FAQs
Please see further guidance below on our courses, coaching and consultancy services. Feel free to contact us by email or on +44 1306 640762 if you have questions that aren’t answered here.
I’m a singer interested in improving my sung Italian – where do I start?
Our courses and coaching cater for singers of all levels, whether you’re a professional, student or amateur singer. With the current Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve moved some of our live courses online and we’re also creating new self-study programmes to cater for different needs. Check out our courses section to find out more about all our courses in Italian lyric diction.
If you’d prefer to work on a tailored one-to-one basis, contact us about coaching which can be taken online via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime.
Once the pandemic is over, we’ll be relaunching our Veneto Opera Summer School programmes in Italy. Our Aria and Song Week is open to all levels while our Staged Scenes Programme is aimed at advanced and professional singers. Keep an eye on our website or subscribe to our updates to hear about these and our other programmes.
Observer places are also available on most of our courses if you’d like to come along to learn more without singing. If you’re unsure about where to start, contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your skills and experience and which course would be best for you.
The Melofonetica Method™ is a research-based method of Italian diction for singers, based on the phonetics of the sung language. It is fast gaining recognition for its clear and practical approach to helping singers achieve better pronunciation, musicality and expression in Italian opera and classical music.
Created by tenor, musicologist and Italian Coach, Matteo Dalle Fratte, the method is the result of extensive research and work with singers of all levels, from students to professionals, on young artist programmes and at leading UK conservatoires.
I’m an accompanist – can I benefit from the Melofonetica Method?
Yes – if you are a professional or student accompanist looking to build your skills in accompanying and/or coaching singers in Italian repertoire, the Melofonetica Method will give you a better understanding of the relationship between Italian text and music, how language informs phrasing and articulation and how to accompany and coach singers more effectively in Italian.
I’m an instrumentalist – how can the Melofonetica Method help me?
The Melofonetica Method helps orchestras and conductors to better prepare Italian repertoire and provides a greater understanding of how clear and correct diction enhances the dialogue between stage and orchestra.
If you’re a conductor or director preparing for the production of an Italian opera and want to ensure you have a full understanding of the libretto text, from the idiomatic sounds and rhythm of the language, to the meaning and metrics of the lines, contact us to discuss one-to-one coaching/consultancy.
I’m a vocal coach, how can I learn more?
If you are a vocal or opera coach looking to develop your understanding of Italian lyric diction and improve your ability to coach singers in Italian repertoire, we recommend attending any of our courses as a participant or observer, or working through our self-study programmes at your own pace. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide one-to-one coaching/consultancy tailored to your needs as a coach.
Do I need to have a particular level of spoken Italian to attend a course or understand the Melofonetica Method?
No – having some skills in spoken Italian helps, but the Melofonetica Method guides singers to achieve correct Italian diction in the sung language, without needing a prior knowledge of the spoken language. The approach helps singers of all levels and nationalities to achieve idiomatic sung Italian, whatever level you are starting from.
Do I need any knowledge of phonetics to start working with the Melofonetica Method?
If you have previously studied phonetics, in Italian or any other language, this will of course be helpful, but it is by no means expected before you work with us. The method introduces some key phonetic concepts at relevant stages, in a way that is easy to follow, and is designed to be accessible for those who have no prior knowledge of phonetics.
Do I need to be confident singing a full aria off-copy before working with you?
Not necessarily. It helps to know as much of your piece as possible on the one hand, but on the other hand it’s also useful to get correct diction in place and into your muscle memory early in the learning process. Ultimately, our coaching sessions are always working sessions that are tailored to your level so you’ll benefit whatever stage you’re at. If you prefer to work more slowly, you can focus purely on the text, working in ‘Gregorian chant’ instead of singing the full piece.
Which repertoire is best to bring to a Melofonetica course or coaching session?
There’s no particular type of repertoire that’s most suitable as the method applies to all Italian repertoire, from Monteverdi to Puccini.