The Pocket Coach practice materials present repertoire using the following study-steps. Check the listing for each item to find the study steps featured on a particular CD or tape. See below for the abbreviations and description of these study steps. These study steps help the singer learn repertoire efficiently, and right the first time. They help to save valuable lesson time that can be otherwise better spent on vocal technique, and vocal expression when the singer has the song or aria mastered before he or she comes to the lesson or coaching session. Here are the steps and how they work:

Recitation Step. The native speaker fluently recites the words of the song or aria. This gives the singer a sense of the flow of the language, and a chance to learn the proper word stresses and the general feeling of the language.

Repetition Step. The native speaker slowly reads each phrase of the song or aria and then pauses to allow the singer to repeat immediately afterwards. This allows the singer to practice pronouncing each phrase like a language tape. This step quickly and efficiently teaches the mechanics of a language, like correct vowel sounds and double consonants, and gives the beginning singer confidence to sing in a foreign language.
This step can also be used in memorizing a song by speaking each phrase in the pause before the speaker so that any corrections can be immediately noted. This makes memory work a snap.

Diction Step. The words of the song or aria are spoken in rhythm while the melody is played on a separate channel by a flute. This helps the singer fit the words to the melody. This is a step often used by professional coaches and allows the singer to fine tune his or her pronunciation.

Melody with Piano Accompaniment or Orchestral Accompaniment. The melody is played on one channel while the piano or orchestral accompaniment is played on the other channel. This allows the singer to practice singing first with just melody, then gradually adding more accompaniment until the singer can sing with accompaniment channel alone, using the balance knob on a stereo system.

Translation. A literal word-for-word translation is given to help the singer develop his or her own personal interpretation of the song or aria. When the meaning of each word is known, the singer can more effectively communicate with the audience. In the music books, literal translations are printed underneath the non-English lyrics. For the Gold Label Performance Series orchestral aria collections and single aria CDs, literal translations are printed on the CD insert card.