How It Works: Voice and Diction Activities

DictionHelper.com™

How It Works

Tell your students about DictionHelper.com
Download pdf flier
then print

Need practice tips?
Download free podcasts

Keys to Practicing
Click to listen

Simply download the file of your choice from the Find A Song page. You will be requested to make payment, and then the download link will be provided by return email. It's simple, fast, and easy.

After you have downloaded the file, you can use it in a number of ways. Each file contains a short introduction, followed by two "readings" of the foreign-language text. The first reading is in a slow tempo, one syllable or phoneme per beat. The second reading is in the musical rhythm of the song.

	Listen to the slow tempo reading while watching the score.
	One beat, one syllable gives your brain enough time to process the new sound, and your tongue and mouth enough time to form the sound. When you have mastered the sounds at the speed on the recording, use your own metronome to set a new, slightly faster tempo. If you are missing syllables or stumbling, slow down the tempo, even slower than the recording, if need be. Investing the time in slow practice now pays great dividends later. Practice slowly so that you don't practice mistakes! Later, you can go gradually faster and faster, until you are speaking in approximately the tempo of the piece. Then, "graduate" to the rhythmic reading.
	Stop and start. Listen, speak, and check.
	Listening and speaking many times will help you to memorize as you go.
	When you feel ready to give it a try, put the words with the music. You're on your way. Continue to improve each time you sing the song.

Our purpose is to give you an accurate reading of the text. This is by no means the ultimate level of achievement! You will want to work closely with your teacher for refinements of the diction, as well as making vowel modifications that work for you in your vocal range. Eventually, you will want to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA, to notate sounds. As you continue your vocal study and take diction classes and study foreign languages, you can still use DictionHelper.com™ as your "entry level" tool for diction and memorization.

We hope you will continue to develop your artistry beyond learning the notes, rhythms, and words. Translate your text word-for-word. Frequently, the English language alternate text is a poetic approximation of the text, and can mislead you about what you're REALLY singing about. Sources of translations are listed on the More Resources page.

Musical preparation and performance is a never-ending road, leading higher and higher up the mountain of artistic expression and beauty. We're honored to give you some essential supplies for the journey as you set out. May your journey be joyful!

Get Started Now! Find A Song

Please go to our "Feedback" page to tell us where you're from and what you do! And, let us know what song texts you'd like next on DictionHelper.com™

Curious about Copyrights? Read our policy here.

Hit Counter

Send mail to feedback@dictionhelper.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2008 DictionHelper.com and MaryBeth D. Smith Last modified: 03/01/08

Send mail to feedback@dictionhelper.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 DictionHelper.com and MaryBeth D. Smith
Last modified: 03/01/08