Hopefully this site will seem self explanatory to you, but just in case you need more information, keep reading.
This database has many songs, so just check the boxes for the criteria of the kind of song you are looking for.
Click on view details for more info on each song!
Composer
If you are looking for songs by a specific composer, simply type their name into the box and the songs written by them will be listed below.
Source
If you are looking for songs from a specific source, for example a musical, opera or album, you can type its title into the “Source” box and the songs from that source will be listed below.
Language
If you have a preferred language, select one in the dropdown list.
Number of Singers
Please select if you are looking for a solo, duet, or trio. Songs that feature a large group ensemble will come up under both solo and trio.
Voice type
If you want to do a song in its original key, select the voice type you would prefer. Please note that many songs work for multiple voice types and will come up for all of them. Also, please change the key of songs you want to sing so they fit your voice.
Genre
Select the genre you are looking for. Many songs fit in several genres and will come up for all of them. “Child” means music that is written for a young audience and typically able to be performed by a child. “Traditional Pop” refers to pop music from the 1950s and earlier. “Disney” typically refers to music from Disney films, but can also include Nickelodeon and other television channels.
Composer Details
This allows you to filter songs based on the composer. If you’re looking for a female identifying composer or you are putting together a recital that features composers who are POC, this allows you to find their works. Queer refers to anyone who is affiliated with the queer community.
Period
This allows you to filter songs based on the period. Every source has slightly different definitions on the periods for both classical music and musical theatre, so I have listed the era names as well as listed the modern year options to allow you to make your own decision on what counts as contemporary. Each classical and musical theatre song from post 1910 is listed via era as well as decade. Pop/rock/etc is listed via decade only.
Song Type
This allows you to filter out some additional details. For classical selections, simply check art song or aria if you have a preference. For other genres feel free to select uptempo or ballad.
Techniques Impacted
For a new voice teacher, this is the hardest part of finding and choosing repertoire: figuring out what a piece will help your student grow with the techniques you are currently working on.
In an effort to help narrow down the choices, you can select what skills you want your student to work on while studying their new piece.
- Pitch: pieces with this attribute have potentially challenging pitches and will challenge singers. This can mean there are big leaps or chromatic movement or that the piece is not diatonic.
- Rhythm: pieces with this attribute will have challenging rhythmic passages. This could mean there are syncopated portions or that the vocal line does not line up with the accompaniment.
- Head Voice Dominant: pieces with this attribute will have passages typically sung in head voice. Please use you own judgement on what register your student should be singing the passages in.
- Chest Voice Dominant: pieces with this attribute will have passages typically sung in chest voice. Please use you own judgement on what register your student should be singing the passages in.
- Falsetto: pieces with this attribute will have passages typically sung in falsetto. Please use you own judgement on what register your student should be singing the passages in.
- Register shifts: pieces with this attribute will typically feature register shifts throughout the song.
Song Attributes
- Odd Time Signature: pieces with this attribute will have odd time signatures that will challenge your singers. They may have the same time signature throughout, or will have several time signatures.
- Recitative: piece contains recitative
- Under a minute: the piece is very short
- Comedic: piece is typically interpreted as comedic
- Dramatic: piece is typically interpreted as dramatic
- Legit (musical theatre): piece is a part of the “legit” musical theatre canon, which means it uses classical technique which prefers head voice and very crisp diction. I would like to emphasize that “legit” does not mean better or more important and that this language is antiquated.
- Belt: pieces with this attribute use a belt quality. Remember that belting is a quality and NOT a register.
- Screlt: pieces with this attribute use a screlt quality.
- Character: pieces with this attribute will require character work
- Breathy: pieces with this attribute are typically sung with a breathy quality. Please use your discretion on whether this is right for your singers.
- Fast Moving Passages: pieces with this attribute have fast moving passages that could be spoken or sung. This also includes runs or melismas or riffs.
Duet/Trio Attributes
- Harmonic Passages: pieces with this attribute will have passages where two or more singers are singing harmony with similar rhythmic patterns.
- Separate Solos: pieces with this attribute will have solos for two or more singers.
- Canonic Passages: pieces with this attribute will have passages where two or more singers sing in a round or on top of each other, but don’t have similar rhythmic patterns.
- Potential Harmonies: pieces with this attribute will have passages with potential harmonies. They are not required.
- Potential Backup Singers: pieces with this attribute are often songs that could have an ensemble singing as well, but are successful as a solo piece.
Age of Character
This is mostly useful for opera and musical theatre and allows you to filter songs that fit the ages you are able to portray or the ages you are looking for. This does not mean songs can’t be performed at any age, but gives you the ability to choose an age range if needed.