NATS National Conference 2022

Breakout Session
Teaching Voice Students from East Asia: Understanding the Linguistic Challenges and Advantages Unique to Native Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Japanese Speakers

Presenters: Sahoko Sato Timpone, Ryu-Kyung Kim, Stephen Ng, Mutsumi Moteki, Wei-En Hsu

Voice teachers today are working more often with students for whom English is their second language and it is increasingly helpful for them to understand the linguistic tendencies of represented languages. This presentation followed by a panel discussion will explore specific examples for speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Japanese, where these languages present both challenges and advantages to vocalists compared to American English speakers. Each of the presenters are native speakers of these four languages and currently hold academic positions in voice and collaborative piano. Handouts with additional resources and exercises will also be provided for attendees. The goal of this presentation is to help voice teachers become more acquainted with these languages and to provide them with practical tips to apply in their studios. Through examining linguistic perspectives, using pre-recorded video samples and providing specific exercises, we aim to advance vocal teaching for East Asian singers.