The benefits of singing in a different language

The Benefits of Singing in a Different Language

Singing in a different language is an exciting prospect, and you can open your eyes to new repertoire, cultures and composers. At Trinity College London, our Singing Syllabus 2018-2022 includes songs in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Czech, Welsh and Russian. In this blog, we will explore some of the benefits to singing in a new language, including how it can benefit both your technical development and wider musicianship skills.

Elevating Your Vocal Technique

Learning to sing in a different, or even multiple languages has many technical advantages. For a start, there are technical demands in learning any new language, in relation to pronunciation, vowel shapes and correctly placing consonants. Pair this with reading the music and it is quite a challenge! Singing music from certain historical periods also brings specific technical requirements. For example, some Italian arias will require the singer to sing bel canto, which requires much work to create a legato, flowing melodic vocal line. An example from our Singing syllabus is Bellini’s wonderful ‘Ma rendi pur contento’ which can be found at Grade 6. In contrast, Sprechstimme and Sprechgesang are Expressionist vocal techniques utilised by composers such as Schoenberg and Berg which create a nuanced sound, sitting in between singing and speaking.

Discovering Composers

In addition to improving your technical capabilities, singing in a different language can also introduce you to the work of new composers. In our Singing syllabus, we feature work from composers across the world, from Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky to Brahms and Mendelssohn. Why not challenge yourself and choose a composer you have never heard of for your next singing exam? You can learn about their life and other works, which will help with your own interpretation. You can also check out this blog which highlights Women Composers in Trinity College London Syllabuses, including some new commissions.

Understanding Historical Movements

Musical historical movements (for example Romanticism), can often be limiting when viewed as strictly representing a composer’s style, but learning to sing in a different language can open your eyes to key features from these movements, and help you to develop your own unique understanding. You can explore the Romantic period in our Singing syllabus by singing lieder such as ‘Die Forelle’ by Schubert at Grade 6, or ‘Liebeszauber’ by Clara Schumann at Grade 7.

Overall, singing in multiple languages is a great way to improve your singing and is often a requirement if you are hoping to be a professional classical singer in the future. Remember, it may be intimidating but will certainly be rewarding in the long run, helping to develop your technique, knowledge and own personal voice.

Look out for more singing focused resources in October’s This is Trinity!