Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers
Thursday 18th December 2025, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (London Time)
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the most frequent pronunciation errors made by classical singers in Italian lyric diction. Designed for both emerging and advanced singers, the course provides a structured and practical approach to mastering Italian pronunciation as used in opera, oratorio, and art song. The course’s principles and exercises are universally applicable to non-native Italian speakers striving for accuracy, elegance, and expressive nuance in performance.
Drawing on my research into common diction pitfalls, participants will engage with the ten most frequent errors identified through qualitative study, professional observation, and collaboration with Italian language experts. These include the mispronunciation of double and single consonants, aspirated “t” and “q” sounds, incorrect formation of l and ʎ, inconsistent use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and confusion between open and closed vowels (e/ɛ and o/ɔ). The course will also unpack the finer linguistic principles of raddoppiamento sintattico, assimilation, and syllabic stress, helping singers understand how these affect meaning, rhythm, and legato phrasing in Italian text setting.
Through guided IPA training, listening exercises, and coached performance practice, students will learn to diagnose and correct diction errors typical of English and other language backgrounds. Each session integrates live vocal examples drawn from operatic and song repertoire—including works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Caldara, and Caccini—linking theory directly to performance.
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Demonstrate accurate pronunciation of Italian vowels and consonants in sung contexts.
- Apply IPA as a reliable tool for analysing and correcting diction.
- Understand the relationship between phonetics, musical phrasing, and textual meaning.
Ultimately, this course equips singers to approach Italian repertoire with linguistic confidence and artistic authenticity!
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Professor Conroy Cupido
Prof Conroy Cupido completed a BMus at Stellenbosch University, an MMus and Artist Certificate at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas), and became the first South African to earn a Doctorate in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas (2009). In 2024, he obtained an MA in Positive Psychology from North-West University with distinction.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Monday 12th January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 13th January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 14th January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday 15th January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 20th January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 21st January 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(London Time)
Level One Certificate in Accents and Phonetics
Louisa Morgan
Are you a voice, acting, or singing coach looking to expand your expertise and add accents and phonetics to your teaching repertoire? This 6-session course covers essential topics such as articulatory, acoustic, and auditory phonetics, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and ethical approaches to accent and dialect coaching. By the end of this course, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and practical skills to start to bring phonetics and accent coaching into your coaching and provide more comprehensive support to your clients.
Monday 12th January 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Emerging and Developing Voice: Singing and Speech
Karen Brunssen
How does the singing voice influence the speaking voice? How does the speaking voice influence the singing voice? When is there a disparate relationship between the two? Can they help each other? Can one harm the other? How can we use them positively in the voice studio. During this short course we will consider the voice as we sing and as we speak. The acquisition of language is a very interesting journey from birth through old age. We will broach the topics of “lexical” which refers to learning words, and “semantic” which is how we use words in the context of language.
Monday 12th January 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Perfectionism: A Theoretical & Clinical Overview
Dr David Juncos
What exactly is meant when we label ourselves or someone we know a perfectionist? It is a good to be this way? Or are you setting yourself up for failure? Can a performance psychologist or a other performance-related practitioner help you if you’re a perfectionist? In this short course, you will learn how perfectionism is defined according to popular models in clinical psychology, and whether it is maladaptive or adaptive. You will also learn how perfectionism impacts on music performance anxiety, in addition to other areas of importance for performing musicians, like work-related stress and burnout, and procrastination with one’s practice.