German for Musicians Lorna Price


Empowering musicians to learn German

German Courses

  • A1.3 German for Beginners

    On Zoom, Tuesday 09:00 - 10:30, starting 3rd September 2024

    For beginner German learners with some prior knowledge. Please email for a free language consultation.

  • German for Musicians: A1.1 Beginners

    Starting January 2025 - email for details

    An online group A1.1 ‘from scratch’ course.

  • German for Musicians: Advanced

    Coming soon

    A B1+ level course, polishing your existing language skills for use in a professional musical setting.

  • Bespoke Courses

    Whenever suits you!

    1-1, or with a group of colleagues. I am happy to write you a course to suit your wishes.

Short Courses

  • Crash course sessions for German speakers of any level. Learn how to introduce yourself, say your repertoire and key vocabulary for auditions. 1-1, £50 an hour.

  • Taking on a rehearsal contract? Learn key rehearsal language. Please enquire for an estimate of hours required to suit your level.

    Course to include at request:

    • Rehearsal markings

    • Tempi and musical directions

    • Dynamics

    • Intervals

    • Music notation

    • Metaphor and interpretation

    1-1, £50 an hour.

  • Always wanted to approach agents? Learn how to formulate emails in German.

    1-1, £50 an hour.

About me

British mezzo-soprano Lorna Price began her musical and linguistic training as a chorister at Llandaff Cathedral. It was her early experiences of singing Bach that motivated her to take up learning German (and her singing of Bach, now professionally, continues to inspire her!)

Lorna continued her vocal studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where she sang as a Choral Scholar and read Modern and Medieval Languages (French and German). She specialised in German Baroque Opera, Singing Translations and German musicology of the Goethe-period, and graduated with First Class honours, with a university award for her spoken German. Whilst a student, she spent her year abroad working at the Press Office of the Wiener Staatsoper (when not singing or whirling around the ballroom) and at Schott Music International in Mainz, in the educational resources department. She continues to study vocally with Alison Wells, for whose continued guidance and support she is very grateful.

Today, Lorna  pursues a portfolio career of solo and ensemble performance, outreach, and German language training and translations for musicians, with a particular emphasis on Early Music. As a Mezzo, she performs with some of the UK's and Europe’s leading vocal ensembles, including the Monteverdi Choir, BBC Singers, Collegium Vocale Gent, Utopia Choir, Tenebrae and ORA Singers. On Sundays, Lorna sings with the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Lorna regularly performs as a step-out soloist, particularly enjoying oratorio and part-song work. She was a Monteverdi Choir Apprentice for the 2023 / 2024 season. Upcoming engagements include Castor et Pollux at the Opéra National de Paris in 2025, and a tour of Handel’s Theodora with Jupiter Ensemble.

Her translations span an eclectic array of musical media. From surtitle translations, to advertising texts, biographies, and teaching and learning materials for music, her translations have appeared in media, print and publications of the Wiener Staatsoper, Welsh National Opera, Schott Music International, Wigmore Hall, and of the Goethe-Institut. Privately, her clients have included orchestral and vocal artists of international acclaim. She has translated for performance, with a notable singing translation of the comedic Singspiele of Reinhard Keiser.

She is a German speaker of near-native proficiency, and as a language coach and teacher, she qualified under the Goethe-Institut’s international Grünes Diplom for teachers of German world-wide, with whom she has been working since 2020. She continues to deliver workshops to schools offering a first taste of the German language through music, with the hope of motivating young people to learn the language that launched her career.

Lorna has facilitated and delivered nation-wide programmes for access into music and languages, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut (Learn German through Song for Primary Schools, Yeah Yeah Yeah; Singing the Beatles in German), and as part of Tenebrae's acclaimed Singing Schools programme. She is known for her spirited comedic energy and enthusiasm for languages and music, which she hopes to inspire in those with whom she works.

Language Education Work

  • German for Singers

    Learn German for rehearsals and contracts, with specialist pronunciation training for singers.

  • Translations for Musicians

    ‘Singing’ translations of Opera and Lieder, translations for advertising, translation of teaching and learning materials.

  • German for Orchestral Musicians and Conductors

    Learn German for rehearsals and contracts in Germany

  • Workshops for schools

    Motivational workshops for schools combining language and song

  • Bilingual Singing and Piano Lessons for Children

    Bilingual Singing and Piano Lessons for Children

    For bilingual German / English-speaking children

  • Coaching for Choirs and Choruses

    Specialist pronunciation coaching in rehearsals

FAQs

  • Music and German go hand-in-hand! In a post-Brexit climate, the need to learn German and maintain musical and cultural links with Germany is more important than ever. Whether you would like learn German to understand Lieder texts or to open up the possibility of taking on contract within the German-speaking world, your course will be tailored to your musical and linguistic needs.

  • Learning a language is like learning an instrument. Musicians are, in my experience, excellent linguists on account of their musical ear. Every learner is different, and there is no lower or upper limit on the lessons you can book. You can also request lessons for specific contexts, for example, German for orchestral rehearsals. Please drop me a message and we can find a pattern that works for you.

  • The German language and music are my two loves. My lessons seek to combine linguistic development with a joyful and playful discovery of Germany, its culture and its language.

  • I charge a flat fare of £50 for a generous hour online 1-1 of a bespoke programme, tailored to your needs. Lessons of 1.5 hours are £75 for 1-1

    Group courses for up to 15 participants can also be booked if you would like to group up with some friends. Please enquire for group bookings, and I will discuss price based on individal requests.

  • It depends on the text involved. Write me an email and I will send you an estimate, to give you the best deal possible.

  • For a morning workshop of two hours at a private school, I charge £250 for groups up to 250 participants in size.If you are in the state sector, please send me a message.

Contact me

I am always delighted to hear from fellow musicians and lovers of German! Please drop me an email below and I’ll get back to you!