Melofonetica/Teaching Sung Italian

Teaching Sung Italian

Professional training for vocal, music and language coaches who want to teach the Melofonetica Method with confidence.

Includes one-to-one guidance from Matteo Dalle Fratte, Founder of Melofonetica

Our train-the-trainer programme gives you the complete Melofonetica Method curriculum, plus the tools, structure and guidance to bring it into your own teaching and transform your work with singers.

The programme is based on the Melofonetica Method, a proven approach to sung Italian that is thoroughly-researched and grounded in science. It will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to guide singers of all levels and language backgrounds to produce clear, expressive and idiomatic sung Italian.

Who this programme is for

This is designed for:

  • Current diction coaches, singing teachers and vocal coaches who want a clear, systematic way to teach sung Italian

  • Répétiteurs, conductors and choral directors who support singers with language and diction

  • Experienced singers who are moving into teaching and want a proven method

You don’t need to be a native Italian speaker, but you should:

  • Already be teaching, or be preparing to teach

  • Hold a conservatoire or university music degree with a strong performance element, or have equivalent experience

  • Have good familiarity with Italian repertoire

  • Be comfortable working with singers on technical and musical issues

If you'd like an informal chat to discuss your suitability for the programme, don't hesitate to contact us.

What you’ll be able to do by the end

By the end of the programme, you'll be able to:

  • Teach the Melofonetica Method for sung Italian in a clear, step-by-step way

  • Diagnose common diction and phrasing issues in your students’ Italian repertoire

  • Use a structured sequence of exercises, examples and explanations with your students

  • Design lessons, courses or workshops based on the method for your own studio or institution

What’s included

This train-the-trainer programme covers the full Melofonetica Method curriculum, and includes additional teacher-focused content.

Self-paced study

  • Start now and get instant 12-month access to our in-depth online video tutorials, quizzes and learning materials covering all aspects of the Melofonetica Method (c. 20 hours)

  • Benefit from four one-to-one online coaching sessions with Matteo Dalle Fratte, to be arranged at a mutually convenient time (4 hours)

  • Complete a short case study assessment and get one-to-one feedback

Participants will:

  • Gain a thorough knowledge of all aspects of sung Italian diction and the application of melophonetics in Italian opera and classical music

  • Understand how to help singers produce an idiomatic Italian sound and enhance their clarity, music interpretation and expressivity in Italian

  • Learn how language coaching supports the teaching of music and vocal technique

  • Observe the method in practice through filmed coaching

  • Explore the role of the language coach and their collaboration with music staff on productions

  • Develop the skills and confidence to assess sung Italian performance

  • Have plenty of opportunity to ask questions

  • Study flexibly around other commitments

  • Benefit from a full library of video tutorials and online quizzes plus one-to-one email support throughout the programme

"The Melofonetica Method has transformed how I teach Italian lyric diction. Taking the teacher training course ensured that I really understood the method. The opportunity to ask questions, have my knowledge assessed, and receive feedback on my own teaching was invaluable. I highly recommend the course to teachers of Italian lyric diction, as well as singing teachers and répétiteurs who coach Italian repertoire.
I love how well-structured the course is and how the method fits the language perfectly so there are not exceptions to learn. I feel that I now have a much greater understanding of Italian prosody, and can coach at a much higher level. " 

– Victoria Lambourn, Associate Lecturer in Music (Voice), University of Melbourne

Fee

The programme fee is 485 EUR.

Recommended reading

The Melofonetica Method: A complete guide to clear and expressive Italian diction for singers by Matteo Dalle Fratte (2023, Lyric Arts Press). Order directly from us, or from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major booksellers.

"I loved being immersed in sung Italian diction. I benefited from Matteo's experience and vast knowledge of the subject and his contagious commitment and enthusiasm. I’ve also been impressed by the wealth of information and the clarity of the explanations, as well as the related topics, such as how correct pronunciation of the consonants can positively impact vocal technique. Many thanks for these amazing resources!" – Rebecca, assistant director, singer and language coach

Liz Marcus, pianist and vocal coach

"As a trained singer, Matteo absolutely understands what is helpful vocally so not only are students able to deliver much clearer language but they are also able to sing the music with greater ease. I have learnt so much from him and it has really influenced the way I work as a vocal coach." 

Fiona, singing teacher

"I feel much better informed about how to teach songs and arias in Italian. My students will really benefit!"

Jennifer Heslop, singing teacher

"Putting the Melofonetica Method into practice for my students and me brings the text to life and encourages vibrant tone quality as well as incisive diction. The whole performance gains conviction as a result."

Philip White, Head of Opera, RCS

“The Melofonetica Method has revolutionised the way I approach Italian text. It is clear, concise and consistent – and it works wonders.”