Repertoire
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Part of finding your voice is also finding the right repertoire for you. The right repertoire for you will be easier to sing and will suit your character and your voice. I will give you suggestions, but I strongly encourage students to keep searching for music and learn more and more repertoire. Each song is different and teaches us different things about the voice. Some of the repertoire may be too hard to sing, but it is always good to learn the music, the words, the translation and then when the instrument is ready - learning to sing it will be much faster. Learning a lot of repertoire will also improve your musicianship and your sight reading.
Listen, listen, listen! Whenever you hear a song, think if you like it and if you want to sing it. Try to develop an instinct and feel if “you have it in your voice” or character, if it suits you or that you feel an urge to do it differently or even better than how you hear a piece done. Feeling that “you have it in your voice” does not mean that you are ready to sing it just now; but many times it gives a clue to your potential and direction. You might feel that with work you could get there, that when you hear that piece something happens physically inside you. If you found one piece like that - continue with that direction (with the same singer/composer/style). Besides; listening to good singers and watching them is always good; there is a lot to learn from their art and technique, and even learn from their shortcoming and try to avoid them. Usually one sings better even without a warm up (or with a very short one), just by listening to very good singers and musicians.
Searching for Repertoire
- The Toronto Reference Library (at Yonge & Bloor) has a large collection of music scores on the 5th floor. Many of the scores can be checked out.
- Purchase sheet music in a music store, for example Remenyi House of Music Ltd or Long & McQuade.
- YouTube: very useful to learn the standard material. Use it to get inspiration from the great singers or browse through a lot of material before deciding what you want to sing.
- Classical:
- There are free online sources (see Repertoire Links)
- The University of Toronto Music Library: only students can borrow material but the general public can browse and photocopy.
- Order CDs/videos/DVDs of operas/art songs/oratorio from The Toronto Public Library. Borrow only top quality performers. It is worth the wait.
- Do not neglect classical instrumental repertoire; listening to it will make you a better musician. Not to mention gaining respect from conductors and instrumentalist (who might even forgive your “diva” behaviour ☺).
- For beginners I recommend the book “26 Italian songs and arias” for either medium low or medium high voice.
- More coming soon
- Popular:
- HamieNET.com: Open Educational Music Library. MIDI, MP3, Lyrics, Sheet Music, Guitar Tab & More!
- Once you found the MIDI file in the above link you can convert it (one a day) to sheet music here (or use Note Worthy Composer).
- Online sheet music: search the internet for the song name and add the words Sheet Music. You will find many websites offering instant printable sheet music. Prices and quality varies.
- More Coming Soon...
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Learning Repertoire
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Repertoire Links
- The website of the voice teacher Thea van der Putten includes detailed repertoire lists.
- International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP): A wiki-based library of public domain music scores. Amazing site.
- Art Song Central: free, printable sheet music for singers and voice teachers.
- Schubertline: online score service for singers, instant printed sheet music of lieder, songs and arias - view, play and print in any key.
- Sheet Music Archive: two free downloads a day.
- The Mutopia Project: Free sheet music for everyone.
- Note Worthy Composer: allows you to create, record, edit, print and play back your own musical scores (includes a MIDI to score converter). Download a free trial version.
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Repertoire Quiz
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