private language teachers hold classes, such as Italian instructor Linda Doria (212/206-8248) and French drama and diction instructor Danielle Valin (212/873-8481).Language Institute for Musical Artists (L.I.M.A.) will be offering German language instruction classes and audition tour preparation with native German instructors. Their accelerated learning courses will not be offered this summer, but “Kaffee-Pausen” (weekly conversational practice sessions) will be. For more, contact the language instructors listed in the classified ads in CS.
IMMERSION
For singers with a busy performing schedule, immersion allows concentrated study over a short period of time with committed fellow students. You can choose weekend programs or summer programs. For more programs, look in the Sunday newspaper arts section, the phone book or an Internet search engine, such as www.snap.com.
Weekend immersion programs. One example is the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (212/998-7030 or www.scps.nyu.edu).
Summer immersion programs. Middlebury College Language School (802/443-5510 or www.middlebury.edu/~ ls/General_info.html).
On-site learning. If you choose this approach, make sure you go somewhere where they don’t speak English. Rome, for instance, is not a good choice to learn Italian because too many people speak English and really don’t have patience with your beginning Italian. Study-abroad programs are offered through colleges and universities as well as continuing education programs—or just get a guidebook and do it yourself!
There are many methods and most will work if you will commit to doing something every single day.
For more language learning sources keep an eye on the ads for teachers, programs and products listed in this issue and future issues of CS. We will be bringing you every product and service we can find in the months ahead.
You can help—if you’ve attended a course or used a product, which was helpful (or not) please let us know.
Coming next month: Nico Castel on language and what every singer must know.
