Tuesday Practice Tips: How to Learn a Song, Part 1 — Begin with the Words

Meagan Mayne
May 6
4 min read

Updated: May 6

There are million ways to learn a song, and every singer has to discover the process that works best for them. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share a step-by-step approach I often recommend in my teaching — one that helps singers learn more deeply, build confidence, and prepare with purpose. Whether you’re practicing at home, heading into rehearsal, or stepping onto the stage, these techniques are designed to make your learning process smoother and more meaningful.

The foundation of learning any song is understanding its text. Before you tackle melodies and harmonies, spend time with the words themselves. This means knowing what you’re saying and how to say it.

1. Learn the text separately.

Start by making sure you understand every word. If the song is in a foreign language, translate it word for word. Write the translation underneath the original text on your sheet music — this helps commit the meaning to memory and reveals the song’s story or message.

Why does this matter? Because when you understand what each word means, your brain isn’t just memorizing sounds — it’s attaching meaning to them. I heard a voice teacher say: memorizing random syllables is like going down a road without landmarks — you easily get lost because nothing guides you. But memorizing meaningful words is like walking down a road with landmarks; each step connects naturally to the next, making it easier to stay on track.

Plus, when you know what you’re saying, you communicate the text more clearly to your audience. You’re not just delivering sounds — you’re expressing ideas, emotions, and a story. Audiences can always tell when a singer truly understands the meaning behind their words; it makes the performance feel more authentic, engaging, and powerful.

I’ve even been told, “I couldn’t understand your words, but I knew what you were saying.” That’s when you know you aren’t just singing sounds — the text has become part of you. Even when your audience doesn’t speak the language, you’re sharing emotion, intention, and meaning beyond the literal words. That’s when a performance truly connects.

Tip: Even if the song is in your native language, don’t skip this step. Sometimes there are poetic phrases or older expressions that need clarification. Knowing the meaning behind the text allows you to sing with intent and emotion, rather than just mouthing sounds.

2. Use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

Once you’ve learned the IPA, write the symbols above the musical line on your sheet music. With the translation below the text and the IPA above, you have a full guide for both meaning and pronunciation. This helps you perfect pronunciation, especially for tricky foreign-language pieces, so you’re not just guessing at the sounds.

If you’re not familiar, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of symbols that represent the exact sounds of spoken language. For singers, learning IPA is incredibly useful because it helps you pronounce foreign texts accurately and consistently, even if you don’t speak the language fluently. I hope to write more posts about IPA in the future, sharing details and resources on how to get started.

Tip: Even for songs in English, IPA can clarify pronunciation. If I tell you to sing more of an “ah” vowel on a specific word, write the IPA symbol as a reminder. If I tell you your ending consonants aren’t coming through, you can mark that consonant sound to remind yourself to land it cleanly. Writing out tricky vowel or consonant sounds in IPA ensures you sing each word clearly and correctly.

3. Practice speaking the text aloud.

Practice until you can speak the text smoothly, with correct phrasing and no stumbling. Once the words feel natural in your mouth, adding the notes becomes much easier.

Why is this important? Because singing is built on muscle memory. If you’re still struggling to remember the words or tripping over pronunciation, your brain and body will have a harder time focusing on musicality, expression, and technique. Speaking the text aloud locks it into your memory and mouth, so when you add rhythm and pitch, you’re free to focus on artistry rather than survival!

You can also try speaking the text in rhythm to connect the words to the song’s pulse, or speaking it freely to explore natural inflections and emphasis. Both approaches are useful and help prepare the words for musical shaping.

Example Exercise: Try reading the text as a dramatic monologue. Stand up and imagine you’re on stage delivering these lines to an audience or another character. Exaggerate the emotions and facial expressions. It might feel silly, but it breaks through inhibitions and makes the emotional intent of the words much clearer.

Try this process this week and notice how much more confident you feel when you bring your song to rehearsal or performance!

Not sure where to start with foreign-language repertoire or pronunciation? Sign up for lessons — I’d love to help guide you through the process and support your musical growth.