French is a language beset with problems, especially for non-native speakers. Where should there be a liaison between one word and the next? What mouth shape is needed to produce a tricky vowel sound? What about nasal vowels? Or all those silent consonants? This book contains all the tricks of the trade: the singer need never fear singing in French again.

The Boosey Voice Coach is an entirely new concept in vocal training. Not a self-teaching manual, and not filled with off-putting diagrams, this series is a wholly practical guide to singing - learning about technique and interpretation through the repertoire itself.

Each volume is devoted to singing in one particular language or to singing in a specific context, such as musical theatre or oratorio. In each volume of the series, works from the vocal canon have been selected specifically by Mary King for their technical and musical challenges. Each piece is discussed at length, starting with the words ('Text' - including a literal translation as appropriate), moving to general advice about how the song might be approached ('Notes'), and then addressing the technical difficulties the music presents ('Skills'). Expressed in clear language, Mary King's approach is direct, practical and not limited to one particular teaching method. Any student will find that these books enrich and complement their vocal studies.

"This new series from renowned vocal coach Mary King foregrounds the problems of singing in a particular language or context by providing detailed advice on the repertoire in each songbook. Volumes for English and German are already available. French songs are specifically to demonstrate the pitfalls of singing in this language. The selection offers some of the usual choices including pieces by Debussy, Chausson and Faure but also offers some lesser-known pieces by Boismortier, Turnage and Bernstein. The book is an excellent source of information and extremely reliable."
Music Teacher