5 Unusual Ways To Learn Italian Through Music

There are as many ways to learn a language as there are people seeking to learn it, and for those who prefer an audiovisual learning method, conventional textbook learning can fall short.  Thanks to the internet, we have access to more language learning resources than ever, and for many people music can be a fun, interactive way of building their language skills.  And Italy, of course, has a rich heritage of music dating back hundreds of years, giving you limitless options on ways to practice your listening.

1. Go To the Opera.  While opera isn’t for everyone, for those fans of classical music and dramatic storylines, going to an opera can be a fun excuse to get out of the house, dress fancy, and get a healthy dose of high culture.  Even for the beginner, Italian opera is an excellent method of practicing; many opera houses offer a libretto of lyrics and their translations, and even if they don’t, the singers are generally so emotive that you’ll understand what’s going on anyway.  Try a romantic comedy like The Marriage of Figaro, or a time-honored favorite like La Bohème.
2. Watch Music Videos on YouTube.  For those who don’t want to leave the house, YouTube has a wealth of Italian media that you can spend hours poring through.  Many Italian songs have lyrics and English translations in subtitles on the video, making studying and learning new vocabulary as easy as possible.  Check out popular Italian artists of the past century, or look for more familiar songs from English pop culture translated into Italian.
3. Download Songs and Listen Throughout the Day.  This is a good option for those who can’t spend long periods of time on YouTube, or who have long commutes, or who simply want a low-profile way to practice Italian at work.  Simply download onto your mp3 player and you can listen all day—great for multi-taskers!
4. Karaoke.  For those who want a more active role in their language learning, why not  get up and sing yourself!  Karaoke can make for a great night out or a great night in—plenty of small Italian restaurants will have karaoke in the evenings, especially if they are part of an Italian community in your city.  Otherwise, you can always buy your own karaoke set and download the tracks for yourself.
5. Write Your Own Song.  If none of these other options appeals to you, take matters into your own hands.  Gather a list of words you want to learn, sit down with a guitar or a keyboard, and cobble together your own musical number.  Then write some more.  Compose yourself an entire rock opera, and practice singing it often!

Of course, whatever methods you choose to expand your knowledge of Italian, you will first need a strong base of vocabulary and grammar.  Achieve this by looking into one of our Italian language courses, or by sending us an enquiry so we can determine which level of Italian is best to get you on your way.