blog
Welcome to my blog!
Here I write about
- German diction topics
- Analysis of arias and art songs
- Pronunciation and interpretation guides
- how I work
- clients’ success stories
and I’ll share some insights about the life of a pronunciation coach.
Go exploring!
German mixed vowels: how to master Ö
Easy instructions, excercises and audio examples for singers to master the German mixed vowel or Umlaut Ö with ease! The German mixed vowels or “Umlaute” Ö and Ü sometimes cause confusion with non-native singers and they are often mispronounced or ignored and treated...
“Ach, ich fühl’s” (‘Die Zauberflöte’, W. A. Mozart) – A Guide to Pronunciation and Interpretation
Translation, pronunciation and interpretation guide on W. A. Mozart’s aria “Ach, ich fühl’s” from the opera “Die Zauberflöte” Aria text Ach, ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden, Ah, I feel it, it has disappeared Ewig hin der Liebe Glück! ...
German mixed vowels: “Ü” made easy
Easy instructions, excercises and audio examples for singers to master the German mixed vowel or Umlaut Ü with ease! The German mixed vowels or “Umlaute” Ö and Ü sometimes cause confusion with non-native singers and they are often mispronounced or ignored and treated...
How to form a perfect German T
Lately I have heard more than one slightly incorrect way of pronouncing a German T. For this reason, I feel the necessity to clarify how to do it correctly and to show you how to form a perfect German T: It all starts with the right position of the tongue . So, open...
How NOT to Approach Art Songs (and What to Do Instead)
Working on an art song for the first time is a bit like having to describe a picture to a blind person. Tempting as it may be to google for an existing description of the work, this would rob you of the possibility to discover and understand the picture by yourself...
“Erlkönig” (Franz Schubert) – A Guide to Pronunciation and Interpretation
Translation, pronunciation guide and interpretation tips on "Erlkönig" by Franz Schubert Historical background „Der Erlkönig” is a famous ballad by the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, written in 1778 as part of a singspiel. It tells the story of a father...
The Different Sounds of R in German
There have been long disputes and discussions about the different sounds of R in German pronunciation and their treatment when it comes to singing. In spoken German, the uvular R-sound is the standard (similar to the French R). However, this is not recommended when it...
Recordings are forever
Recordings: life companions There are some recordings on my CD shelves that have accompanied me for decades. Sometimes, I do not listen to them for years and they slumber away, almost forgotten. But from time to time, I will get them out, listen to them and let myself...
When Do You Need A Pronunciation Coach – And When Not
You are a singer and consider hiring a pronunciation coach but you are not sure if you really need one or if this isn’t just an other fancy way of killing time? After all, there are lots of recordings on YouTube you could learn of, couldn’t you? (This is a rhethorical...
How to Pronounce German Plosives or Stop Consonants
The German letters P, T and K and their little siblings B, D and G often create confusion when it comes to correct pronunciation. One should think that when a D is written, a D is also said. Alas, the rules are a bit more complex. Nevertheless, I can assure you that...
Confession of A Pronunciation Coach
As you may know, I live in Southern Germany, in Bavaria to be exact, an area that is not only known for its beautiful landscape but also for its vast amount of dialects. These dialects are so different from each other and some of them are so strong that it is...
How to Pronounce “ich” and “ach” in German
Ach, the „ch“! A source of many problems and a well of tears. Seriously, the “ich”- and “ach”-sounds are one of the main problems non-native singers face in German pronunciation. Yet, mastering these different sounds is necessary in order to achieve authentic German...