The document provides an introduction to diction for singers. It discusses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as a true phonetic alphabet where each symbol represents one sound. It notes that the English language is not a phonetic language, as sounds and spellings are often not the same. For example, the vowel sound 'ee' can be spelled seven different ways. The document also discusses dialects and exceptions to standard pronunciation when singing. It emphasizes learning IPA, listening to recordings, and working with a voice teacher to properly train diction skills.

1. Diction for Singers 1
[wɛlkəm tu dɪkʃən fɔr sɪŋɚz pɑrt wʌn]
[mɑɪ næm ɪz dɑktɚ koplənd]

2. Definition:
The International Phonetic
Alphabet is a symbol system
representing the sounds used in
speech and singing.

3. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a true
phonetic alphabet in which one symbol stands for
one sound.
This alphabet has remained unchanged from it’s
creation in 1886.
2 beginning rules for writing in IPA:
It’s always in brackets.
It’s never capitalized.

4. [hoʊp ɪz ðə θɪŋ wɪð fɛðɚz]

5. [hoʊp ɪz ðə θɪŋ wɪð fɛðɚz]
"Hope" is the thing with feathers—

6. [hoʊp ɪz ðə θɪŋ wɪð fɛðɚz]
[ðæt pɝtʃɪz ɪn ðə soʊl]
[ænd sɪŋz ðə tun wɪðaʊt ðə wɝdz]

7. [hoʊp ɪz ðə θɪŋ wɪð fɛðɚz]
"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
[ðæt pɝtʃɪz ɪn ðə soʊl]
That perches in the soul—
[ænd sɪŋz ðə tun wɪðaʊt ðə wɝdz]
And sings the tune without the words—

8. [hoʊp ɪz ðə θɪŋ wɪð fɛðɚz]
[ðæt pɝtʃɪz ɪn ðə soʊl]
[ænd sɪŋz ðə tun wɪðaʊt ðə wɝdz]
[ænd nɛvɚ stɑps æt ɔl]
[ænd switɪst ɪn ðə ɡeɪl ɪz hɝd]
[ænd sɔr mʌst bi ðə stɔrm]
[ðæt kʊd ə’bæʃ ðə lɪtl bɝd]
[ðæt kɛpt soʊ mɛni wɔrm]
[aɪv hɝd ɪt ɪn ðə tʃɪlɪst lænd]
[ænd ɑn ðə streɪndʒɪst si]
[jɛt nɛvɚ ɪn ɪkˈstr məti]
ɛ
[ɪt æskt ʌ krʌm əv mi]

9. "Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—
And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—
I've heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

10. Our roman alphabet of English is NOT a phonetic
alphabet – sound and spelling are often not the
same.
For example, the sound ee [i] may have seven
different spellings:

11. Our roman alphabet of English is NOT a phonetic
alphabet – sound and spelling are often not the
same.
For example, the sound ee [i] may have seven
different spellings:
Be, eat, beet, receive, people, brief, Phoenix

12. Also, a single English letter might stand for several
sounds: my = [mɑɪ] lane = [leɪn]
Or a dialect may demand even more sounds per vowel:
pat [pæjət]; pet [pɛjət]; pit [pɪjət]
Standard English: [pæt] [pɛt] [pɪt]

13. Sometimes dialects even add consonants!
Wash [waʃ] becomes [wɔrʃ] in Appalachian Southern
English! Awesome.
In English, a single letter may have no sound at all, such
as the p in pneumonia.
Other letters represent more that one sound, as in the
word mix where the letter x has two sounds: ks.
Two words may also be spelled differently, but
pronounced alike: piece and peace.
There are twenty-two vowel sounds in English = FUN!

17. Dialects are COOL, but when you
sing, you should be singing in
standard American English.
Why?
What are exceptions?
Should your dialect influence your
pronunciation of foreign
languages?

18. Famous diction scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZqESl-0OkA

19. How close can you get?
 Learn IPA, pronunciation rules
 Listen to recordings – be careful!
 Train with a voice teacher
 Coach with a native speaker. They offer
pitch, rhythm, stress, and details a book can’t
teach you well. But it must be speaker that
understands LYRIC diction.
What is Lyric Diction?

20. What if my voice teacher has
me pronounce something differently
than I learned in Diction class???

21. Answer:
You should do exactly what your voice
teacher says. The words ―Dr.
Copeland says…‖ should not escape
your mouth.

22. Because I don’t
want you to hear
them say:
―Dr. Copeland is an
idiot. Everyone
knows that.‖

23. We have dialect
baggage.

24. Why are we starting with
Italian diction first?