WEBSITES FOR SINGERS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS
By Nancy E. Harris, M.H., Vocologist, LMVRT, published in CSMTA Notes & News July 2012 (c)
(Note: As the Internet changes often, these links are not guaranteed.)
The Internet can be a truly helpful source of information for musicians of all kinds. Occasionally, either we, or our students, might need to research historic information (composers, periods), to use music theory sites (games for sight-reading, note review, rhythm, etc.), to research copyright information (public domain or not?), to share with and/or request information from other teachers (chat sites, groups, forum, and blogs), to find repertoire lists, to read recent publications, and to find out entry requirements and dates from colleges and schools (such as the Denver School for the Arts). We may also want to create websites and use online sources to run our studios.
In addition to these general types of sources, singers also have a need to do word-for-word translations of lyrics and to check pronunciation of foreign languages; to watch other singers performing on YouTube; to locate upcoming performances, and to check on local and national organization sites for contacts, competitions, auditions, or teaching-job openings at colleges.
Following are lists of websites that might be useful to you to do these types of research (not including MTNA, CSMTA, or local groups). Thanks to Colorado-Wyoming NATS Chapter President Ellie Seligmann for sharing her original list with me, and getting me started using online groups. Thanks also to Leila Viss for her invaluable information at a recent DAMTA Presentation: Lesson + Lab = More , and to Shana Kirk for information from her DAMTA Fall Course on Technology in the Studio. This is a relatively short list, as there are entire books written on the subject that will guide you to sources (ex. A Wide World of Webvisits—Morgan; Are We There Yet? A Musical Journey Around the World-Brener & Sisler); however, perhaps these will help you to get started!
VOCAL –SPECIFIC AIDS
www.aria-database.com (translations, scene descriptions, MIDI)
www.recmusic.org/lieder/ (text and translations of lieder and art songs)
http://tenorland.com/fachsystem/ (understanding the German Fach system of voice-typing)
www.worldzone.net/music/singingvoice/ (educational resource for singers and their teachers)
www.repertoireonline.com
www.ncvs.org/ncvs/info/singers/ (National Center for Voice and Speech)
www.singermagazine.com/singer_university/ask_coach/
PIANO-SPECIFIC AIDS
www.ptg.org (Piano Technicians Guild—info about inside of the piano, parts, videos, games)
www.pianoeducation.org
www.peforkids.com (Piano Explorer online page—listening guide, links)
THEORY, HISTORY, and EAR TRAINING: (Some require MIDI to play the games; some may cost to join)
www.geocities.com/voxdoc/ (The New Grove Dictionary of Music)
www.musictheory.net
www.practicespot.com (also free website, blog, practice room resources, downloads)
www.goodear.com
www.earpower.com
www.tonictutor.com
www.musiclearningcommunity.com
FORUMS, BLOGS, CHATS
www.nfcs.net (The New Forum for Classical Singers)
www.classicalsinger.com (Classical Singer Magazine)
www.nats.org (National Association of Teachers of Singing)
www.pianoforum.net/index.htm (Piano Forum)
www.composecreate.com (Wendy Stevens’ blog on keeping piano studios creative)
www.musicmattersblog.com (creative resources for the independent music teacher)
http://88pianokeys.me (Leila Viss’s collection of teaching and technology tips)
Linked-In, Google, and Facebook also have groups you can join, such as the National Association for Music Education, the NATS Voice Pedagogy Group, Musicology Performance Research Group, etc. See their homepages for information on how to connect with others with your interests.
VOCAL PERFORMANCE AND AUDITIONS
www.youngvoices.org (organization of Colorado youth choirs)
www.operapronto.com (Colorado-specific events, auditions, and commentary newsletter)
www.noa.org/index.htm (National Opera Association)
www.operalinks.com
www.operabase.com/en
www.classicalsinger.com (holds annual scholarship competition, plus audition notices)
OTHER USEFUL SITES
http://dsa.dpsk12.org/ (Denver School for the Arts—orchestra, piano, guitar, vocal majors, etc. , for grades 6-12)
www.dma.org/dma/ (Denver Musicians Association)
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright (U.S. Copyright Office)
www.sciortino.net/music/ (The Classical Music MIDI page)
www.zenph.com/zenph-software (MIDI and more)
www.duplemeter.com (website host, social network for studio, lesson calendar, blog and more)
www.musicteachershelper.com (free website, blog, lesson calendar, income and expense tracker, blog, and more)