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Most useful foreign languages for music career?

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Which language is most useful to learn for a musician?

German: 5 (50%)
Italian: 2 (20%)
French: 2 (20%)
Russian: 0 (0%)
Spanish: 0 (0%)
Mandarin Chinese: 0 (0%)
Polish: 0 (0%)
Other (please specify): 1 (10%)

Total Members Voted: 9

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Topic: Most useful foreign languages for music career? (Read 6106 times)

gapoc459

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Posts: 62

Most useful foreign languages for music career?

on: March 11, 2014, 02:45:23 PM

Consider both the practical aspects of using the language today as well as the cultural importance of the language (like being able to read texts written by composers, etc.).

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ale_ius

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Full Member
Posts: 180

Re: Most useful foreign languages for music career?

Reply #1 on: March 11, 2014, 04:05:47 PM

Well, does it not depend in which foreign country you will live in and/or work in most often? That would be the most supremely useful. If you will have teach in Germany every summer, then that, if you will live in Tokyo, then that, if you will tour extensively in Italy....etc. right?

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quantum

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Sr. Member
Posts: 6266

Re: Most useful foreign languages for music career?

Reply #2 on: March 11, 2014, 04:22:28 PM

If you have a particular interest in certain musics or research for that music has a tendency to be written in that language, then that is probably a language you should consider.

If you are planning on doing a graduate reading exam on that language, keep in mind there is not always someone available to provide the text and grade the language you may be considering. It is best to ask first.

To take an example: Your topic is the transculturation of Canadian Aboriginal musics between 1900-1910. Will learning German help you because so many urtext editions are from German publishing houses?

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outin

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Posts: 8211

Re: Most useful foreign languages for music career?

Reply #3 on: March 12, 2014, 04:59:09 AM

Consider if you want to study or work in countries where people can't/don't want to commounicate much in English. Russia and France come to mind first...

If you don't know it would be good to learn the basics of a few: German, Russian and French. Then you could more easily adapt and learn better where ever you end up.

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Bob

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Sr. Member
Posts: 16367

Re: Most useful foreign languages for music career?

Reply #4 on: March 12, 2014, 11:42:00 AM

German, French, Russian, Italian.

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