Learning German through music

Music has a magic that connects people around the world, even when they speak different languages. It can also be extremely helpful when learning a foreign language – such as German. If you pay attention to the lyrics of German pop songs and sing along, you automatically practise pronunciation and rhythm – and develop a better feel for the language. Melodies also help you remember new words more easily. 

The Goethe-Institut has long made use of this effect. On the page Musik liegt in der Luft, you’ll find a wide range of materials developed specifically for learning with German songs – from simple listening exercises to tasks for advanced learners. Numerous songs by German pop artists such as Wincent Weiss have been didactically prepared so you can learn directly through the music. 

Another treasure trove is the DeutschMusikBlog. Here you’ll find lots of music videos organised by level, topic and learning objectives. This makes it easy to choose songs that suit your current level and work specifically on vocabulary, pronunciation or grammar. 

Even more music with German lyrics and matching exercises is available on the website LyricsGaps. There you can search for song lyrics in German and other languages. Each track comes with a YouTube video and the lyrics to read along. You can repeat individual lines, fill in gap texts or simply sing along.