Expert Opinions on the Impact of Russian Romances on the Development of Singing Students in Turkey

Abstract

This study examines the role of Russian romances in vocal education in Turkey and assesses their impact on the technical and musical development of vocal students. Russian romances, which draw upon a rich and venerable Russian musical tradition and literature, have the potential to play a significant role in expanding the musical expression, technical skills, and cultural understanding of vocal students. It is assumed that these compositions are not sufficiently known or studied by vocal students in Turkey. The research therefore scrutinizes the possible reasons for this deficiency and explores why vocal students and instructors should engage more frequently with Russian romances. The study was conducted between the years 2011-2012 and employed a snowball sampling method to select 10 vocal instructors with at least 10 years of vocal training experience. Half of the selected instructors are full-time faculty members teaching vocal lessons at conservatories, while the other half comprises artists who are permanent members of the State Opera and Ballet but also teach vocal lessons at various conservatories as guest instructors. The findings from the interviews, observations, and literature review suggest that Russian romances should be included in conservatory curricula and that vocal education approaches should diversify to incorporate compositions in this form. The analysis of the interviewees’ statements indicates that this approach would not only provide students and instructors with a broad musical perspective but also enhance their competitiveness on international stages.