Basic IPA

Every fall semester, most freshman vocal performance majors register for an introduction to IPA, English and Italian Diction, often followed by French and German.  Without fail, the students return to class having read the assigned reading, looking like they have been asked to read a text in ancient Aramaic, without any grasp of the language or history. We then spend the rest of the semester creating a basic understanding of the language of IPA, and how it applies to whatever language we are currently studying.  We have a lot of fun. But, trying to sift through a college level diction text can be daunting for a young singer who's never encountered phonetics of even gone to the trouble of dissecting the elements of their own language, let alone one they don't speak.  Don't get me wrong, the canon of scholarly writing is more than adequate, nor do I feel the need to add to it.  What my students are continually asking for is a quick reference that helps them sift through all the rules.  The basics, mixed with a few tips and tricks to help them feel less intimidated and more likely to want to study further.