2022 dates TBC
Join us for an intensive week to build your skills, knowledge and confidence in sung Italian
Please note that all the below information relates to the July 2021 programme and will be updated when our new 2022 dates are confirmed. In the meantime, please join our mailing list here to be kept up to date.
Over 20 hours of masterclasses, workshops and coaching in Italian repertoire with our experienced coaches.
Led by renowned Italian Coach and Melofonetica Founder Dr. Matteo Dalle Fratte (Royal Opera House, National Opera Studio, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School, London).
As last year, we will donate £25 from each full-week enrolment to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Coronavirus Appeal.
“My engagement with the text improved very quickly, it suddenly felt natural and expressive. I’m so pleased.” – Katy, professional soprano and online student
The full programme includes:
Pre-course:
- 2 webinars on The Melofonetica Method™ (75 mins each)
- 4 guided listening sessions (30 mins each)
- Pre-course reading
During the week:
- Welcome meeting: meet the team and your fellow participants
- 2 live Q&A sessions on The Melofonetica Method (30 mins each)
- 2 one-to-one Italian coaching masterclasses with Matteo Dalle Fratte (40 mins each)
- 3 one-to-one music coaching sessions (40 mins each)
- 4 vocalising sessions focusing on specific exercises for clear and idiomatic sung Italian diction (30 mins each)
- 6 special workshops, led by different members of our faculty (1 hour each):
- Working effectively with a pianist
- Working effectively with a conductor and orchestra
- Italian recitative insight
- Unlocking meaning in your aria: grammar tips for Italian repertoire
- Good CV writing for singers
- Exploring melophonetics in other languages
- Observe up to 9 other Italian coaching masterclasses (one per singer will be open to observers)
- Virtual ‘aperitivo’ with award-winning prosecco producer Tenuta Amadio, live from the vineyard in Asolo, Italy
- Final live solo performances, feedback and end of course celebration
- Study pack including session slides
BOOK ON A PER SESSION BASIS
Select from the wide range of sessions below and don’t miss our free events!
All sessions will run via Zoom, if you can’t attend the live sessions, recordings will be available.
Virtual coffee and Q&A with Matteo Dalle Fratte about sung Italian and the Melofonetica Method™
FREE
Tues 20 July, 11:00–11:45
Have a burning question about sung Italian? Curious to know more about the Melofonetica Method? Join Melofonetica Founder Matteo for a chat about the most common questions singers have when working with Italian repertoire and what the Melofonetica Method is all about. Submit questions in advance here or ask on the day!
Italian coaching masterclasses
£15 per session, one FREE session for all email subscribers (not a subscriber to our emails yet? Just sign up when you book your place!)
Weds 21 July, 11:00–11:40 and 15:00–15:40
See the Melofonetica Method™ in action as each singer focuses on diction, musicality and expression in their choice of Italian repertoire, coached by Matteo Dalle Fratte, Founder of Melofonetica.
The Melofonetica Method™: a new way to approach your Italian repertoire
Led by Matteo Dalle Fratte, Melofonetica Founder
Pre-recorded webinars, £15 or £25 for both sessions
Part 1: Consonants and vowels in sung Italian
Part 2: Expression in sung Italian
Vocalising in Italian
Tues 20 July, Weds 21 July, Thurs 22 July, 14:00–14:30, £10 per session
Vocalising exercises focusing on clear and correct sung Italian diction.
Working effectively with a pianist
Led by pianists and coaches Julie Aherne and Bernard Tan
Mon 19 July, 16:00–17:00, £15
Practical and technical considerations for working well with a pianist in rehearsals, auditions and coaching sessions.
Working effectively with a conductor and orchestra
Led by Peter Ford, Conductor and Artistic Director of The Black Cat Opera Company
Tues 20 July, 15:00–16:00, £15
Practical and technical considerations for working well with a conductor and orchestra in rehearsals and performances.
Unlocking meaning in your Italian aria: grammar and vocabulary tips
Led by Alessandra Fasolo, Italian Coach
Tues 20 July, 17:30–18:30, £15
Top tips on understanding linguistic structure and meaning in your Italian scores.
Italian recitative insight
Led by Matteo Dalle Fratte and Peter Ford, Conductor and Artistic Director of The Black Cat Opera Company
Weds 21 July, 17:30–18:30, £15
Learn about the metrical structure of Italian recitative and how this informs performance, and what to focus on to perform Italian recitative well.
Good CV writing for singers
Led by Julie Aherne, Pianist/Coach and Company Director of The Black Cat Opera Company
Thurs 22 July, 16:00–17:00, £15
Understand how to improve your singer CV to communicate quickly and clearly with potential employers and, hopefully, secure an audition! Includes optional one-to-one CV feedback.
Exploring melophonetics in other languages
Led by Bernard Tan, Collaborative Pianist and Coach
Fri 23 July, 14:00–15:00, £15
A fascinating look at key aspects of sung diction in a range of languages including English, German, French, Manadarin Chinese and Czech.
Discover Prosecco: virtual aperitivo with Tenuta Amadio
Thurs 22 July, 18:00–19:00, £10 or FREE for all our email subscribers (not a subscriber to our emails yet? Just sign up when you book your place!)
Learn how to choose a good prosecco and top tips for pairing prosecco with food! With award-winning producer Tenuta Amadio, directly from the vineyard in Asolo, Italy.
“I’ll be watching out for opportunities to participate again, I loved it!” – Samantha, Virtual OSS 2020 attendee
“The sessions were clear and the material well-presented. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in improving their sung Italian in an enjoyable and relaxed way.” – Virtual OSS 2020 attendee
What last year’s participants said:
“Just wanted to say thanks so much for the week, it was fascinating and really enjoyable. I really loved all of it, but it was particularly interesting to delve into the method in the lectures, and the journey of then applying it in the individual sessions and identifying it in the guided listening was particularly satisfying.” Laura, Soprano
“I learned a lot during this week. Thank you for such a well organised programme. I enjoyed learning about the method and putting it in practice through the guided listening, vocalising and coaching sessions.” Sara, Soprano
“It was good to have a refresher on the Melofonetica Method, to consolidate some concepts and move my knowledge to a new level. Sessions on other languages and especially Alessandra’s top tips on dealing with poetic Italian also excellent and expected to be very useful in practice. A very smooth and efficiently-run course!” Margaret, Soprano
“The week was very inclusive and fostered a spirit of being at a physical summer school despite being online. There was also a good variety of topics covered in classes. It opened up a whole new way of thinking about sung language (not just Italian).” Antonida, Observer
Faculty
Matteo Dalle Fratte
Lead Coach
Peter Ford
Music Coach
Julie Aherne
Music Coach
Bernard Tan
Music Coach
Alessandra Fasolo
Workshop Lead
