diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:55:01 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:55:01 -0700 |
| commit | f67fcaf0b7837b81bbcdd4c9ebe19668dc438e0b (patch) | |
| tree | b91739a17c8cc3c94cdaeccc122c20cb80746837 /19138.txt | |
Diffstat (limited to '19138.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 19138.txt | 4800 |
1 files changed, 4800 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/19138.txt b/19138.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d19b1dc --- /dev/null +++ b/19138.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4800 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Resonance in Singing and Speaking, by Thomas Fillebrown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Resonance in Singing and Speaking + +Author: Thomas Fillebrown + +Release Date: August 29, 2006 [EBook #19138] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RESONANCE IN SINGING AND SPEAKING *** + + + + +Produced by David Newman, Clare Boothby, Linda Cantoni, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +RESONANCE + +IN + +SINGING AND SPEAKING + + +BY + +THOMAS FILLEBROWN, M.D., D.M.D. + +TWENTY-ONE YEARS PROFESSOR OF OPERATIVE DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY IN +HARVARD UNIVERSITY; MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE +ACADEMY OF DENTAL SCIENCE, THE NEW ENGLAND OTOLOGICAL AND +LARYNGOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, ETC.; LECTURER ON VOICE DEVELOPMENT. + + +THIRD EDITION + +[Illustration: THE MUSIC STUDENTS LIBRARY] + + +BOSTON +OLIVER DITSON COMPANY + +NEW YORK +CHAS. H. DITSON & CO. + +CHICAGO +LYON & HEALY + +_Copyright, MCMXI_ +BY OLIVER DITSON COMPANY + +International Copyright secured + +[Transcriber's Note: Text in bold is surrounded by =. Text in italics +is surrounded by _.] + + + + +TO THE MEMORY OF + +WILLIAM HASKELL STOCKBRIDGE + +PUPIL OF VANNUCCINI AND MY FIRST INSTRUCTOR IN VOICE CULTURE, THIS +VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED + + + + +PREFACE + + +Efforts to develop my own voice, and the voices of my patients after +operations for cleft palate, aided by anatomical study, resulted in a +plan for the focusing and development of the human voice quite +different from any other yet published, or, so far as I know, yet +proposed. This plan has proved so successful in my later life that I +feel emboldened to offer it for the consideration of speakers and +singers. + +While twenty-five years ago few of the principles here described were +acknowledged or even recognized, within the last decade almost all +have been advocated separately by different teachers or writers. At +the present time, therefore, originality consists only in the +classification of the principles into a systematic, progressive whole, +and in arranging a simpler and more practical method of applying them, +thus making the desired results much more quickly attainable. + +It is attempted in this volume only to describe the value of each +element in the production of the perfect tone and to demonstrate the +principles which, if properly and faithfully applied, will develop the +best that is possible in each individual voice and prepare the pupil +to enter upon the more advanced arts of speaking and singing. + +In 1903 I prepared a series of papers on _The Art of Vocalism_, which +were published in _The Etude_ in May, June, and July of that year. +These articles are incorporated in this work. In connection with +different organs and conditions, important principles are stated and +restated. This repetition is thought desirable in order that the +fundamentals may be kept prominently before the mind and impressed +upon the attention. + +I believe that a careful study of this volume will prove of essential +service to teachers and advanced pupils of singing and oratory, +especially to young teachers just entering upon their duties. Its +method will be found adapted to the instruction of pupils of all +grades, from the kindergarten to the Conservatory of Music and the +School of Oratory. + +I shall be gratified if this outcome of years of experience, constant +study, and tested methods shall prove helpful to those who seek +mastery of the art of beautiful speaking and singing. + +[Illustration: [signature] Thomas Fillebrown] + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PREFACE vii + + INTRODUCTION 1 + + I. THE VOCAL INSTRUMENT 6 + + II. THE SPEAKING VOICE AND PRONUNCIATION 16 + + III. BREATH CONTROL 23 + + IV. BREATHING EXERCISES 33 + + V. REGISTERS 38 + + VI. RESONANCE IN GENERAL 43 + + VII. HEAD AND NASAL RESONANCE 51 + +VIII. PLACING THE VOICE 56 + + IX. THROAT STIFFNESS 74 + + X. SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 77 + + XI. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF VOCAL CULTURE 82 + + BOOKS CONSULTED 86 + + INDEX 89 + + + + +RESONANCE + +IN + +SINGING AND SPEAKING + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +When a youth it was my lot to be surrounded by examples of faulty +vocalism, such as prevailed in a country town, and to be subjected to +the errors then in vogue, having at the same time small opportunity +for training in the application of principles, even as then +imperfectly taught. At middle life I had given up all attempt at +singing and had difficulty in speaking so as to be heard at any +considerable distance or for any considerable length of time. +Professional obligations to my patients, however, compelled me later +to take up the subject of vocal physiology. This I did, guided by the +ideas current on the subject. + +About 1880 I became satisfied that many of the current ideas were +incorrect, and determined to start anew, and to note in detail the +action of each organ used in vocalization and articulation. To this +end I sought vocal instruction and advice, which, modified by my own +observations, have produced the most gratifying results. + +Up to that time it had been held that the nasal cavities must be cut +off from the mouth by the closing of the soft palate against the back +of the throat; that the passage of ever so little of the sound above +the palate would give a nasal twang, and that the sound was reinforced +and developed only in the cavities of the throat and mouth. My +practice in Oral Surgery, coupled with my own vocal studies exposed +this fallacy and revealed to me the true value of nasal resonance. + +The late Mme. Rudersdorff had begun to recognize the effect of nasal +resonance, but she left no published record of her conclusions. It +does not appear that she or her contemporaries realized the true value +of the nasal and head cavities as reinforcing agents in the production +of tone, or appreciated their influence upon its quality and power. + +There are perhaps few subjects on which a greater variety of opinion +exists than on that of voice culture, and few upon which so many +volumes have been written. Few points are uncontested, and exactly +opposite statements are made in regard to each. + +Formerly great stress was laid upon the distinction between "head +tones" and "chest tones," "closed tones" and "open tones." The whole +musical world was in bondage to "registers of the voice," and the one +great task confronting the singer and vocal teacher was to "blend the +registers," a feat still baffling the efforts of many instructors. + +Many teachers and singers have now reached what they consider a +demonstrated conclusion that registers are not a natural feature of +the voice; yet a large contingent still adhere to the doctrine of +"register," depending for their justification upon the unreliable +evidence furnished by the laryngoscope, not realizing that there will +be found in the little lens as many different conditions as the +observers have eyes to see. Garcia himself, the inventor of the +laryngoscope, soon modified his first claims as to its value in vocal +culture. + +On this point we have the testimony of his biographer, M.S. McKinley: + +"As far as Garcia was concerned, the laryngoscope ceased to be of any +special use as soon as his first investigations were concluded. By his +examination of the glottis he had the satisfaction of proving that all +his theories with regard to the emission of the voice were absolutely +correct. Beyond that he did not see that anything further was to be +gained except to satisfy the curiosity of those who might be +interested in seeing for themselves the forms and changes which the +inside of the larynx assumed during singing and speaking." + +Of similar purport is the word of the eminent baritone, Sir Charles +Santley, who, in his _Art of Singing_, says: + +"Manuel Garcia is held up as the pioneer of scientific teaching of +singing. He was--but he taught singing, not surgery! I was a pupil of +his in 1858 and a friend of his while he lived;[1] and in all the +conversations I had with him I never heard him say a word about larynx +or pharynx, glottis or any other organ used in the production and +emission of the voice. He was perfectly acquainted with their +functions, but he used his knowledge for his own direction, not to +parade it before his pupils." + +[Footnote 1: Garcia died July 1, 1906, at the age of 101.] + +The eminent London surgeon and voice specialist, Dr. Morell Mackenzie, +says of the laryngoscope, "It can scarcely be said to have thrown any +new light on the mechanism of the voice"; and Dr. Lennox Browne +confesses that, "Valuable as has been the laryngoscope in a +physiological, as undoubtedly it is in a medical sense, it has been +the means of making all theories of voice production too dependent on +the vocal cords, and thus the importance of the other parts of the +vocal apparatus has been overlooked." + +Not only in regard to "registers" but in regard to resonance, focus, +articulation, and the offices and uses of the various vocal organs, +similar antagonistic opinions exist. Out of this chaos must some time +come a demonstrable system. + +A generation ago the art of breathing was beginning to be more an +object of study, but the true value of correct lateral abdominal +breathing was by no means generally admitted or appreciated. It was +still taught that the larynx (voice-box) should bob up and down like a +jack-in-a-box with each change of pitch, and that "female breathing" +must be performed with a pumping action of the chest and the +elevation and depression of the collar bone. + +Fortunately, teachers and singers recognized a good tone when they +heard it, and many taught much better than they knew, so that the +public did not have to wait for the development of accurate knowledge +of the subject before hearing excellent singing and speaking. Yet many +singers had their voices ruined in the training, and their success as +vocalists made impossible; while others, a little less unfortunate, +were still handicapped through life by the injury done by mistaken +methods in early years. Jenny Lind's perfect vocal organs were quite +disabled at twelve years of age by wrong methods, and they recovered +only after a protracted season of rest. As a consequence her beautiful +voice began to fail long before her splendid physique, and long before +her years demanded. Singers taught in nature's way should be able to +sing so long as strength lasts, and, like Adelaide Phillips, Carl +Formes, and Sims Reeves, sing their sweetest songs in the declining +years of life. Martel, at seventy years of age, had a full, rich +voice. He focused all his tones alike, and employed deep abdominal +breathing. + +The whole matter of voice training has been clouded by controversy. +The strident advocates of various systems, each of them "the only true +method," have in their disputes overcast the subject with much that is +irrelevant, thus obscuring its essential simplicity. + +The "scientific" teachers, at one extreme, have paid too exclusive +attention to the mechanics of the voice. The "empiricists" have gone +to the other extreme in leaving out of account fundamental facts in +acoustics, physiology, and psychology. + +The truth is that no purely human function, especially one so subtle +as singing, can be developed mechanically; nor, on the other hand, can +the mere _ipse dixit_ of any teacher satisfy the demands of the modern +spirit. + + +PRINCIPLES ADVOCATED + +The positions here advocated, because they seem both rational and +simple, are: + +=1. That the singing and speaking tones are identical, produced by the +same organs in the same way, and developed by the same training.= + +=2. That breathing is, for the singer, only an amplification of the +correct daily habit.= + +=3. That "registers" are a myth.= + +=4. That "head tones, chest tones, closed tones, open tones," etc., as +confined to special parts of the range of the voice, are distracting +distinctions arising from false education.= + +=5. That resonance determines the quality and carrying power of every +tone, and is therefore the most important element in the study and +training of the voice.= + +=6. That the obstacles to good speaking and singing are psychologic +rather than physiologic.= + +=7. That, in the nature of things, the right way is always an easy +way.= + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE VOCAL INSTRUMENT + + +Since the vocal organism first became an object of systematic study, +discussion has been constant as to whether the human vocal instrument +is a stringed instrument, a reed instrument, or a whistle. Discussion +of the question seems futile, for practically it is all of these and +more. The human vocal organs form an instrument, _sui generis_, which +cannot be compared with any other one thing. Not only is it far more +complex than any other instrument, being capable, as it is, of +imitating nearly every instrument in the catalogue and almost every +sound in nature, but it is incomparably more beautiful, an instrument +so universally superior to any made by man that comparisons and +definitions fail. + + +ELEMENTS + +The human vocal instrument has the three elements common to all +musical instruments,--a motor, a vibrator, and a resonator; to which +is added--what all other instruments lack--an articulator. + +1. The respiratory muscles and lungs for a =motor=. + +2. The vocal cords for a =vibrator=. + +3. The throat, mouth, and the nasal and head cavities for a =resonator=. + +4. The tongue, lips, teeth, and palate for an =articulator=. + +These elements appear in as great a variety of size and proportion as +do the variations of individual humanity, and each element is, +moreover, variable according to the will or feeling of the individual. +This susceptibility to change constitutes a modifying power which +gives a variety in tone quality possible to no other instrument and +makes it our wonder and admiration. The modification and interaction +of these various parts produced by the emotions of the singer or +speaker give qualities of tone expressive of the feelings, as of pain +or pleasure, grief or joy, courage or fear. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 1.--Section of the head and throat locating the +organs of speech and song, including the upper resonators. The +important maxillary sinus cannot well be shown. It is found within the +maxillary bone (cheek bone). The inner end of the line marked _Nasal +cavity_ locates it.] + + +TIMBRE + +The minute differences in these physical conditions, coupled with the +subtler differences in the psychical elements of the personality, +account for that distinctive physiognomy of the voice called =timbre=, +which is only another name for individuality as exhibited in each +person. The same general elements enter into the composition of all +voices, from the basso profundo to the high soprano. + +That the reader may better understand the proportion and relations of +the different parts of the vocal apparatus, a sectional drawing of the +head is here produced, showing the natural position of the vocal +organs at rest. As the drawing represents but a vertical section of +the head the reader should note that the sinuses, like the eyes and +nostrils, lie in pairs to the right and left of the centre of the +face. The location of the maxillary sinuses within the maxillary or +cheek bones cannot be shown in this drawing. + +The dark shading represents the cavities of the throat, nose, and +head. The relations of the parts are shown more accurately than is +possible in any diagram. It will be noticed that the vibrations from +the larynx would pass directly behind the soft palate into the nasal +chamber, and very directly into the mouth. The nasal roof is formed by +two bones situated between the eyes; the sphenoid or wedge-bone, which +is connected with all other bones of the head, and the ethmoid or +sieve-like bone. The structure of these two bones, especially of the +ethmoid, consists of very thin plates or laminae, forming a mass of air +cavities which communicate by small openings with the nasal cavity +below. Thus, the vibrations in the nose are transmitted to the air +spaces above, and the effective qualities of the head vibrations are +added to the tone. + + +THE LARYNX + +The larynx or voice-box contains the vocal cords. Just above the vocal +cords on each side is a large, deep cavity, called the ventricle. +These cavities reinforce the primary vibrations set up by the cords +and serve to increase their intensity as they are projected from the +larynx. The larynx is the vibrating organ of the voice. It is situated +at the base of the tongue and is so closely connected with it by +attachment to the hyoid bone, to which the tongue is also attached, +that it is capable of only slight movement independent of that organ; +consequently it must move with the tongue in articulation. The +interior muscles of the larynx vary the position of its walls, thus +regulating the proximity and tension of the vocal cords. The male +larynx is the larger and shows the Adam's apple. In both sexes the +larynx of the low voice, alto or bass, is larger than that of the high +voice, soprano or tenor. The larynx and tongue should not rise with +the pitch of the voice, but drop naturally with the lower jaw as the +mouth opens in ascending the scale. The proper position of the tongue +will insure a proper position for the larynx. The less attention the +larynx receives the better. + + +THE VOCAL CORDS + +The vocal cords are neither cords nor bands, but instead are thick +portions of membrane extending across the inner surface of the larynx. +On account of familiarity the name _vocal cords_ will still be used. +They are fairly well represented by the lips of the cornet player when +placed on the mouthpiece of the instrument. The pitch of the tone is +fixed by the tension of the vocal cords and the width and length of +the opening between them. Their tension and proximity are +self-adjusted to produce the proper pitch without any conscious +volition of the singer. They can have no special training, needing +only to be left alone. The work of the vocal cords, though essentially +important, is, when naturally performed, light and consequently not +exhausting. If the larynx and all of its supporting muscles are +relaxed as they are in free and easy breathing, then when the air +passes out through the larynx, the vocal cords will automatically +assume a tension sufficient to vocalize the breath and give the note +the proper pitch. The normal action of the cords will never cause +hoarseness or discomfort. The sound should seem to be formed, not in +the throat,--thus involving the vocal cords,--but in the resonance +chambers. + + +THE EPIGLOTTIS + +The epiglottis is the valve which closes over the upper opening of the +larynx. It not only closes the mouth of the larynx when food is +swallowed, but aids materially in converting into tone the vibrations +set up by the vocal cords. + + +THE PHARYNX + +The pharynx extends from the larynx to the nasal cavity. The size of +the opening into the nasal chamber is controlled by the soft palate +and is frequently entirely closed. The size of the pharynx is varied +by the contraction and relaxation of the circular muscles in its +tissue; when swallowing its walls are in contact. The pharynx acts as +does the expanding tube of brass instruments. It increases the force +and depth of the tone waves. The wider the pharynx is opened, without +constraint, the fuller the resonance and the better the tone. + + +THE UNDER JAW + +The under jaw furnishes attachment for the muscles of the tongue and +hyoid or tongue bone. It also controls, owing to the connections of +the larynx with the hyoid bone, the muscles that fix the position of +the larynx. + +The pterygoid muscles, which move the under jaw forward and backward, +do not connect with the larynx, so their action does not compress that +organ or in any way impede the action of the vocal apparatus. A +relaxed under jaw allows freer action of the vocal cords and ampler +resonance. The under jaw should drop little by little as the voice +ascends the scale, thus opening the mouth slightly wider with each +rise in the pitch of the tone. In ascending the scale it is well to +open the throat a little wider as you ascend. The delivery will be +much easier, and the tone produced will be much better. At the highest +pitch of the voice the mouth should open to its full width. At the +same time care must be taken _not_ to draw the corners of the mouth +back, as in smiling, because this lessens the resonance of the tone +and gives it a flat sound. + +The under jaw must have considerable latitude of motion in +pronunciation, but by all means avoid chewing of the words and cutting +off words by closing the jaw instead of finishing them by the use of +the proper articulating organs, which are the tongue and lips. + + +THE SOFT PALATE + +Writers on the voice have almost universally claimed that the +principal office of the soft palate is to shut off the nasal and head +cavities from the throat, and to force the column of vibrations out +through the mouth, thus allowing none, or at most a very small part, +to pass into the nasal passages. + +This contention implies that the vibrations are imparted to the upper +cavities, if at all, through the walls of the palate itself, and not +through an opening behind the palate. This is entirely at variance +with the facts as verified by my own experience and observation and +the observation of others who are expert specialists. The true office +of the soft palate is to modify the opening into the nose and thus +attune the resonant cavities to the pitch and timbre of the note given +by the vocal cords and pharynx. To develop the vowel sounds, the soft +palate should be drawn forward, allowing a free passage into the nose; +it should be closed only to form the consonants which require a +forcible expulsion of breath from the mouth. + +The uvula, the pendulous tip of the soft palate, serves as a valve to +more accurately adjust the opening behind the soft palate to the pitch +of the voice. In producing a low tone the soft palate is relaxed and +hangs low down and far forward. As the voice ascends the scale the +tension of the soft palate is increased and it is elevated and the +uvula shortened, thus decreasing the opening behind the palate, but +never closing it. In fact the larger the opening that can be +maintained, the broader and better the tone. The author was himself +unable fully to appreciate this until he had become able to sense the +position of the soft palate during vocalization. + + +THE HARD PALATE AND TEETH + +The hard palate and upper teeth form in part the walls of the mouth. +As they are solid fixtures, nothing can be done in the way of +training. They furnish a point of impingement in articulation, and +play their part in sympathetic resonance. + +The bones which form the roof of the mouth serve also for the floor of +the nasal cavity. + +The under teeth also serve as walls of resistance to support the +tongue during the performance of its functions. + + +THE NASAL AND HEAD CAVITIES + +The nasal and head cavities are resonating chambers incapable of +special training, but their form, size, and the use made of them have +a wonderful effect upon the resonance of the voice. If the vibrations +are strong here, all other parts will vibrate in harmonious action. + +When responding to the perfectly focused tone the thin walls of the +cavities and the contained air vibrate with surprising force, often +for the moment blinding the singer when sounding a note intensely. + +Having in my surgical work demonstrated the existence of a hitherto +unrecognized connecting passage or canal between the air cavities of +the face and those of the forehead,[2] the play of resonance in the +cavities above the nostrils is more easily understood. The function of +the cavities known as the _frontal sinuses_ (see Fig. 1) has long been +a mystery, but now that their direct connection with the lower +cavities is proven, and the great significance of resonance is also +beginning to be recognized, the mystery disappears. The same may be +said of the other sinuses--_ethmoidal_, _sphenoidal_, and _maxillary_, +and their interconnection. + +[Footnote 2: Dr. Fillebrown's paper, _A Study of the Relation of the +Frontal Sinus to the Antrum_, was read before the American Dental +Association, at Saratoga, August 5, 1895. His investigation showed +that the funnel-shaped passage known as the _infundibulum_ extends +from the _frontal sinus_ directly into the antrum or _maxillary +sinus_. This was afterwards confirmed by Dr. W.H. Cryer and others.] + + +INFLUENCE OF THE RESONANCE CAVITIES ON THE PITCH OF THE TONE + +In instruments changes in the length and form of the resonance +chambers affect the pitch as well as the quality of the tone. This is +demonstrated in the trombone, French horn, and other wind instruments. +The lengthening of the tube of the trombone lowers the pitch of the +tone, and the projection of the hand of the performer into the bell of +the French horn has the effect of raising the pitch of the sound. If +the variation in length or form is only slight, the result is sharp or +flat, and the instrument is out of tune. In the human instrument all +the organs act together as a unit; so the fact that the cavities alone +may affect the pitch is practically of no great significance. + + +THE TONGUE + +The tongue and the lips are the articulating organs, and the former +has an important part to play in altering through its movements the +shape of the mouth cavity. + +The tip of the tongue should habitually rest against the under front +teeth. The tip of the tongue, however, must frequently touch the roof +of the mouth near the upper front teeth, as when pronouncing the +consonants _c_, _d_, _g_ or _j_, _l_, _n_, _s_, and _t_. The back part +of the tongue must rise a little to close against the soft palate when +pronouncing _g_ hard, and _k_, and hard _c_, _q_, and _x_. The soft +palate comes down so far to meet the tongue that the elevation of the +latter need be but very slight. + +When speaking, the demand is not so imperative, but when singing, the +body of the tongue should lie as flat as possible, so as to enlarge +the mouth, especially when giving the vowel sounds. + +If the tongue is sometimes disposed to be unruly, it is the result of +rigidity or misplaced effort in the surrounding parts. This tendency +will only be aggravated by artificial restraint of any kind. The true +way is to dismiss tongue consciousness, _let go_, and a normal +flexibility will easily manifest itself. + + +THE LIPS + +The lips, equally with the tongue, are organs of articulation. The +upper lip is the principal factor of the two; the under lip seems to +follow the lead of the upper. The lips need much training, and it can +readily be given them. While practising to educate the lips, both lips +should be projected forward and upward, at the same time pronouncing +the word "too." Bring the edge of the upper lip as high toward the +nose as possible in practice. This will bring the corners of the mouth +forward and lift the lips clear and free from the teeth, and thus add +one more resonance cavity. This position of the lips also gives +freedom for pronunciation. "The upper lip plays the most active part +in the shaping of the vowels. It should never be drawn against the +teeth when producing vowel tones; indeed, there should be often a +little space between the upper lip and the teeth, so that the +vibrations of the sound-waves can have free play." + + +THE NOSTRILS + +The nostrils should be dilated as much as possible, as a free, wide, +open nose gives a free, well-rounded tone, while a contracted nostril +induces the nasal tone so much dreaded. A proper training of the +facial muscles makes this dilation possible. Lifting the upper lip and +projecting it forward aids the action to a great degree. + +There is a strong tendency to unity of action between the nostrils and +the lips and the soft palate. The soft palate moves downward and +forward when the upper lip protrudes and the nostrils dilate, and +moves backward and upward when the nostrils are contracted and the +upper lip allowed to rest upon the teeth. + +As a rule the best singers have full, round, wide, open nostrils, +either given by nature or acquired by practice. + + +THE FACE + +Not only must the lips and nose be trained, but the muscles of the +face also. These muscles are capable, if educated, of doing important +service. + +The artist on the operatic stage or the speaker on the platform, +without facial expression begotten of muscular activity, may lessen by +half his power over an audience. To train the facial muscles is a +complicated task. To do this, stand before a mirror and make all the +faces ever thought of by a schoolboy to amuse his schoolmates. Raise +each corner of the lip, wrinkle the nose, quilt the forehead, grin, +laugh. The grimaces will not enter into a performance, but their +effect upon it will be markedly beneficial. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SPEAKING VOICE AND PRONUNCIATION + + +A generation ago the speaking voice was even less understood than the +singing voice. That the two were intimately connected was but half +surmised. Only an occasional person recognized what is now generally +conceded, that a good way to improve the speaking voice is to +cultivate the singing voice. + +In 1887 I published a paper in the _Independent Practitioner_ defining +the singing voice and the speaking voice as identical, and contending +that the training for each should be the same so far as tone formation +is involved, a conclusion at which I had arrived several years before. +Subsequent experience has only served to confirm this opinion. + +The past has produced many good speakers, among them Henry Clay, +Daniel Webster, Edwin Booth, Wm. Charles Macready, and Edward Everett. +Of the last Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: "It is with delight that one +who remembers Edward Everett in his robes of rhetorical splendor, +recalls his full blown, high colored, double flowered periods; the +rich, resonant, grave, far-reaching music of his speech, with just +enough of the nasal vibration to give the vocal sounding-board its +proper value in the harmonies of utterance." These examples of correct +vocalization, however, were exceptions to the general rule; they +happened to speak well, but the physiologic action of the vocal organs +which produced such results in those individual cases was not +understood, and hence the pupil ambitious to imitate them and develop +the best of which his voice was capable had no rule by which to +proceed. Few could speak with ease, still fewer could be heard by a +large assembly, and sore throats seemed to be the rule. + + +DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGING AND SPEAKING + +In singing the flow of tone is unbroken between the words, but in +speaking it is interrupted. In singing tone is sustained and changed +from one pitch to another by definite intervals over a wide compass +that includes notes not attempted in speech. In speaking tone is +unsustained, not defined in pitch, is limited to a narrow compass, and +the length of the tones is not governed by the measure of music. + +Notwithstanding these differences, singing and speaking tones are +produced by the vocal organs in the same way, are focused precisely +alike, have the same resonance, and are delivered in the same manner. +It has been said that speech differs from song as walking from +dancing. Speech may be called the prose, and song the poetry of +vocalization. + +During the past decade the knowledge of the speaking voice has been +greatly broadened, and the art of cultivating tone has made progress. +The identity of the singing and speaking voice is becoming more fully +recognized, and methods are being used to develop the latter similar +to those in use for the training of the former. As Dr. Morell +Mackenzie says: "Singing is a help to good speaking, as the greater +includes the less." + +The recognition of this truth cannot fail to be a great aid to the +progress of singing in the public schools, since every enlargement of +exercises common to both speaking and singing helps to solidarity and +_esprit de corps_ in teaching and in learning. + +An accurate sense of pitch, melody, harmony, and rhythm is necessary +to the singer, but the orator may, by cultivation, develop a speaking +voice of musical quality without being able to distinguish _Old +Hundred_ from _The Last Rose of Summer_. + + +PRONUNCIATION + +It is a matter of common observation that American singers, although +they may be painstaking in their French and German, are indifferent, +even to carelessness, in the clear and finished enunciation of their +native tongue. Mr. W.J. Henderson, in his recent work, _The Art of the +Singer_, says: "The typical American singer cannot sing his own +language so that an audience can understand him; nine-tenths of the +songs we hear are songs without words." Happily this condition is +gradually yielding to a better one, stimulated in part by the examples +of visiting singers and actors. In story-telling songs and in +oratorio, slovenly delivery is reprehensible, but when the words of a +song are the lyric flight of a true poet, a careless utterance becomes +intolerable. + +Beauty of tone is not everything; the singing of mere sounds, however +lovely, is but a tickling of the ear. The shortcoming of the Italian +school of singing, as of composition, has been too exclusive devotion +to sensuous beauty of tone as an end in itself. The singer must never +forget that his mission is to =vitalize text with tone=. The songs of +Schubert, Schumann, Franz, Brahms, Grieg, Strauss, and Wolf, as well +as the Wagnerian drama, are significant in their inseparable union of +text and music. The singer is therefore an interpreter, not of music +alone, but of text made potent by music. + +Pronunciation, moreover, concerns not only the listener, but the +singer and speaker, for pure tone and pure pronunciation cannot be +divorced, one cannot exist without the other. In his interesting work, +_The Singing of the Future_, Mr. Ffrangcon-Davies insists that, "the +quickest way to fine tone is through fine pronunciation." + +We cannot think except in words, nor voice our thought without speech. +Vocal utterance is thought articulate. Therefore, instead of prolonged +attention to tone itself, training should be concentrated upon the +uttered word. The student should aim "to sing a word rather than a +tone." Correct pronunciation and beautiful tone are so interdependent +as to be inseparable. + +The singer and speaker require all sounds in their purity. To seek to +develop the voice along the narrow limits of any single vowel or +syllable, as for instance the syllable _ah_, is harmful. Not only is +this vowel sound, as Lilli Lehmann says, "the most difficult," but the +proper pronunciation of all words within the whole range of the voice +is thereby impeded. Diction and tone work should therefore go hand in +hand. "The way in which vowel melts into vowel and consonants float +into their places largely determines the character of the tone +itself." Without finished pronunciation speech and song of emotional +power are impossible. Gounod, the composer, says, "Pronunciation +creates eloquence." Mr. Forbes-Robertson, the English master of +dramatic diction, speaking for his own profession says: "The trouble +with contemporary stage elocution springs from the actor's very desire +to act well. In his effort to be natural he mumbles his words as too +many people do in everyday life. Much of this can be corrected by +constantly bearing in mind the true value of vowels, the percussive +value of consonants, and the importance of keeping up the voice until +the last word is spoken. There must be, so to speak, plenty of wind in +the bellows. The great thing is to have the sound come from the front +of the mouth.... The actor must learn to breathe deeply from the +diaphragm and to take his breath at the proper time. Too often the +last word is not held up, and that is very often the important +word.... Schools for acting are valuable, ... but, after all, the +actors, like other folk, must be taught how to speak as children in +the home, at school, and in society." + +In pronunciation the words should seem to be formed by the upper lip +and to come out through it. By this method it will be found easy to +pronounce distinctly. The words will thus be formed outside the mouth +and be readily heard, as is a person talking in front of, instead of +behind, a screen. A single, intelligent trial will be sufficient to +show the correctness of the statement. Thinking of the upper lip as +the fashioner of the words makes speaking easy and singing a delight. + +To smile while talking gives to the words a flat, silly sound, hence +the corners of the mouth should be kept well forward. + + +THE SINGER'S SCALE OF VOWEL SOUNDS + +[Illustration: + +1 n_ee_ +2 n_i_t +3 n_e_t +4 n_a_y +5 n_ai_r +6 n_a_t +7 n_i_gh +8 N_a_h +7' n_o_t +6' n_a_w +5' n_e_r +4' n_u_t +3' n_o_ +2' n_oo_k +1' n_oo_.] + +It may fasten this in mind to remember that at one end of the vowel +scale is--_me_, at the other--_you_. + +The teeth and lips are most closed at the extremes of this scale, and +gradually open toward _ah_, with which vowel they are widest apart. + +In the series 1-8 the tongue is highest in the centre for _ee_ and +gradually descends until it lies flat in the mouth for _ah_. + +The _upper_ pharynx is most closed in 1, most open in 8, and closes +more and more in the descending series 7'-1'. + +The _lower_ pharynx gradually opens in the descending series 7'-1'. + +The researches of Helmholtz, Koenig, Willis, Wheatstone, Appunn, Bell, +and others have shown that each vowel sound has its own characteristic +pitch. The Scale of Vowel Sounds given above corresponds closely to +the order of resonance pitch from the highest _ee_ to the lowest _oo_. +In the natural resonance of the vowels _ee_ is highest in the head, +_ah_ is midway in the scale, and _oo_ is lowest in resonance. + + +LIP POSITION + +Figure 2 shows the best position of the lips to give the sound of +_ee_. Hold the under jaw without stiffness and as far from the upper +teeth as is consistent with delivery of the pure sound of this vowel. + +Figure 3 shows the best position of the lips to produce the vowel +_oo_. + +Figure 4 shows the position of the lips for the vowel sound of long +_o_. The opening of the lips should be made as round as is the letter +_o_. When preparing the lips to give the sound of _o_, the inclination +is strong to drop the lower jaw; in practice, to develop action of the +lips, the under jaw would better be held quite immovable. It will be +found possible to produce all of the vowel sounds without any change +except in the form of the opening of the lips. The vowel sound of _i_ +is an exception; for as a compound of _ah_ and _ee_, the extremes of +the vowel scale, it requires two distinct positions for its utterance +with a movement of transition between; it is not, therefore, a good +vowel for initial practice. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 2.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 3.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 4.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 5.] + +Figure 5 shows that the sound _aw_ is produced from _o_ by raising the +edge of the upper lip outward and upward, and flattening the raised +portion laterally. + +Figure 6 shows the position for producing _ah_. It differs from the +position assumed for _aw_ in that the opening of the lips is larger, +the upper lip is raised higher, the flat portion is wider, and the +under lip is a little relaxed. The form of the opening to produce _aw_ +is oval; the form for _ah_ is more nearly square. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 6.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 7.] + +Figure 7 shows the under jaw relaxed, as it should be in practice, to +enlarge the throat and give roundness and largeness to the tone. The +use of the word _hung_ will accomplish this end. + +The vowel sounds illustrated above are embodied in a series of vocal +exercises to be found in Chapter VIII on _Placing the Voice_. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +BREATH CONTROL + + +It has been said that "breathing is singing." This statement is +equally applicable to speaking. While the aphorism is not literally +true, it is true that without properly controlled breathing the best +singing or speaking tone cannot be produced, for tone is but vocalized +breath; hence in the cultivation of the voice, breathing is the first +function to receive attention. + +For singer or speaker, the correct use of the breathing apparatus +determines the question of success or failure; for without mastery of +the motive power all else is unavailing. For a voice user, therefore, +the first requisite is a well-developed chest, the second, complete +control of it. + +It must not be supposed that a singer's breathing is something strange +or complex, for it is nothing more than _an amplification of normal, +healthy breathing_. In contrast, however, to the undisciplined casual +breathing of the general public, the singer is a professional +breather. + + +THE MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION + +There are two sets of respiratory muscles, one for inspiration and +another for expiration,--twenty-two or more in all. The principal +muscles of inspiration are the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles +that elevate the ribs. The chief muscles of expiration are the four +sets of abdominal muscles and the intercostal muscles that depress the +ribs. The diaphragm is _not_ a muscle of _expiration_. + + +THE DIAPHRAGM + +The diaphragm is in form like an inverted bowl (Fig. 8). It forms the +floor of the thorax (chest) and the roof of the abdomen. It is +attached by a strong tendon to the spinal column behind, and to the +walls of the thorax at its lowest part, which is below the ribs. In +front its attachment is to the cartilage at the pit of the stomach. It +also connects with the transverse abdominal muscle. The diaphragm +being convex, in inspiration the contraction of its fibres flattens it +downward and presses down the organs in the abdomen, thus increasing +the depth of the thorax. Expiration depends wholly on other muscles. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 8.] + +The muscles so far mentioned are all that need "conscious education;" +the others will act with them voluntarily, automatically. The +abdominal muscles relax during inspiration and the diaphragm relaxes +during expiration, thus rendering the forces nearly equal, though the +strength is in favor of the expiratory muscles. This is what is +needed, for the breath while speaking or singing must go out under +much greater tension than is necessary for inhalation. Inspiration +should be as free as possible from obstruction when singing or +speaking. Expiration must be under _controlled_ pressure. + + +THE LUNGS + +The lungs are spongy bodies which have no activity of their own beyond +a little elasticity. They are controlled by the muscles of +respiration. + +Figure 8 shows the organs of the body in their natural positions. The +diaphragm is relaxed and curved upward, as in expiration. During +inspiration the diaphragm is drawn down until it lies nearly flat. + + +INSPIRATION + +The intercostal muscles raise the ribs. The diaphragm is drawn down by +contraction, thus adding to the enlargement of the chest by increasing +its depth. The abdominal muscles relax and allow the stomach, liver, +and other organs in the abdomen to move downward to make room for the +depressed diaphragm. This causes a vacuum in the chest. The lungs +expand to fill this vacuum and the air rushes in to fill the expanding +lungs. + + +EXPIRATION + +The intercostal, and a part of the abdominal, muscles depress the ribs +and lessen the chest cavity anteriorly and laterally. The abdominal +muscles compress the abdomen and force up the diaphragm which is now +relaxed, thus lessening the depth of the thorax. This pressure forces +the air from the lungs and prepares them for another inspiration. + + +CORRECT METHOD + +That the lateral-abdominal--more accurately chest-abdominal--breathing +is correct and natural for both male, and female, and that the +shoulders should remain as fixed as were Demosthenes' under the points +of the swords hung over them, is now so generally admitted as to need +no argument here. If any one has still a doubt on the subject let him +observe a sleeping infant. It affords a perfect example of +lateral-abdominal breathing, and no one can have a suspicion of sex +from any difference in this function. Among the lower animals sex +shows no difference in breathing at any age. All the peculiarities of +female breathing are the results of habits acquired in after life. + +Chest and shoulder heaving are vicious and evidence impeded breathing. +The singer who, forgetting the lower thorax, breathes with the upper +only is sure to fail. Therefore breathe from the _lower_ part of the +trunk, using the whole muscular system cooerdinately--_from below_ +upward. In other words breathe deeply, and _control deeply_, but with +the whole body--from below, not with the upper chest only, or with +lateral expansion only, or abdominal expansion only. + +Every teacher and pupil should remember that "singing and speaking +require wind and muscle," hence the breathing power must be fully +developed. Weak breathing and failure to properly focus the voice are +the most frequent causes of singing off the key. They are much more +common and mischievous than lack of "ear." + +Dr. May tested the breathing of 85 persons, most of them Indians, and +found that 79 out of the 85 used abdominal breathing. The chest +breathers were from classes "civilized" and more or less "cultured." + +Nature has provided that for quiet breathing when at rest the air +shall pass through the nose. But when a person is taking active +exercise, and consequently demands more air, he naturally and of +necessity opens the mouth so as to breathe more fully. While speaking +or singing the air is necessarily taken in through the mouth. + + +BREATH CONTROL + +Firmness of tone depends upon steadiness of breath pressure. +Steadiness of tone depends upon a control of the breath which allows a +minimum volume of air to pass out under sufficient tension to produce +vocalization. + +The tension and flow of breath can be gradually lessened until the +tone vanishes and not even a whisper remains. + +Power and largeness of tone depend first upon the =right use of the +resonant cavities=, and second upon the =volume of breath used under +proper control=. + +In producing high tones the breath is delivered in less amount than +for the low tones, but under greater tension. Absolute control of the +breath is necessary to produce the best results of which a voice is +capable. Full control of the breath insures success to a good voice; +without it the best voice is doomed to failure. + +When muscular action is fully mastered, and the proper method of +breathing understood and established, the muscles of inspiration and +expiration will act one against the other, so that the act of +breathing may be suspended at any moment, whether the lungs are full, +or partly full, or empty. This is muscular control of the breath. +Correct breathing is health giving and strength giving; it promotes +nutrition, lessens the amount of adipose tissue, and reinforces every +physical requisite essential to speaking and singing. + + +A CURE FOR NERVOUSNESS + +It cannot be too widely advertised that the surest remedy for that +torture of singers and speakers, nervousness, is the great +tranquillizer,--quiet, deep breathing, deeply controlled. The breath +of nervousness is quick, irregular, and shallow, therefore, take a +few, slow, deliberate, deep, and _rhythmic_ inhalations of pure air +through the nostrils, and the panting gasp of agitation will vanish. +As a help toward deepening the breath and overcoming the spasmodic, +clavicular habit, inhale quietly and slowly through the nose, or +slowly sip the air through the nearly closed lips as if you were +sipping the inmost breath of life itself. + + +NECESSITY OF BREATHING EXERCISES + +To acquire control of breathing, proper exercises must be +intelligently and persistently followed. In mankind, nature seems to +have been diverted from her normal course so that we seldom find an +individual who breathes correctly without education in the matter. +What we have said on breathing is based on the premise that +respiration involves cooerdinate action of the body from collar-bone to +the base of the abdomen; that is, expanding and contracting the chest +and abdomen simultaneously. This is called "lateral-abdominal" +breathing; as the chest is the thoracic cavity, "abdomino-thoracic" +has been suggested as brief and more strictly scientific. + +Work on any other lines fails to develop the full power and quality of +the voice. Weak breathing is a prime cause of throaty tones. In such +cases an effort is made to increase the tone by pinching the larynx. +But this compresses the vocal cords, increases the resistance to the +passage of the breath, and brings rigidities that prevent proper +resonance. The true way is to increase the wind supply, as does the +organist. + + +CORRECT BREATHING ILLUSTRATED + +The following figures show the outline of correct breathing. The inner +abdominal line shows the limit of expiration; the outer line shows the +limit of full inspiration. + +Figure 9 shows the limit of full expiration and inspiration of the +male, side view. + +Figure 10 shows the lateral expansion of the ribs in both expiration +and inspiration, front view of the male. + +The expansion cannot be great at this part of the chest, as the side +is so short a distance from the backbone to which the ribs are +attached. The movement of the ribs in front is much greater, as Fig. 9 +shows. + +Figure 11 shows the front expansion and contraction in the breathing +of the female, side view. + +Figure 12 shows the lateral expansion of the chest in the female, +front view. + +These diagrams are made from photographs, and thus true to life. It +will be noticed that there is no difference in the breathing outline +between these subjects. The female subject, though a good singer, had +had no training in breathing. She previously insisted that she used +only the chest breathing, and did not use the abdominal muscles, but +actual test revealed the condition to be that shown in Figure 11 and +convinced her that she was mistaken. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 9.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 10.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 11.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 12.] + +It is not unlikely that many other singers who now think they are +using only the high chest respiration would, if subjected to the same +test, find themselves similarly mistaken. + +The contraction incident to forced expiration is much more tense than +the enlargement of forced inspiration. When singing or speaking, +forced inspiration is not used. Experience shows that the change in +size of the body during speaking or singing is usually small. +Occasionally, long passages in music demand that the expulsive power +of the breathing apparatus be used to its limit. + + +ECONOMY OF BREATH + +The quantity of air taken in with a single inspiration is, in quiet +breathing, according to Prof. Mills,[3] from twenty to thirty cubic +inches, but this may be increased in the deepest inspiration to about +one hundred cubic inches. In forcible expiration about one hundred +cubic inches may be expelled, but even then the residual air that +cannot be expelled is about one hundred cubic inches. + +[Footnote 3: Dr. Wesley Mills, _Voice Production_, 1906.] + +It is not, however, the quantity of breath inhaled that is +significant, it is the amount _controlled_. Get, therefore, all the +breath necessary, and keep it, but without undue effort and _without +rigidity_. + +To test the amount of breath used in prolonged vocalization, a person +skilled in the art of breathing, after an ordinary inspiration, closed +his lips, stopped his nostrils, and began to vocalize. He found that +the mouth with distended cheeks held sufficient breath to continue a +substantial tone for twenty-three seconds. + +While these experiments show that very little amount or force of +breath is needed to produce effective tones, the impression must exist +in the mind of the performer that there is a free flow of breath +through the larynx; otherwise the tone will seem restricted and will +be weak. The forced holding back of the breath begets a restraint that +has a bad effect on the singer's delivery. While the breath must be +controlled, there is such a thing as an exaggerated "breath control" +that makes free delivery of the voice impossible. + +It is quite possible to _overcrowd_ the lungs with air. Do not, +therefore, make the mistake of always taking the largest possible +breath. Reserve this for the climaxes, and inhale according to the +requirements of the phrase and its dynamics. The constant taking of +too much breath is a common mistake, but trying to sing too long on +one breath is another. + + +THE INITIAL USE OF BREATH FORCE + +The breath force when properly employed seems to be expended in +starting the vibrations in the larynx; the vibrations are then +transmitted to the air in the resonance cavities, and there the +perfected tone sets the outer air in motion, through which the tone +vibrations are conveyed to the ear of the listener. + + +RESERVE BREATH POWER + +The correctly trained singer or speaker will never allow the breath +power to be exhausted. Some breath should be taken in at every +convenient interval between the words, according to the punctuation, +but never between syllables of a word; this is correct phrasing. In +this way the lungs are kept nearly full, and breathing is at its best. + +The chief cause of breath exhaustion is _wasted_ breath. This waste +comes from exhaling more breath (more motive power) than the tone +requires, and _breath that does not become tone is wasted_. This fault +is largely induced by lack of proper resonance adjustment. + +The singer should always feel able to sing another note or to speak +another word. To sing or speak thirty or forty counts with one breath +is useful practice but poor performance. Occasionally, long runs in +singing may compel an exception. Half-empty lungs lower the pitch of +the tone, lessen the resonance, and weaken the voice, rendering the +last note of the song and the last word of the sentence inaudible. The +breathing must not be forced, but enough air must be furnished to +produce the proper full vibrations. + + +BREATH MASTERY + +What then does perfect control of the breath mean? + +1. Ability to fill the lungs to their capacity either quickly or +slowly. + +2. Ability to breathe out as quickly or slowly as the occasion +demands. + +3. Ability to suspend inspiration, with the throat open, whether the +lungs are full or not, and to resume the process at will without +having lost any of the already inspired air. + +4. Ability to exhale under the same restrictions. + +The above four points are common to speaking and singing, but singing +involves further: + +5. Ability to sing and sustain the voice on an _ordinary_ breath. + +6. Ability to _quietly_ breathe as often as text and phrase permit. + +7. Ability to breathe so that the fullest inspiration _brings no +fatigue_. + +8. Ability to so economize the breath that the _reserve is never +exhausted_. + +9. The ability to breathe so naturally, so unobtrusively, that +_neither breath nor lack of breath is ever suggested to the +listener_--this is the very perfection of the art. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BREATHING EXERCISES + + +Enough has been said in the preceding chapter to make clear the +necessity of breath control, and to show what constitutes this control +for the singer--the professional breather. + +If the singer's breathing is nothing but an amplification of normal, +healthy breathing, why dwell upon it, why not let it develop of +itself? + +Unfortunately, many teachers have taken this attitude, overlooking the +fact that, although life is dependent on normal, healthy breathing, +such breathing is, in civilized communities, not the rule but the +exception, simply because normal living is rare; the artificiality of +modern life forbids it. The high pressure under which most people live +induces mental tension together with the consequent nervous and +muscular tension. We are, without being conscious of it, so habituated +to unnatural tension that automatic breathing is shallow and irregular +instead of being deep and rhythmic. + +The task, therefore, is to reclaim a neglected birthright--natural +breathing--to make it habitual and amplify it. + + +PRELIMINARY SUGGESTIONS + +1. Breathing exercises to be invigorating and purifying demand plenty +of fresh air. + +2. At first do not practise longer than ten minutes at a time, three +times a day. + +3. Gradually lengthen the time without overdoing. When tired stop. + +4. The best time is before dressing in the morning, with the window +open. The worst time is directly after a meal. + +5. Maintain throughout an easy, flexible poise. + +6. Breathe as _deeply_ as possible without abdominal distention. The +greatest expansion should be felt at the lower end of the breast-bone. + +7. Breathe as _broadly_ as possible, expanding the sides without +tension. + +8. Breathe as _high_ as possible without shoulder movement or +stiffness. + +9. Use not the high breath alone, or the mid-breath, or the low +breath, but use the _complete_ breath. + +10. Breathe _rhythmically_ by counting mentally. + +11. Breathe _thoughtfully_ rather than mechanically. + +12. Do not crowd the lungs or lay stress on the mere quantity of air +you can inhale. The intake of breath is, for the singer, secondary to +its control, economy, and application in song. Increase of lung +capacity will duly appear. + +13. When not singing, speaking or practising an exercise that demands +it, _keep your mouth shut_. + + +ATTITUDE + +Dress the neck and body loosely, so as to give the throat and trunk +perfect freedom. Place the hands on the hips, so as to free the chest +from the weight of the arms. Stand erect, evenly upon the balls of the +feet; the body straight, but not strained. Raise the back of the head +slightly without bending the neck. This action will straighten the +spine, place the chest forward, and bring the abdomen backward into +its proper relation. + +The great majority of people are shallow breathers, chest breathers, +who when told to take a "deep breath" do not know what is meant. It is +therefore necessary for them first to learn what a deep breath is, and +then how to take it. + + +Exercise I + +FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT A DEEP BREATH IS + +Before rising in the morning, remove your pillow and while flat on +your back place one hand lightly on the abdomen, the other on the +lower ribs. Relax the whole body, giving up your whole weight to the +bed. Inhale through the nostrils slowly, evenly, and deeply, while +mentally counting one, two, three, four, etc. As you inhale, notice +(_a_) the gradual expansion of the abdomen, (_b_) the side expansion +of the lower ribs, (_c_) the rise and inflation of the chest, without +raising the shoulders. Hold the breath while mentally counting four +(four seconds), then suddenly let the breath go, and notice the +collapse of the abdomen and lower chest. Remember _the inspiration +must be slow and deep, the expiration sudden and complete_. Practise +this preliminary exercise for not more than ten minutes each morning +for a week. The second week hold the breath six seconds, instead of +four, and gradually increase the time, without overdoing. + +While, for a novice, the exercises may be taken at first in bed, this +is but a preliminary to their practise standing in easy poise as +directed in the preceding section. + + +Exercise II + +SLOW INHALATION WITH SUDDEN EXPULSION + +Inhale as in I; hold the breath four counts (seconds) or more; then +expel the air vigorously in one breath through the wide open mouth. +The beginner is often helped in acquiring a deep breath by slowly +sipping breath. Therefore as a variant to Exercise II practise: + + +Exercise III + +SIPPING THE BREATH, WITH QUICK EXHALATION + +Through the smallest possible opening of the lips, while mentally +counting, inhale very slowly and steadily; hold two to four counts, +then expel the air all at once through the wide open mouth. + + +Exercise IV + +FOR RIB EXPANSION + +To more completely arouse dormant muscles that should play an +important part in breathing, place the hands against the sides, thumbs +well back, take, through the nostrils or the slightly parted lips, +six short catch-breaths, moving the ribs _out at the side_ with each +catch-breath. Hold the breath two counts, and exhale through the mouth +with six short expiratory puffs, drawing the ribs _in at the side_ +with each puff. + + +Exercise V + +SLOW INHALATION WITH SLOW EXPIRATION + +Inhale as in I, while mentally counting one, two, three, four, etc., +until the inhalation seems complete. Hold the breath four or more +counts; then exhale through the nostrils slowly and evenly while +mentally counting to the number reached in the inspiration. With +practice the number of counts will gradually increase. Do not, +however, force the increase. The muscles that control inspiration are +powerful; do not, therefore, make the mistake of seeking to control +expiration by contraction of the glottis. Practise these exercises +with an open throat and depend on the breathing muscles for control of +the outgoing air. Remember that _singing is control of breath in +exit_. + + +Exercise VI + +RAPID INSPIRATION WITH SLOW EXPIRATION + +Inhale through the nostrils quickly, deeply, and forcefully (one +count); hold two counts; exhale through the nostrils evenly, steadily, +and as slowly as possible while mentally counting one, two, three, +four, etc. With practice gradually increase the number of counts for +the exhalation. + + +Exercise VII + +FARINELLI'S GREAT EXERCISE + +The Cavalier, Don Carlo Broschi, better known as Farinelli +(1705-1782), the world's greatest singer in bravura and coloratura, +was a pupil of Porpora and Bernacchi. There was no branch of the art +which he did not carry to the highest perfection, and the successes of +his youth did not prevent him from continuing his study, or, when his +name was famous, from acquiring by much perseverance another style +and a superior method. His breath control was considered so marvelous +in that day of great singers, it is said, that the art of taking and +keeping the breath so softly and easily that no one could perceive it +began and died with him. He is said to have spent several hours daily +in practising the following exercise: + +As in Exercise III, sip the breath slowly and steadily through the +smallest possible opening of the lips; hold it a few counts, then +exhale very slowly and steadily through the smallest possible opening +of the lips. + +Farinelli's exercise is not for beginners. + + +Exercise VIII + +THE CLEANSING BREATH + +For ventilating and sweeping the lungs, for quick refreshment after +fatigue, and for use always at the close of your exercises, inhale +through the nostrils slowly a complete breath; hold two to four +counts, purse the lips tightly and expel through them a small puff of +air, hold two counts, puff one, hold two counts, puff one, and so on +until the exhalation is complete. A few trials should convince you +that this simple exercise is of great value. + + +HALF-BREATH + +In both singing and speaking, the sustained delivery of long phrases +or sentences sometimes makes unusual demands on the breath supply. It +is a law of good singing that every phrase should end with the breath +unexhausted. When the flow of text and music forbid the taking of a +full breath, half-breaths must be quietly taken at convenient points. +Instead of letting the whole reservoir of motive power exhaust itself +and then completely refill it, we should, by taking these +half-breaths, maintain a reserve. A notable advocate of the use of the +half-breath in singing is that past mistress of sustained and smooth +delivery, Marcella Sembrich. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +REGISTERS + + +The subject of registers has always been the _bete noire_ of +vocalists, a source of controversy and confusion. The term "register," +as commonly used, means a series of tones of a characteristic clang or +quality, produced by the same mechanism. The term "break" is generally +used to indicate the point at which a new register with sudden change +appears. + +The advocates of registers lay stress either on the changes in +laryngeal action, or the changes in tone quality. Before the days of +the laryngoscope, registers were treated simply as different qualities +of tone, characterizing a certain portion of the voice's compass. + +Those who encourage the cultivation of register consciousness claim to +do so for the sake of the differences in tone-color which they +associate with the different "registers." The purpose of the following +chapters is to show that the quality or color of a tone is altogether +a matter of resonance, and _not_ a question of laryngeal action. + +Moreover, the mechanism of the larynx is not voluntary in its action, +but automatic, and even if a singer knew how the vocal cords should +act it would not help him in the least to govern their action. The +fact is that the results of laryngoscopic study of the vocal cords +have been disappointing and contradictory and investigators have +failed to define what correct laryngeal action is. There are those who +even deny that the vocal cords govern the pitch of the voice. + +In her thoughtful _Philosophy of Singing_, Clara Kathleen Rogers, +while upholding "registers," says that considered physiologically "the +different registers of the voice should be regarded by the singer as +only so many _modifications in the quality of tone_, which +modifications are inherent in the voice itself." She then adds +significantly: "These modifications are not brought about by conscious +adjustments of the parts employed, as any interference with the parts +will produce that obstacle to quality we call a 'break.'" + +One of the greatest of modern singers, Mme. Lilli Lehmann, in her +interesting work, _How to Sing_, says: "Do registers exist by nature? +No. It may be said that they are created through long years of +speaking in the vocal range that is easiest to the person, or in one +adopted by imitation." She speaks of three ranges of the voice, or, +rather, three sections of the vocal range, as chest, middle, and head, +saying, "All three form registers _when exaggerated_." After speaking +of the hopeless confusion that results from clinging to the +appellations of chest, middle, and head _register_, confounding voice +with register, she concludes: + +"As long as the word 'register' is kept in use the registers will not +disappear, and yet the register question must be swept away, to give +place to another class of ideas, sounder views on the part of +teachers, and a truer conception on the part of singers and pupils." + +The trend of recent thought on this subject is further shown in +Ffrangcon-Davies' important work, _The Singing of the Future_, where, +having in mind "the useless torture to which thousands of students +have been subjected," he characterizes "breaks" and "registers" as +"paraphernalia supplied by credulity to charlatanism"; and adds: "How +many a poor pupil has become a practical monomaniac on the subject of +_that break in my voice between D and D sharp_!" + +My own studies convince me that there is but one register, or, rather, +no such thing as register, save as it applies to the compass of the +voice; and that chest, middle, head, and all other registers are +creations of false education. Training based upon the theory of many +registers results in an artificial and unnatural division of the +voice. + + +THE VOICE AND INSTRUMENTS COMPARED + +The organ of the voice has long been considered the analogue of every +other instrument except in regard to registers. Investigation +indicates that it is analogous in this respect also. Compare the voice +instrument with the pianoforte, violin, and organ and the similarity +will plainly appear. The artificial instruments undergo no change when +making a tone of higher or lower pitch other than the attuning of the +vibrator to the pitch desired. All other parts remain the same. So +when the voice is correctly focused and delivered, the only change +incident to altered pitch is that made in the vibrator so as to give +the proper number of vibrations for the pitch required. If the scale +is sung down, using the same vowel sound for the whole scale, the +comparison will be appreciated; the pupil will not be conscious of any +change in the vocal organ or experience any difficulty in descending +the scale. Faithful advocates of the theory of many registers say: +"Whenever in doubt about the production of a tone, sing _down_ to it +from some tone above it, never _upward_ from a tone below," for they +find that singing down "blends the registers." This we believe is +because in singing down muscular and nerve tension is gradually +relaxed and consequently there is no "register" change in the voice. + +A study of the church organ will, I think, make this matter clear. The +organ has many so-called registers, as the _vox humana_, _flute_, +_oboe_, etc. These differ in the character of tone produced, because +of the size and shape of the different sets of pipes and the material, +wood or metal, of which they are made. But each similarly constructed +set of pipes forms only one register, and the pitch of the set varies +from low to high without any abrupt change in quality. All the tones +are produced by the same methods and means, the bellows, the vibrator, +and the pipe. In length and diameter, the pipe is proper to the tone +produced: a short pipe of small diameter for the high tones, and a +long, wide pipe for the bass tones. + +The short vibrations of the high tones are perceived by the ear as +affecting the air only, while the tones of the lowest bass pipes +shake the solid foundations as well as the superstructure. So with the +human voice. The coarser tissues cannot answer to the short vibrations +of the upper tones, because they cannot move so quickly, while they +can, and do, respond to the vibrations of the low tones. This may +cause some difference in degree, but not in kind. With all tones +focused alike, the low tones of the human organ may be regarded as +head tones plus the vibrations of the coarser tissues. + +It has been said of registers that they are "acoustic illusions which +disappear in the perfectly trained voice." As soon as the singer has +learned to use his voice normally all these defective changes +disappear. + + +TWO CASES + +The following incident illustrates the fact that registers are an +artificial creation: A young lady who had been a patient of the author +since her childhood studied elocution in a metropolitan city, and to +improve her voice took vocal music lessons of a teacher of more than +local repute. He found no end of trouble in teaching her to "blend the +registers," and she had utterly failed to acquire the art. One summer +she came back for professional services and told her troubles. During +the few weeks of her stay she followed the author's suggestions, and +was fully convinced of their correctness and efficiency. Upon +returning to her lessons, she followed, without any explanations, the +method that had been outlined for her. Her success in "blending the +registers" was a surprise to her teacher who heartily congratulated +her upon what she had accomplished during the summer. + +Another case is that of a young lady who was under the author's +direction as to vocal culture from childhood. As early as four years +of age she was taught by the use of a few exercises to focus the voice +in the nose and head, and to recognize the head vibrations by a light +touch of the finger. When about seven years old, she took ten lessons +of a teacher on the same lines, and at fifteen years of age took +another brief course. In the meantime she had only the practice +obtained by singing with the pupils in the schools she attended. +Later, of her own volition, she sang more, and carefully applied the +principles she had been taught, with the result that her voice +compassed nearly two octaves, evenly and smoothly, with no break or +change of focus or quality, or other intimation of "register," and she +developed a speaking voice of more than ordinary quality and +resonance. + +It has also been my lot to aid in the development of the voices of +many patients after a surgical operation for cleft palate. Success has +proven the correctness and efficacy of the principles set forth in +these pages. + +A majority of the more than fifty authors whose works I have examined +have laid great stress on the distinction between head and chest +tones, open and closed tones, pure and impure tones, have warned +against the nasal tone, and have constantly advocated a natural tone. +That there is no essential difference between a head tone and a chest +tone has already been discussed and, it would seem, conclusively +proven. Any tone, closed or open, is pure and musical if properly +focused and delivered, and the singer is at liberty to use either upon +any note of the scale if it will serve better to express the sentiment +he wishes to convey to the hearer. The cooing of the love song, the +cry of alarm for help, and the shout of the military charge require +very different qualities of voice to express the feelings, yet each +may be musical and will be so if properly delivered. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +RESONANCE IN GENERAL + + +The intimate relationship existing between voice culture and the +science of acoustics was formerly slightly perceived. The teaching of +singing, as an art, then rested altogether on an empirical basis, and +the acoustics of singing had not received the attention of scientists. + +With the publication in 1863 of Helmholtz's great work[4] a new era +began, although singer and scientist yet continue to look upon each +other with suspicion. Teachers of the voice, casting about for a +scientific basis for their work, were greatly impressed with +Helmholtz's revelations in regard to vocal resonance--the fact that +tones are modified in quality as well as increased in power by the +resonance of the air in the cavities of pharynx and head. + +[Footnote 4: _Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen als physiologische +Grundlage fuer die Theorie der Musik._ (The Sensations of Tone as a +Physiological Basis for the Theory of Music.)] + +Writing in 1886, Edmund J. Meyer speaks of the importance of a "study +of the influence of the different resonance cavities as the voice is +colored by one or the other, and the tuning each to each and each to +all"; yet, he adds, "the subject is seldom heard of outside of books." + +The basic importance of resonance in the use of the voice is still too +little recognized, though obvious enough in the construction of +musical instruments. With the exception of a few instruments of +percussion, all musical instruments possess three elements,--a +_motor_, a _vibrator_, and a _resonator_. The violin has the moving +bow for a motor, the strings for a vibrator, and the hollow body for a +resonator. The French horn has the lungs of the performer for a motor, +the lips for a vibrator, and the gradually enlarging tube, terminating +in the flaring bell, for a resonator. In the pianoforte the +hammer-stroke, the strings, and the sounding-board perform the +corresponding offices. Though improvements in other parts of the piano +have done much to increase the volume of the tone, yet in the radical +change of form, size, and other physical qualities of the +sounding-board consists the evolution of the modern pianoforte from +the primitive clavichord. + +In all these instruments the quality and power of the tone depend upon +the presence of these three elements,--the perfection of their +construction, their proper relation as to size and position, and the +perfect adaptation of each part. A split sounding-board spoils the +pianoforte, the indented bell destroys the sweet tone of the French +horn, and a cracked fiddle is the synonym for pandemonium itself. + +The quality and power of resonance is well illustrated by a +tuning-fork, which, if set in vibration, can, unaided, scarcely be +heard by the person holding it. But if rested on a table, or a plate +of glass, or, better still, on the bridge of a violin, its tones may +be distinctly heard throughout a large hall. + +The vibrating violin string when detached from the body of this +instrument, although attuned to pitch, gives absolutely no musical +sound; the lips of the player placed on the mouthpiece detached from +the tube and bell of the brass instrument produce only a splutter; and +a pianoforte without a sounding-board is nil. The air column in the +tube of the French horn, and the sounding-board of the pianoforte +develop the vibrations caused by the lips and strings into musical +tones pleasing to the ear. The tuning-fork alone can scarcely be +heard, while the induced vibrations it sets up through properly +adjusted resonance may be audible far away. + +The vocal cords alone cannot make music any more than can the lips of +the cornet player apart from his instrument. _The tone produced by the +vibrations alone of the two very small vocal bands must, in the nature +of things, be very feeble._ + +Ninety-and-nine persons if asked the question, what produces tone in +the human-voice, would reply, "the vibrations of the vocal cords," +and stop there, as if that were all; whereas the answer is very +incomplete--not even half an answer. + +A great deal of the irrational and injurious "teaching" of singing +that prevails everywhere, and of the controversy that befogs the +subject, is due to the widely prevalent notion that the little vocal +cords are the principal cause of tone, whereas they are in themselves +insignificant as sound producers. + +=It is the vibrations of the air in the resonance chambers of the human +instrument, together with the induced vibrations of the instrument +itself, which give tone its sonority, its reach, its color, and +emotional power.= + +That this is not an empirical statement but a scientific fact, a few +simple experiments will demonstrate. + +Tone, in the musical sense, is the result of rapid periodic vibration. +The pitch of tone depends upon the _number_ of vibrations in a given +period; the loudness of tone depends upon the _amplitude_ of the +vibrations; the quality of tone depends upon the _form_ of the +vibrations; and the form of the vibrations depends upon the +_resonator_. + +The fact that pure white light is a compound of all the tints of the +rainbow into which it may be resolved by the prism is well known, but +the analogous fact that a pure musical tone is a compound of tones of +different rates of vibration, tones of different pitch, is not so much +a matter of common knowledge, and not so obvious. + +Analysis shows that a musical tone consists of a fundamental note and +a series of overtones.[5] The ear is quite capable of recognizing many +of these overtones and may be trained to do so. The most obvious can +be readily separated from a fundamental by a simple experiment. + +[Footnote 5: For fuller exposition see Tyndall on _Sound_, or the +section devoted to _Acoustics_ in any text-book on Physics.] + +The overtones arrange themselves in a definite order, as follows: (1) +the fundamental or prime tone; (2) an overtone one octave above the +fundamental; (3) an overtone a fifth above No. 2; (4) an overtone a +fourth above No. 3 (two octaves above the fundamental); (5) an +overtone a major third above No. 4; (6) an overtone a minor third +above No. 5. There are others in still higher range but those +indicated are easily demonstrated on the piano. For C they would be as +follows: + + +[Music illustration] + +Experiment I + +Step to your piano, noiselessly press and hold down the key of No. 2, +then strike the fundamental No. 1, with force and immediately release +it. As a result No. 2 will sound clearly, and if your ears are keen +you will at the same time hear No. 6. In succession hold down the keys +of 3, 4, 5, and 6, while you strike and release the fundamental No. 1. +If your piano is "in tune" you will probably hear No. 6 when holding +the key of any other note of the series. + +In a musical tone of rich quality the overtones just indicated are +present in their fulness, while tone that is weak and thin is made so +by the absence or weakness of the overtones. I have stated that the +quality of a tone depends on the _form_ of its vibrations, and that +the form of its vibrations is determined by the character of the +_resonator_. We can now amplify this by saying that while the relative +presence or absence of overtones determines the clang or color of a +tone, their presence or absence is determined by the _character of the +resonance_. + +An English writer records that he was once in the garden at the back +of a house while a gentleman was singing in the drawing-room. The +tone-quality was good, and the pitch so unusually high he hastened to +learn who sang tenor high C so beautifully. On entering the room, +instead of the tenor he had supposed, he found the singer was a +baritone, and the note sung was only middle C. The fundamental tone +had not reached him in the garden but the first overtone, an octave +above it, had. Concrete illustrations will make the subject still +clearer. + + +Experiment II + +If an ordinary tuning-fork when vibrating is held in the hand its +intrinsic tone is too weak to carry far. Rest the handle of the +vibrating fork on a bare table or the panel of the door, and the sound +is greatly augmented. _The vibrations of the fork have by contact +induced similar vibrations in the wooden table or panel which +reinforce the primary tone._ + + +Experiment III + +Place the handle of the vibrating tuning-fork on a small upturned +empty box, or, better still, in contact with the body of a violin, and +the sound will be stronger than in the previous experiment, because to +the vibrations of the wood are added the vibrations of the air +enclosed in the box or the violin. _To the resonance of the wood has +been added the sympathetic resonance of the confined air._ + + +Experiment IV + +Hold the vibrating fork over the mouth of an empty fruit-jar and there +will probably be little or no reinforcement; but gently pour in water, +thereby shortening the air column within the jar, and the sound of the +fork will be gradually intensified until at a certain point it becomes +quite loud. If you pour in still more water the sound will gradually +become feebler. This shows that _for every tone an air column of a +certain size most powerfully reinforces that tone_. + + +Experiment V + +As a sequence to the last experiment, take two fruit-jars of the same +size, and, having learned to what point to fill them for the greatest +resonance, fill one jar (after warming it) to the required point with +hot water, the other with cold water, and you will find that the +resonance of the heated, therefore expanded, air is much less than the +denser air of the cold jar. This shows that _the degree of density of +the air affects its resonance_. + + +Experiment VI + +To demonstrate the resonance of the oral cavity, apart from the voice, +hold a vibrating tuning-fork before the open mouth. Vary the shape and +size of the cavity until the sound of the fork suddenly increases in +volume, showing that the right adjustment for resonance has been made. +_This intensification of the sound is due to the vibration of the air +in the mouth cavity, together with the sympathetic vibration of the +surrounding walls._ + + +Experiment VII + +As an illustration of sympathetic resonance without contact, sing +forcibly a tone that is within easy range, and at the same time +silently hold down the corresponding key of the piano. On ceasing to +sing you will hear the tone sounding in the piano. This may be further +illustrated by playing on the open string of one violin while another, +tuned to the same pitch, rests untouched near by. Through _sympathetic +resonance_ the corresponding string of the second violin will vibrate +and sound its note. The louder the first violin is played the louder +will be the sympathetic tone of the second. + +The deep pedal-tones of a church organ often induce sympathetic +resonance that may be felt beneath the feet of the listener. One +writer, a singer, speaks of living in the same house with two +deaf-mutes. He lodged on the first floor, they on the third. One day, +meeting at luncheon, one of the deaf-mutes told the singer that he had +begun practice earlier that morning than usual. Surprised, the writer +asked how he knew. The deaf-mute replied that they always knew when he +was singing because they felt the floor of their room vibrate. + +If tone vibrations can be transmitted so readily throughout a house, +it is not difficult to understand how easily the vibrations of bone +and tissue can be transmitted until the whole framework of the body +responds in perceptible vibration. + +It is said that Pascal at the age of twelve wrote a dissertation on +acoustics suggested by his childish discovery that when a metal dish +was struck by a knife the resulting sound could be stopped by touching +the vibrating dish with a finger. + +With this in mind it is not difficult to understand how compression of +the human instrument by the pressure of tight clothing without, or by +false muscular tension within, must interfere with its free vibration +and so rob the produced tone of just so much of perfection. + +From these experiments we can understand that, while the tones of the +voice are initiated by or at the vocal cords, the volume and character +of the tones are dependent upon _resonance_,--the vibration of the air +in the various resonance chambers of the body, together with the +sympathetic vibration of the walls of these chambers and the bony +framework that supports them. + +In respect to resonance, as in other respects, the human voice is far +superior to all other instruments, for their resonators are fixed and +unchanging, while the human resonator is flexible,--in Helmholtz's +words "admits of much variety of form, so that many more qualities of +tone can be thus produced than on any instrument of artificial +construction." + +We are now prepared to realize the error of the common notion that +loudness of tone is due entirely to increase of breath pressure on the +vocal cords. Simple experiments with the tuning-fork have shown that +while the volume of sound it gives forth is due in part to the +amplitude of its vibrations, its loudness is _chiefly_ due to the +character of the _resonance_ provided for it. + +The larger the resonance chamber the greater is its reinforcing +capacity. The largest air chamber in the body is the chest, which +serves not only as a wind-chest, but as a resonance chamber. The +necessity for chest expansion, therefore, is not, as generally +supposed, merely for air, but to increase its size as a resonance +chamber. + +In view of the laws of tone, how great is the common error of speaking +of the larynx as if it alone were the vocal organ, when the principal +vibrations are _above_ the vocal cords in the chambers of _resonance_! + +Since the musical value, the beauty of tone, as well as its volume, +comes only from right use of the resonator, our principal business +must be the acquiring control of the vibratory air current _above the +larynx_. The acquirement of this control involves the proper focusing +or placing of the tone, with the free uncramped use of all the vocal +organs; power will then take care of itself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HEAD AND NASAL RESONANCE + + +Of the four component factors in the production of speech and song, +the first, the _motor_, has been considered in Chapter III, and the +second, the _vibrator_, in Chapter I. + +In one respect there is marked contrast between these two factors. +Until right habits are so thoroughly formed that the singer's +breathing is automatically controlled, conscious effort is necessary, +while the action of the vibrator, the vocal cords, is involuntary, not +subject to conscious control. + +The subtle adjustments of the delicate mechanism of the larynx belong +to the realm of reflex action--to a spontaneous activity that, left +unhindered, does its part in perfect nicety. + +The vocal cords must, in their action, be free from the disturbance of +uncontrolled breath action below them, or the hindrance due to +misdirected effort above them. To direct consciousness to the vocal +cords is to cramp them and prevent that free vibration and that +perfect relaxation of the throat without which pure tone and true +pitch are impossible. + +As a surgeon I well know the value of thorough anatomical knowledge, +but from the singer's standpoint I cannot too strongly emphasize the +unwisdom of directing the attention of sensitively organized pupils to +their vocal mechanism by means of the laryngoscope. This instrument +belongs to the physician, not to the singer. + +The importance of the third factor, the _resonator_, has been +considered in Chapter V, on Resonance, but the fourth element in voice +production, _articulation_, is so cooerdinated to resonance that the +significance and primacy of the latter are too often overlooked. + +Placing or "focusing the voice" I have found to be chiefly a matter +of control and use of the resonator, consisting of chest, pharynx, +mouth, and the nasal and head cavities. + +A tone lacking in resonance is ineffective,--devoid of carrying +power,--is diffuse and unfocused; while a resonant tone, no matter how +soft dynamically, has carrying power and is focused in its vibration. + +Now "voice placing" depends primarily on correct _vowel placing_, +which in turn depends on proper adjustment of the resonators, which +again depends chiefly on the positions and motions of the organs of +articulation. The interdependence of tone quality and pronunciation is +therefore obvious. + +Constant emphasis must be laid upon the fact that focusing a tone is a +matter of resonance, and that perhaps the most important element in +this is _nasal_ resonance. In this country, particularly, teachers +have, in their desire to overcome the too common nasal twang, +mistakenly sought to shut out the nasal chamber from all participation +in speech and song. + +There are those who, partly recognizing the importance of _head_ +resonance, would secure it while ignoring _nasal_ resonance. It is +impossible to secure head resonance in this fashion, for it is only +through free nasal resonance that the cooerdinate resonance in the air +sinuses above the nasal cavity and connected with it can be +established. + +The fear of nasal twang and failure to distinguish between it and true +nasal resonance has been the stumbling block. They are very +different,--one is to be shunned, the other to be cultivated. The +first is an obvious blemish, the second is an important essential of +good singing. + +Nasal tones are caused by a raised or stiffened tongue, a sagging soft +palate, a stiffened jaw, or by other rigidities that prevent free tone +emission and which at the same time--note this--prevent true nasal +resonance. + +As tone, or vocalized breath, issues from the larynx, it is divided +into two streams or currents by the pendent veil of the soft palate. +One stream flows directly into the mouth, where it produces oral +resonance; the other stream passes through the nasopharynx into the +hollow chambers of the face and head, inducing nasal and head +resonance. + +It is commonly supposed that tone passing in whole or in part through +the nasal cavities must be nasal in quality; whereas a tone of +objectionable nasal quality can be sung equally well with the nostrils +either closed or open. + +Browne and Behnke state the matter thus: "However tight the closure of +the soft palate may be, it is never sufficient to prevent the air in +the nasal cavities being thrown into co-vibrations with that in the +mouth. These co-vibrations are, in fact, necessary for a certain +amount of the brilliancy of the voice, and if they are prevented by a +stoppage of the posterior openings of the nasal passages, the voice +will sound dull and muffled. This is of course due, to an _absence of +nasal resonance_, and must on no account be described as nasal +_twang_. It is, indeed, the very opposite of it." + +Nasal tone quality and nasal resonance must not be confounded. A nasal +tone is constricted, while a tone with nasal resonance is free. Again, +a tone may be unmarred by the nasal quality, yet if it lacks nasal +resonance it lacks vibrancy, carrying power. + +Nasal tones are produced, not because the vibrations pass through the +nasal passage, but because they are obstructed in their passage +through them. A nasal tone is always a cramped tone, due to +impediment, tension, or muscular contraction, particularly in the +nasopharynx. + +The congestion and consequent thickening of the mucous membrane lining +the cavities of the nose and head, resulting from a cold, make the +tone muffled and weak, owing to the inability of the parts to respond +to the vibrations and add to the tone normal nasal resonance. + +The elder Booth (Junius Brutus), about 1838, suffered from a broken +nose which defaced his handsome visage and spoiled his splendid voice. +His disability was so great that afterward he seldom played. That the +cause of this impairment of Booth's voice was due to the contraction +and more or less complete obstruction of the nasal passages is too +evident to call for comment. + +Many singers have sweet but characterless voices that lack the +fulness, power, and ring they might have because they fail to avail +themselves of the augmenting power of the resonance cavities. The +singer must learn to habitually use all of the resonance cavities and +use them simultaneously. + +Lilli Lehmann, in _How to Sing_, says that, "although the nasal sound +can be exaggerated,--which rarely happens,--it can be much +neglected,--something that very often happens." The context makes +clear that what in the English translation of the great singer's book +is called "nasal sound" is exactly what we term _nasal resonance_. + +After charging the monotonous quality or lack of color in the voice of +a famous opera star to lack of nasal resonance, Madame Lehmann speaks +of the consummate art of Marcella Sembrich who "in recent years +appears to have devoted very special study to nasal resonance, whereby +her voice, especially in the middle register, has gained greatly in +warmth." She says further that nasal resonance "cannot be studied +enough. It ought always to be employed." "How often," she says, "have +I heard young singers say, 'I no longer have the power to respond to +the demands made upon me,' whereas the trouble lies only in the +insufficient use of the resonance of the head cavities." + +From the foregoing, the conclusion follows that the head vibrations +are not only an essential element, but that nasal resonance is a most +important element in imparting to tone its brilliance and carrying +power. Without thought of the mechanism of _how_ nasal resonance is +produced, the singer has control over it by direct influence of the +will. The tones, low as well as high, should seem to start in the nose +and head, and the vibrations of the perfect tone can be plainly felt +upon any part of the nose and head. Without the head vibrations no +tone can be perfect, for nothing else will compensate for the lack of +these. Vocal organs used as here described will suffer no fatigue +from reasonable use; hoarseness will be to them a thing unknown, and +"minister's sore throat" an unheard of complaint. Not only is faulty +voice production a source of great discomfort, but it is the cause of +many diseases of the chest, throat, and head. + +The gentle practice in easy range of the exercises given in the +chapter following, will do much to restore a normal condition. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +PLACING THE VOICE + + +What is called "placing the voice" or "tone production" or "focusing +the voice" is, as already stated in the previous chapter, chiefly a +matter of resonance--of control of the resonator. Now vocalization is +largely vowelization, and vocal tones are a complex of sound and +resonance. The character of a vowel is given it by the shape of the +vowel chamber; and the shaping of the vowel chamber depends upon +delicate adjustment of the movable parts,--jaw, lips, cheeks, tongue, +veil of the palate, and pharynx. While this adjustment is made through +more or less conscious muscular action, the parts must never be forced +into position; local effort to this end will invariably defeat itself. +The important consideration in all voice movements is a flexible, +_natural_ action of all the parts, and all the voice movements are so +closely allied, so sympathetically related, that if one movement is +constrained the others cannot be free. It is a happy fact that _the +right way is the easiest way_, and a fundamental truth that =right +effort is the result of right thought=. From these axiomatic principles +we deduce the very first rule for the singer and speaker,--=THINK the +right tone, mentally picture it; then concentrate upon the picture, +not upon the mechanism=. + + +WHEN IS THE VOCAL ACTION CORRECT? + +There are two sound criterions for judging the correctness of vocal +action,--first, the _ease_ of the action, its naturalness, its +flexibility. As Mills concisely states it: "He sings or speaks best +who attains the end with the least expenditure of energy." Second, the +_beauty_ of the result. Harsh, unlovely tones are a sure indication of +misplaced effort, of tension somewhere, of wrong action. On the other +hand the nearer the tones approach to perfection the closer does the +organism come to correct action. _Beauty of tone_, then, is the truest +indication of proper vocal action. + +Judgment as to the relative beauty of a tone depends on the training +of the ear. Pupils should habitually listen to their own voices, for +between the hearing and feeling of the voice a knowledge of progress +can be obtained. The function of the ear in governing voice production +is thus stated by Prof. Mills: "The nervous impulses that pass from +the ear to the brain are the most important guides in determining the +necessary movements." Mr. Ffrangcon-Davies maintains that, "The +training of the ear is one-half of the training of the voice." The +student should improve every opportunity to hear the best singers and +speakers, for both consciously and unconsciously we learn much by +imitation. Good examples are often our best teachers. + +Keeping well in mind the principles stated above, we are now ready to +begin their application in placing the voice--that is, in setting it +free--not by learning some strange and difficult action, but by +cultivating normal action. + + +EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE + +The following exercises are designed for the primary development of a +correct tone and for the test of the perfection of every tone at every +stage of development. They are based upon the assumption that all +tones of the voice should be focused and delivered precisely alike. +Their use should constitute a part of the daily practice of the singer +or speaker. + +I give but few exercises for each point to be gained. Intelligent +teachers and pupils will add an infinite variety to suit each case, +but the exercises given appear to me to be the best for initial +practice. It is important that each exercise in its order shall be +thoroughly mastered before taking up the next. Only in this way can +rapid progress be made, for it is not the multiplicity of exercises, +but the thoughtful application of principles in the few, that leads to +results. + +The sound of _hng_ will always place the voice in proper focus by +developing the resonance of the nose and head. The thin bones of the +nose will first respond to the sound and after practice the vibrations +can be felt on any part of the head and even more distinctly on the +low than on the high tones. To attain this, repeat the sound _hung_ +times without number, prolonging the _ng_ sound at least four counts. +To insure the proper course of the vowel sounds through the nasal +passages, follow _hung_ with the vowel _ee_, as this vowel is more +easily focused than any other; then with _oo_, _oh_, _aw_ and _ah_. + +_Ah_ is by far the most difficult sound to focus and should never be +used for initial practice. Much valuable time has been lost by the +custom of using this sound at first. It should come last. + +The _h_ is chosen to introduce the vowel sound because in the +preparation to produce the sound of the letter _h_ the epiglottis is +wide open and the vocal cords entirely relaxed, and because less +change of the tongue is required when the vowel sound follows. + + +Preliminary Exercise + +_Practise this softly on any pitch easy for the voice._ + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee. Hung-oo. Hung-oh. Hung-aw. Hung-ah. +Hung-ee _etc._] + +Begin the tone quietly on an easy pitch and continue it softly to the +end. Later, after these exercises are mastered on one pitch, use every +note within the easy compass of the voice. Leave stridency of tone to +the locust. It is no part of a perfect tone. It never appeared in the +voices of the most famous singers. Those who allowed themselves to use +it passed off the stage early in life. Much better results will be +obtained by practising without any accompaniment. The sound of the +piano or other instrument distracts the pupil, prevents both pupil and +teacher from hearing the voice, and hinders progress. + + +IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS + +The manner in which Exercise I and those that follow is practised is +of the utmost importance. Therefore carefully note and apply the +following: + +1. Fully pronounce the word _hung_ (_u_ as in _stung_) at once, and +prolong the tone, not on the vowel sound but on the _ng_ sound. This +establishes the proper head and nasal resonance at the very beginning +of the exercise. + +2. In passing from _ng_ to _ee_ be very careful not to change the +initial focus or lose the sensation of nasal and head resonance. Do +not therefore move the lips or the chin. The only change at this point +is the slight movement of the tongue required to pronounce _ee_, which +must be a pure vowel without a trace of the preceding _g_. + +3. In passing from _ee_ to _oo_, from _oo_ to _oh_, and so on, do so +with the least possible movement of lips and chin. _The initial +sensation of nasal and head resonance must not be lost._ + +4. Each vowel sound must be distinct in enunciation and pure in +quality. Avoid blurring one with the other. Give each its true +individuality. + +5. As jewels of different hue hung on a string, so must this exercise +be the stringing of vowels on a continuous stream of sound. + + +Exercise I + +TO ESTABLISH NASAL AND HEAD RESONANCE + +This is an exercise for focusing or placing the voice and developing +the vibrations of the nasal and head cavities, the most essential +parts of the resonant apparatus. If the nostrils are kept fully open, +no nasal twang will be heard. The strength of the tone will correspond +to the force of the vibrations of the nose and head, which can be +plainly felt by resting the finger lightly upon the side of the nose. +The vibrations may eventually be plainly felt on the top and back of +the head. + +Attack, that is, begin the tone, _softly_ and on no account force it +in the least. Pronounce the full word _at once_, prolong the _ng_ four +counts as indicated, and sing the five vowel sounds on a continuous, +unbroken tone. Articulate entirely with the lips and without moving +the under jaw. In this, as in the following exercises, keep the under +jaw relaxed and open the mouth so as to separate the teeth as wide +apart as is consistent with the action of the lips. See also the +illustrations of proper lip position given at the close of Chapter II. + +_Practice this exercise on any pitch easy for the voice._ + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +Repeat this many times until the nose and head vibrations are fully +recognized and established. After mastery of this exercise is +acquired, any words ending in _ng_ may be repeated. The word _noon_ +sung quietly on each note of the voice with the final consonant +prolonged will be found helpful. + + +EXERCISES FOR SPEAKERS + +When the placing of the voice is accomplished on the one tone +(Exercise I), the speaker can go on with practice in reading and +reciting, allowing the voice to change its pitch at its will, only +being careful that all the tones are alike in quality. + +A profitable exercise for speakers is to pronounce any word or +syllable ending with _ng_, as _ming_, _bing_, _sing_, _ring_, _ting_, +and follow it with some familiar lines in a monotone, being sure that +the tone is the same and produces the same vibrations in the nose and +head. + +In the case of a person already a public speaker, this new _regime_ +may not immediately manifest itself in performance, but gradually the +right principles will assume control, and speaking be done with ease +and effectiveness. Continual daily practice of exercises should be +kept up. + +If a speaker has a musical ear and some musical knowledge, he will +derive great benefit by following out the practice of the exercises +for singers. In no way can the voice for speaking be improved so +rapidly or decisively as by musical training. + + +Exercise II + +TO ESTABLISH HEAD AND NASAL RESONANCE + +As in Exercise I, sing softly, seeking purity of vowel sounds and +quality of tone. Fully pronounce _hung_ at once, prolonging the _ng_ +four counts as indicated. Pass from one vowel to the next with the +least possible change in the position of the lips and chin. The stream +of sound is to be unbroken, the tone focus unchanged, and the +sensation of resonance in the upper chambers continuous. + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + + +Exercise III + +UPPER RESONANCE CONTINUED + +Follow the directions for Exercise I. Sing quietly in a pitch that is +easy for the voice, and modulate up or down by half steps. + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + + +Exercise IV + +UPPER RESONANCE CONTINUED + +The last exercise carried the voice an interval of a third; this +carries the voice an interval of a fifth. Follow carefully the +directions of Exercise I. Be sure to pronounce _hung_ at once, +prolonging the tone not on the vowel but on the _ng_. _Sing softly._ +Vary the pitch to suit the voice. + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + + +Exercise V + +UPPER RESONANCE CONTINUED + +The last exercise carried the voice an interval of a fifth, this one +has a range of a sixth, while Exercise VI has a range of an octave. +Carefully follow the Important Directions on page 60. + +_Sing softly_ in a pitch that is easy for the voice. + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + + +Exercise VI + +TO ENLARGE THE THROAT AND THUS MAGNIFY THE TONE + +Pronounce the word _hung_ at once, opening the mouth well. Prolonging +the _ng_ sound as indicated will insure the proper focus. + +Sing the five vowel sounds throughout the scale as indicated. At first +practise only on scales that are in easy range. + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + + +VIa + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + + +Exercise VII + +FOR PRODUCTION OF THE VOWEL SOUNDS IN PROPER FOCUS + +Produce the _hung_ at once, and add the vowel. _Be sure that the vowel +sound follows the same course as the "ng" sound which precedes it, and +produces the same sensation in the nose._ + +The vowels are arranged in the order chosen because _ee_ is the most +easily focused while _ah_ is by far the most difficult to focus, and +hence the worst possible sound for initial practice. _Think_ of the +tone as being made in the nose and head. + +Let there be no break or stopping of the tone when passing from the +_ng_ sound to the vowel. Simply change the tone into the vowel desired +by the proper change in the articulating organs. + +Sing the five vowel sounds connectedly, being sure that each vowel is +correctly placed before passing to the next. The proper use of the +lips will aid greatly in focusing the vowels. Start with the scale +that is in comfortable range. + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +[Music illustration: Hung-ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + + +Exercise VIII + +TO ENLARGE THE THROAT AND FOCUS THE VOWELS + +Open the mouth well and be sure that the vowel sounds are delivered as +in the previous exercises; this will insure largeness with proper +resonance. + +When practising this exercise, be careful, as with the others, that +each vowel sound in its order is correctly given before passing to the +next. Only in this way can rapid progress be made. + +The words _bing_, _sing_, _ting_, _fling_, _swing_ are excellent to +use for further practice. + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + + +Exercise IX + +QUICK CHANGING NOTES WITHOUT CHANGING RESONANCE + +The important point in this flexible exercise is to _keep the +vowel-color, the focus or resonance, unchanged throughout the phrase_. +Begin quietly, give the _ng_ freedom and the upper resonance will +adjust itself. This phrase is longer than in previous exercises; be +sure then that you still have breath at the end--breath enough to sing +further. Sing quietly. Pitch the exercise to suit the voice. + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + + +Exercise X + +FOR AGILITY + +Sing each vowel sound separately before passing to the next. Be sure +to start each vowel sound in purity and maintain it without change. +Pitch the exercise to suit the voice. + +[Music illustration: + +1. Ee +2. Oo +3. Oh +4. Aw +5. Ah + +_etc._] + +For variants on the above use as initial consonants _b_, _p_, _m_, +_f_, _v_, _d_, _k_, _n_, _t_, and _l_. + + +Exercise XI + +TO DEVELOP THE USE OF THE LIPS AND UNDER JAW + +When practising this exercise protrude the lips and raise them toward +the nose as far as possible; also make an effort to enlarge and widen +the nostrils. This exercise may be practised more quickly than the +preceding, but never at the expense of clearness of vowel distinction. +Carry the exercise higher or lower, and in different keys, to suit +individual voices. With a slight initial accent sing each two-measure +section smoothly as one phrase. Avoid accenting each separate vowel +sound. To do so would produce a series of jerks. + +[Music illustration: Ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +After practising the above as written modify it as follows: + + 1. Bee-boo-boh-baw-bah. + 2. Pee-poo-poh-paw-pah. + 3. Mee-moo-moh-maw-mah. + 4. Fee-foo-foh-faw-fah. + 5. Vee-voo-voh-vaw-vah. + 6. Dee-doo-doh-daw-dah. + 7. Kee-koo-koh-kaw-kah. + 8. Nee-noo-noh-naw-nah. + 9. Tee-too-toh-taw-tah. +10. Lee-loo-loh-law-lah. + + +Exercise XII + +FOR FACILITY AND QUICK VOWEL CHANGE + +Be careful not to blur the vowel sounds; each must be distinct and +pure, and the change from one to the next must be made with a minimum +of effort and without disturbing the focus of the tone. + +[Music illustration: Ee-oo-oh-aw-ah _etc._] + +The divisions (_a_ and _b_) of each of the above four variants may be +regarded as distinct exercises or not. For further practice use as +initial consonants any or all of the following: _b_, _p_, _m_, _f_, +_v_, _d_, _k_, _n_, _t_, and _l_. + + +Exercise XIII + +ASCENDING AND DESCENDING SCALE + +As in the previous exercises practise quietly with unvarying focus and +aim to finish the phrase with breath unexhausted. Pitch the exercise +to suit the voice. + +[Music illustration: + +Hung-ee +Hung-oo +Hung-oh +Hung-aw +Hung-ah + +_etc._] + + +Exercise XIV + +THE LONG SCALE + +Sing this scale exercise in medium range, without blurring either the +vowel sounds or the notes. + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + +[Music illustration: + +1. Hung-ee +2. Hung-oo +3. Hung-oh +4. Hung-aw +5. Hung-ah + +_etc._] + +The exercises thus far given have employed the five vowel sounds found +most helpful in gaining a free resonance. These should now be +supplemented by the use of _all_ the vowel sounds. It is obvious that +unless the singer is at home with every vowel and on any pitch in his +vocal range perfect pronunciation is impossible. In Chapter II a Scale +of Vowel Sounds is given. For convenience it is repeated here: + +[Illustration: + +1 n_ee_ +2 n_i_t +3 n_e_t +4 n_a_y +5 n_ai_r +6 n_a_t +7 n_i_gh +8 N_a_h +7' n_o_t +6' n_a_w +5' n_e_r +4' n_u_t +3' n_o_ +2' n_oo_k +1' n_oo_.] + +Having so far mastered the previous exercises as to establish a free +head and nasal resonance, take the Scale of Vowel Sounds and apply it +to the now familiar exercises. + +Next, as suggested in Exercise X, use as initial consonants in +connection with the Vowel Scale the consonants _b_, _p_, _m_, _f_, +_v_, _d_, _k_, _n_, _t_ and _l_. + +Keep before you the formula that articulation should _seem_ to be done +entirely with and through the upper lip; _i.e._, the _thought_ should +be that the words are projected through the upper lip. + +When by practise of the exercises given the voice has been focused and +resonance established without any instrument, scale exercises and +simple vocalises may be taken up with or without the piano. + +In practising scales start each a semitone higher until the _easy +limit_ of the voice is reached, and no farther. Gain will be more +rapid by working to deliver the tones within the voice's normal +compass. Then when occasional effort is made the organs will be found +ready to deliver the highest pitch of which the voice is capable. + +When sufficient progress has been made in mastering the execution of +scales and easy vocalises, the pupil will be ready to begin the study +of songs. If one foregoes the singing of songs during the few weeks +occupied with primary lessons, results are obtained much more quickly. + +While practising exercises or songs the less the pianoforte is used, +except to compare the pitch, the better. Such practice increases the +confidence of the performer. The instrument prevents the singer's +listening to the tone he is producing and judging of its +effectiveness. + +Pupils with high or very low voices may continue their practice higher +or lower as the voice is soprano, or bass, or contralto, but much +practice on the extremes of the voice is unadvisable. If pure tones +are produced in the medium range of the voice the highest or lowest +tones will be found ready when called for. Therefore practise the +extremes of the voice only enough to know the limits of the voice and +to be assured the tones are there. + +When the singer can perform the preceding simple exercises and know +that the tones are all focused, or placed and delivered, precisely +alike, he is ready to practise any scale, down or up, and to execute +any musical exercise or song for which he is intellectually fitted. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THROAT STIFFNESS + + +What is the most frequent obstacle to good singing, the difficulty +with which pupil and teacher most contend? Throat stiffness. What more +than anything else mars the singing of those we hear in drawing-rooms, +churches, and the concert room? Throat stiffness. + +This is the vice that prevents true intonation, robs the voice of its +expressiveness, limits its range, lessens its flexibility, diminishes +its volume, and makes true resonance impossible. + +This great interferer not only lessens the beauty of any voice, but +directly affects the organ itself. The muscles of the larynx are small +and delicate, and the adjustments they make in singing are exceedingly +fine. When, however, the voice user stiffens his throat, these +delicate muscles in their spontaneous effort to make the proper +adjustments are compelled to contract with more than their normal +strength. Every increase in throat stiffness demands a corresponding +increase in muscle effort, an overexertion that persisted in must +result in injury to the organ itself. Such misuse of the voice is +bound to show injurious results. Every throat specialist knows this, +and an untold multitude of those who, beginning with promise, have had +to give up singing as a career, learn it too late. + +Singers are so accustomed to the sound of their own voices as to be +usually quite unconscious of their own throat stiffness, though they +may recognize it in their neighbor. + +Unfortunately throat stiffness by its very nature tends to aggravate +itself, to constantly increase while the voice becomes less and less +responsive to the singer's demands. + +There are a number of contributing causes to throat stiffness, but the +principal cause is _throat consciousness_ and misplaced effort, due +largely to current misconceptions regarding the voice. A common notion +is that we sing with the throat, whereas we sing _through_ it. Akin to +this error is the notion, as common as it is fallacious, that force of +tone, carrying power, originates in the larynx, whereas the initial +tone due to the vibration of the vocal cords is in itself +comparatively feeble. As shown at length in Chapters VI and VII, +volume of tone, its color and carrying power, is acoustically and +vocally a matter of _resonance_. + +Many there are who sing by dint of sheer force and ignorance, but +their careers are necessarily short. The too common vulgar striving +for power rather than for beauty or purity of tone induces unnatural +effort and strain that both directly and sympathetically affect the +throat with stiffness. + +Unnatural effort in breathing, over-effort in breath control, as well +as singing without adequate breath, all induce tension that is +reflected at once in the sensitive throat. + +Impatience of results, American hurry, beget unnatural effort and +tension. "Unclasp the fingers of a rigid civilization from off your +throat." The student of the violin or the piano soon learns that only +by a long and patient preparation can he fit himself to entertain even +his admiring friends. The embryo singer, on the contrary, expects with +far less expenditure of time and effort to appear in public. + +The human voice is a direct expression of the man himself; it +registers spontaneously his mental and emotional states, even when he +would wish them hidden. Mental conditions tinged with impatience, with +fear, or with anything that begets tension of any sort are reflected +instantly in the voice, robbing it of its better qualities and +inducing stiffness in the throat. + +Reduced to its lowest terms voice culture to-day is a struggle with +throat stiffness. + +The causes indicate the remedy. Foremost, then, is dropping all throat +consciousness, all thought of the throat, all drawing of attention to +it. The larynx must be left uncramped, unhindered to do its work in +free unconsciousness, which it will do if not disturbed by tension in +its neighborhood, or by misdirected thought. + +The stream of consciousness must in singing be directed to the +breathing which is below the throat, and to resonance and +pronunciation which are above it. These functions are more or less +consciously controlled until at last mastery makes their action +automatic. + +I would once more emphasize the fact that the free use of all the +resonance chambers, and the recognition of the great function of +resonance, will do more than anything else to set the voice free and +emancipate the singer from all interfering rigidity. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS + + +THE NATURAL VOICE + +Pupils are constantly urged to sing and speak naturally, because the +"natural" tone is correct. This is exceedingly indefinite. It is +natural for a child to imitate the first sound it hears, whether it be +correct or incorrect. In either case the child imitates it, and for +that child it becomes the natural tone. The child reared in the +wilderness, beyond the hearing of a human voice, will imitate the +notes of the whip-poor-will, the chatter of the monkey, and the hoot +of the owl, and for him they are natural tones. + +To be natural is the hardest lesson to learn and it is only the result +of imitation or prolonged discipline. Untrained naturalness is the +perfection of awkwardness. The involuntary functions of organic life +are the only ones naturally performed correctly. Nature's method of +breathing, circulation, and digestion can be depended upon until +disarranged by subsequent conditions, but unless proper vocalization +is established by imitation and discipline this function is sure to be +corrupted by false examples. + + +AGE TO BEGIN + +After the child begins to talk, the sooner his vocal education begins +the better. Even at that early age he can be made to understand the +merits of head vibrations and by simple exercises produce them, and +once taught will never forget them. Vocalizing, like every other art, +is most easily learned by imitation, and the advantage of the early +years, when that faculty is most active, should not be lost. In olden +times the importance of this was fully realized. More than three +centuries ago, old Roger Ascham wrote: "All languages, both learned +and mother tongues, are begotten and gotten solely by imitation. For +as ye used to hear so ye learn to speak. If ye hear no other, ye speak +not yourself; and of whom ye only hear, of them ye only learn." +Nineteen centuries ago Quintillian wrote: "Before all let the nurses +speak properly. The boy will hear them first and will try to shape his +words by imitating them." + +If the right way of using the voice is early taught it will be a guard +against the contraction of bad habits which can only be corrected +later with infinite trouble. It certainly would be unwise to put a +young child under continued training; but even in the kindergarten the +right method of voice production can and should be taught. Teachers of +kindergarten and primary schools should be familiar with the +principles of voice training and be able to start the pupils at once +on the right road. + + +IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS + +The sooner this branch of education is made a part of the curriculum +of our common schools, the sooner shall we produce a race of good +speakers and singers. + +If, during the pupil's school life, proper attention is paid to these +primary principles and to _correct articulation_, a large majority of +students will graduate from our common schools prepared to advance in +the art of elocution or of singing without being obliged first to +unlearn a vast amount of error and to correct a long list of bad +habits. + +If each day in the public schools a few minutes only are devoted to +the subject by a teacher who understands it and who will call the +attention of the pupils to the proper applications of the principles +in their daily recitations, it will be found amply sufficient to +develop and establish a good speaking and singing voice. + + +ARTISTRY + +If artistry is to be attained, every organ must be individually well +trained. Yet, during performance, no one part should be given undue +prominence. The voice should be the product of all the organs equally +well developed. Continued practice will enable the performer to +correlate the whole--blend the strength of all in one. + +It goes without saying that no one in singing or speaking should +appear to be governed by a "method." During the early stages of +education, pupils should be amenable to rules and methods, but they +must not expect to be acceptable performers until able to forget their +lessons and simply and unconsciously make use of all the advantages of +their training. Even when the education is finished, and the _prima +donna_ has made her successful debut, continued daily repetition of +primary exercises is necessary to maintain excellence and insure the +progress that every performer desires. Our best singers to-day are as +diligent students of the technique of the voice as are the tyros +struggling with the first elements. + + +LIFE'S PERIODS + +Human life is divided into three periods: _first_, that of effort to +get an education; _second_, of effort to maintain it; and _third_, of +effort to resist the natural decline which comes with advancing years. +The singer and speaker must drill to develop the voice, must drill to +keep it in condition, and must drill to resist the encroachments of +senility. Eternal vigilance is the price of vocal success. + + +APPLICATION OF ESSENTIALS + +The application of the principles here discussed will show that a +musical voice is not the product of mysterious systems, but a matter +of scientific certainty. The essentials are good breathing, good +focusing, good resonance, and good articulation. These four elements +are so interdependent that one cannot be perfected without the other. +With these attained, the intellect, the sentiment, and the emotion of +the performer will culminate in artistic excellence. + + +REPOSE AS A PREPARATION FOR VOCAL EXERCISE + +The nervousness or fear which manifests itself in constraint and +rigidity of the muscles and sometimes in stage fright is a serious +hindrance to progress. The effectual offset to this painful condition +is repose. + +The art of inducing a condition of repose can be readily acquired by +any one who will carefully and faithfully do as follows: Place +yourself in an easy lying or lounging position in a quiet place, with +fresh air. Physical repose prepares for and invites mental repose. Now +allow the mind to work care free at its own sweet will without any +attempt to control it. Close the eyes and _breathe slowly, gently, and +deeply, with steady rhythm_. In two or three minutes a sensation of +quiet restful repose will be experienced, which may be continued for +several minutes or may even lead to a natural sound sleep. + +This result may not be attained at the first or the second trial, but +a few repetitions of the exercise will insure success in almost every +case. After the art is attained in this formal way, ability to induce +the same repose when sitting upright, or while standing, will be +quickly developed. + +This repose is the fitting preparation for a lesson or a performance +and may be induced during the progress of either, to allay any +trepidation incident to the situation. A mastery of this simple art +will make progress in the work of voice development much more rapid, +and make attainable a degree of discipline that is impossible without +it. It will prove for the beginner a sure prevention of stage fright +and a great relief to the most chronic sufferer from this malady. + + +THE VIBRATO + +The _vibrato_ is a rhythmic pulsation of the voice. It often appears +in untrained voices; in others it appears during the process of +cultivation. Some have thought it the perfection of sympathetic +quality; others esteem it a fault. + +The vibrato is caused by an undulating variation of pitch or power, +often both. The voice does not hold steadily and strictly to the +pitch, and according to the amount of the variation a corresponding +vibrato, or tremolo, is produced. + +The action of stringed instruments illustrates this statement. The +finger of the violinist vibrates on the string by rocking rapidly back +and forth and the vibrato is the result. + +The same is true of the human instrument. By variation of the tension, +the vocal apparatus sends forth several tones in alternation, of a +slightly different pitch, which together produce the effect. + +Three sources are ascribed for the vibrato; one is a rapid, spasmodic +vibration of the diaphragm, causing variation of breath pressure; +another is the alternate tension and relaxation of the larynx and +vocal cords; a third is that commonest of faults--throat stiffness. +Either cause is possible, and variation in the pitch or intensity of +the tone is the result. Sufficient investigations have not been made +to make the matter certain, but tremolo, trembling of the vocal +organs, and muscular stiffness, or unnatural tension, seem to go +together. + +It is quite possible in the early stages of culture so to train the +voice as to use the vibrato or not at will, but if not early +controlled this, like other bad habits, gains the mastery. Excessive +vibrato has spoiled many good voices. It is not a fundamental quality +of the voice. A little vibrato may occasionally be desirable when +properly and skilfully used; more than this is to be shunned as a +dangerous vice. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE PSYCHOLOGY OF VOCAL CULTURE + + +Mental conception precedes execution. The picture must exist in the +artist's mind before it can be drawn on the canvas. The architect must +mentally see the majestic cathedral in all its details before he can +draw the plans from which it can be built. In the field of physical +activity no movement is made until the mind has gone before and +prepared the way. A person's ability to do is in a great degree +measured by his determination to do, but sitting in a rocking-chair +and thinking will never make an athlete. Mental action is necessary, +but only through trained muscular action can the mental action +materialize in a finished performance. + +So too the mind must anticipate the action of the vocal organs, but +the organs themselves must be led to interpret the mental concept +until such action becomes spontaneous. Action in turn quickens the +mental process, and the mental picture becomes more vivid. + +Note with emphasis that the mental concept _precedes_ the action and +governs it. Therefore, instead of producing tone by local effort, by +conscious muscular action of any sort, correctly _think the tone_, +correctly shape and color it _mentally_. =Every vocal tone is a mental +concept made audible.= The beginner and the confirmed bungler alike +fail in this prime essential--they do not make this mental picture of +tone before singing it. Kindred to this is deficiency in hearing, in +discriminating between good tone color and poor. The student must +constantly compare his tone as it is sung with the picture in his +mind. Training the voice is therefore largely a training of mind and +ear, a developing of nicety in discrimination. Singing is mental +rather than physical, psychologic rather than physiologic. Think +therefore of the effect desired rather than of the process. + +In considering the details of voice production analytically we are apt +to forget that man, notwithstanding his complexity, is a _unit_ and +acts as a unit. Back of all and underlying man's varied activity is +the psychical. In the advanced stages of the art of speech and song +this psychical element is of pre-eminent importance. + +The speaker who essays to give expression to his own thoughts must +have his ideas sharply defined and aflame in order to so utter them +that they will arouse his hearers to enthusiasm. The speaker or singer +who would successfully interpret the thoughts of others must first +make those thoughts his very own. When this is attained, then the +voice, action, and the whole spirit of the performer, responding to +the theme, will beget a like responsiveness in his audience. + + +THE SINGER BEHIND THE VOICE + +Books upon books have been written on voice training, and will +continue to be written. The preceding pages have been devoted to the +fundamental subject of tone production, but it is time to suggest that +back of the voice and the song is the singer himself with his complex +personality. Back of the personality is the soul itself, forever +seeking utterance through its mask of personality. All genuine impulse +to sing is from the soul in its need for expression. Through +expression comes growth in soul consciousness and desire for greater +and greater self-expression. + +Singing is far more than "wind and muscle," for, as Ffrangcon-Davies +puts it, "The whole spiritual system, spirit, mind, sense, _soul_, +together with the whole muscular system from feet to head, will be in +the wise man's singing, _and the whole man will be in the tone_." + +Of all the expressions of the human spirit in art form, the sublimated +speech we call song is the most direct. Every other art requires some +material medium for its transmission, and in music, subtlest of all +the arts, instruments are needed, except in singing only. + + +FREEDOM + +In song the singer himself is the instrument of free and direct +expression. Freedom of expression, complete utterance, is prevented +only by the singer himself. No one hinders him, no one stands in the +way but himself. The business of the teacher is to _set free_ that +which is latent. His high calling is by wise guidance to help the +singer to get out of his own way, to cease standing in front of +himself. Technical training is not all in all. Simple recognition of +the existence of our powers is needed even more. Freedom comes through +the recognition and appropriation of inherent power; recognition comes +first, the appropriation then follows simply. The novice does not know +his natural power, his birthright, and must be helped to find it, +chiefly, however, by helping himself, by cognizing and re-cognizing +it. + +No student of the most human of all arts--singing--need give up if he +has burning within him the _song impulse_, the _hunger to sing_. This +inner impulse is by its strength an evidence of the power to sing; the +very hunger is a promise and a prophecy. + + +DETERRENTS + +The deterrents to beautiful singing are physical in appearance, but +these are outer signs of mental or emotional disturbance. Normal +poise, which is strength, smilingly expresses itself in curves, in +tones of beauty. + +_Mental discord_ results in angularity, rigidity, harshness. + +_Impatience_ produces feverishness that makes vocal poise impossible; +and impatience induces the modern vice of forcing the tone. Growth is +a factor for which hurried forcing methods make no allowance. + +_Excess of emotion_ with its loss of balance affects the breathing and +play of the voice. + +_Exertion_, trying effort, instead of easy, happy activity induces +hampering rigidities. + +_Intensity_, over-concentration, or rather false concentration, +emotional tension, involves strain, and strain is always wrong. + +_Over-conscientiousness_, with its fussiness about petty detail, and +insistence on non-essentials, is a deterrent from which the robust are +free. _Over-attention to the mechanics_ of voice production is a +kindred deterrent. Both deterrents prevent that prime characteristic +of expression--spontaneity. + +_Anxiety_ is a great contractor of muscle, a great stiffener. Anxiety +always forgets the _power_ within, and falsely says to the +song-hunger, "You shall never be satisfied." + +_Self-repression_ is a great deterrent that afflicts the more +sensitive, particularly those of puritanic inheritance. It is a +devitalizer and a direct negative to expression, which is vital, is +_life_. + +All of these deterrents are negative and may be overcome by fuller +recognition of the inner power that by its very nature must +perpetually seek positive expression. + + +CONCLUSION + +In conclusion, the student can perpetually find encouragement in a +number of happy facts. + +Man is endowed by nature, except in rare instances, with a perfect +vocal apparatus. When abnormal conditions are found they are usually +in the adult voice, and are due solely to misuse. In other words +defects are not inherent but acquired and _can be removed_. + +By nature the human voice is beautiful, for the tendency of nature is +always in the direction of beauty. Whatever is unlovely in singing, as +in all else, is _un_natural. True method is therefore never artificial +in its action, but simple, because the natural is always simple. + +Finally, no, not finally, but firstly and secondly and thirdly and +perpetually, every student of singing and every teacher of it must +constantly bear in mind the happy law: + +=THE RIGHT WAY IS ALWAYS AN EASY WAY= + + + + +BOOKS CONSULTED + + +TITLE AUTHOR PUBLISHED + +An Essay on the History +and Theory of Music, and +of the Qualities and Capacity +of the Human Voice Isaac Nathan London, 1823. + +Elements of Vocal Science Richard Mackenzie Bacon London, 1824. + +Orthophony; or the Cultivation +of the Voice in Elocution William Russell Boston, 1859. + +Vocal Physiology Charles Alex. Guilmette New York, 1860. + +Die Lehre von den +Tonempfindungen als +physiologische Grundlage +fuer die theorie der Musik H.L.F. Helmholtz Brunswick, 1863. + +The Sensations of Tone as +a Physiological Basis for +the Theory of Music H.L.F. Helmholtz + +(Translation of above) (Translated by A.J. + Ellis) London, 1875. + +Sound John Tyndall London, 1867. + +Principles of Elocution and +Voice Culture Benj. W. Atwell Providence, 1868. + +The Voice, Its Artistic +Production, Development +and Preservation George J. Lee London, 1870. + +The Cultivation of the +Speaking Voice John Pyke Hullah Oxford, 1870. + +Voice Building Horace R. Streeter Boston, 1871. + +Principles of Elocution and +Voice Culture Benjamin Atwell Boston, 1872. + +Hints for Pronunciation in +Singing Georgiana Weldon London, 1872. + +The Voice in Singing Emma Seiler Philadelphia, 1872 + +The Voice as an Instrument Ange A. Pattou New York, 1878. + +The Vocal Process John Howard New York, 1878. + +Speech in Song Alexander J. Ellis London, 1878. + +Voice and Vocalization Wm. P. Robert London, 1879. + +The Human Voice and +Connected Parts Joseph Montgomery Farrar London, 1881. + +The Mechanism of the +Human Voice Emil Behnke London, 1882. + +Gymnastics of the Voice Oskar Guttmann Albany, 1882. + +The Art of Voice Production +with Special Reference +to the Methods of +Correct Breathing Ange A. Pattou New York, 1882. + +The Old Italian School of +Singing Leo Kofler Albany, 1882. + +The Secrets of the Voice in +Singing Emilio Belari New York, 1883. + +Deep Breathing Sophia A. Ciccolina New York, 1883. + +Artistic Voice in Speech +and Song Charles Lunn London, 1884. + +Voice, Song and Speech Lennox Browne and Emil + Behnke London, 1884. + +Modern Singing Methods, +Their Use and Abuse John Franklin Botume Boston, 1885. + +The Diaphragm and Its +Functions J.M.W. Kitchen Albany, 1885. + +The Voice from a Practical +Standpoint Edmund J. Meyer New York, 1886. + +The Hygiene of the Vocal +Organs Morrell Mackenzie, M.D. London, 1886. + +How to Sing Wm. Henry Daniell New York, 1887. + +The Art of Breathing as +the Basis for Tone Production Leo Kofler New York, 1887. + +The Voice. How to Train +It Edward Barrett Warman Boston, 1890. + +Scientific Voice. Artistic +Singing and Effective +Singing Thomas Chater London, 1890. + +Voice Figures Mrs. Margaret Watts + Hughes London, 1891. + +The Human Voice; Its +Cultivation W.H. Griffiths London, 1892. + +The Philosophy of Singing Clara Kathleen Rogers New York, 1893. + +The What and How of +Vocal Culture F. Rowena Medini New York, 1893. + +Exercises in Vocal Technique John Franklin Botume Boston, 1894. + +Text-Book on the Natural +Use of the Voice George E. Thorp and + William Nicholl London, 1895. + +Respiration for Advanced +Singers John Franklin Botume Boston, 1897. + +Voice Building and Tone +Placing Henry Holbrook Curtis, + M.D. New York, 1896. + +Twenty Lessons on the +Development of the +Voice George E. Thorp London, 1896. + +Voxometric Revelation +(The Problem Surrounding +the Production of +the Human Voice Finally +Discovered) Alfred Augustus North London, 1896. + +The Art of Singing Wm. Shakespeare London and + Boston, 1898. + +The Rightly-Produced +Voice Edward Davidson Palmer London, 1898. + +How to Train Children's +Voices T. Maskell Hardy London, 1899. + +How to Sing (Meine +Gesangskunst) Lilli Lehmann New York, 1902. + +Scientific Tone Production Mary Ingles James Boston, 1903. + +English Diction for Singers +and Speakers Louis Arthur Russell Boston, 1905. + +The Training of Boys' +Voices Clarke Ellsworth Johnson Boston, 1906. + +Voice Production in Singing +and Speaking Wesley Mills, M.D. Philadelphia, 1906. + +The Art of the Singer W.J. Henderson New York, 1906. + +The Commonplaces of +Vocal Art Louis Arthur Russell Boston, 1907. + +The Singing of the Future David Ffrangcon-Davies London, 1908. + +The Art of Singing and +Vocal Declamation Sir Charles Santley London, 1908. + + + + +INDEX + + +ABDOMINAL BREATHING, employed by Martel, 4, 26; + lateral, 3. + (See also _Chest-abdominal breathing_ and + _Lateral abdominal breathing_.) + +ACOUSTICS, 43; + experiments in, 46-48; + Pascal on, 49. + +ACTOR, enunciation of the, 19; + importance of deep breathing for, 19. + +ADAM'S APPLE, the male larynx, 9. + +AGE to begin study of voice, 77. + +AH-sound, narrow limits of, 18; + how produced, 22; + Lilli Lehmann on, 19; + place of, in practice, 57. + +AIR CAVITIES (see _Sinuses_). + +ANXIETY, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 85. + +APPLICATION OF ESSENTIALS, 79. + +APPUNN, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20. + +ARTICULATION, differing opinions concerning, 3; + relation of, to resonance, 51; + through upper lip, 72. + (See also _Pronunciation_.) + +ARTICULATOR, 6. + +ARTISTRY, 79. + +ASCHAM, ROGER, on voice culture through imitation, 77. + +AW-sound, lip position for, 22; + in exercises, 59, etc. + + +BEAUTY OF TONE, a criterion of correct vocal action, 56. + +BELL, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20. + +BOOTH, EDWIN, as a good speaker, 16. + +BOOTH, JUNIUS BRUTUS, impairment of his voice, 53. + +BREATH CONTROL, 23-32; + importance of, in both speaking and singing, 23; + muscles of respiration in, 23; + the diaphragm in, 23; + muscles in, 24; + the lungs in, 25; + inspiration, 25; + expiration, 25; + correct method of, 25; + a cure for nervousness, 27; + necessity of exercises, 27; + economy a factor in, 30; + exaggerated, 30; + initial use of, 31; + exercises for, 33-37; + of Farinelli, 37. + +BREATH FORCE, initial use of, 31; + reserve, 31; + wasted, 31. + +BREATH MASTERY, meaning of, 32. + +BREATHING, art of, 3; + an amplification of the daily habit, 5; + defined as singing, 23; + correct, 25, 28; + not differing in sex, 26; + vicious habits of, 26; + controlling deeply, 26; + tests of, 26; + nose versus mouth, 26; + regularity of, 26; + in obtaining power and largeness of tone, 27; + for high tones, 27; + relation of, to nervousness, 27; + rhythmic, 27; + necessity of exercises, 27; + illustrations of, 28, 29; + exercises in, 33-37; + economy in, 30; + tests in, by Professor Mills, 30; + exaggerated control of, 30; + exhaustion, 31; + initial force in, 31; + reserve power in, 31; + mastery of, 32. + (See also _Abdominal breathing_.) + +BROSCHI, DON CARLO, breath control of, 36. + +BROWNE, DR. LENNOX, on the laryngoscope, 3. + +BROWNE and BEHNKE, on nasal resonance, 53. + + +CHEST, expansion of and resonance, 49. + +CHEST-ABDOMINAL BREATHING, 25; + illustrated in sleeping child, 25; + tests in, 26; + illustrated, 28, 29. + +CHEST TONES, former emphasis given to, 2; + wrongly termed, 5. + +CLAY, HENRY, as a good speaker, 16. + +CLOSED TONES, former emphasis given to, 2; + wrongly termed, 5. + +CRYER, DR. W.H., on the frontal sinus, 12. + +CULTURE OF THE VOICE (see _Voice culture_). + + +DEEP BREATHING, importance of, for the actor, 19. + (See also _Breathing_.) + +DETERRENTS TO BEAUTIFUL SINGING, 84, 85. + +DIAPHRAGM, in breathing, 19; + not a muscle of expiration, 23; + described, 23, 24; + in inspiration, 24; + in expiration, 24; + illustrated, 24, 29. + +DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGING AND SPEAKING, 17. + + +EAR, function of, in tone production, 57; + training of, 57. + +EE-sound, lip position for, 20; + in exercises, 57, 59, etc. + +EFFORT, TENSE, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +EMOTION, effect on tone quality, 7; + excess of, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +EMPIRICISTS, where they have failed, 4. + +EPIGLOTTIS, 10. + +ESSENTIALS, application of, 79. + +ETHMOID BONE, 8. + +ETHMOIDAL SINUSES, illustrated, 7; + function of, 12. + +EVERETT, EDWARD, as a good speaker, 16. + +EXERCISES, BREATHING: + necessity of, 27, 33; + preliminary suggestions, 33, 34; + attitude in taking, 34; + I, to show what a deep breath is, 34; + II, slow inhalation with sudden expulsion, 35; + III, sipping the breath, with quick exhalation, 35; + IV, for rib expansion, 35; + V, slow inhalation with slow expiration, 36; + VI, rapid inspiration with slow expiration, 36; + VII, Farinelli's great exercise, 36; + VIII, the cleansing breath, 37; + half breath, 37. + +EXERCISES, VOCAL: + I, to establish nasal and head resonance, 58-61; + for speakers, 60, 61; + II, to establish head and nasal resonance, 61; + III, IV, V, upper resonance, 62-64; + VI, to enlarge the throat and thus magnify the tone, 64; + VII, for production of the vowel sounds in proper focus, 65; + VIII, to enlarge the throat and focus the vowels, 66; + IX, quick changing notes without changing resonance, 67; + X, for agility, 67, 68; + XI, to develop the use of the lips and under jaw, 68, 69; + XII, for facility and quick vowel change, 69, 70; + XIII, ascending and descending scale, 71; + XIV, the long scale, 71; + additional, 72, 73; + repose as a preparation for, 80. + +EXPIRATION, muscles of, 23, 24; + under controlled pressure, 24; + described, 25; + the lungs in, 25; + illustrated, 28, 29. + + +FACE, training muscles of, 15. + +FARINELLI, breath control of, 36. + +FFRANGCON-DAVIES, on pronunciation, 18; + on registers, 39; + on function of ear in voice training, 57; + definition of singing of, 83. + +FOCUSING THE VOICE (see _Voice placing_). + +FORBES-ROBERTSON, on diction, 19. + +FORMES, CARL, voice of, in declining years, 4. + +FREEDOM IN SINGING, 84. + +FRONTAL SINUSES, function of, 12; + illustration of, 7. + + +GARCIA, MANUEL, inventor of laryngoscope, 2; + use of laryngoscope, 2; + Sir Charles Stanley on, 3. + +GOUNOD, on pronunciation, 19. + + +HALF-BREATH, Sembrich and, 37. + +HARD PALATE, function of, 12. + +HARSHNESS, an indication of tension, 56. + +HEAD CAVITIES, a resonator for the voice, 6; + effect of, on resonance, 12. + +HEAD TONES, in previous years, 2; + wrongly termed, 5. + +HELMHOLTZ, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20; + on acoustics, 43, 49. + +HENDERSON, W.J., on pronunciation, 18. + +HIGH TONES, breath control necessary for, 27. + +HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL, on Edward Everett's voice, 16. + +HYOID BONE, 8, 10. + + +I-sound, described, 21. + +IMPATIENCE, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +INSPIRATION, muscles of, 23, 24; + process of, described, 25; + illustrated, 28, 29. + (See also _Breath control_ and _Breathing_.) + +INSTRUMENT, MUSICAL, elements of, 43, 44. + +INTENSITY, INVOLVING STRAIN, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + + +KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, instruction by, 78. + +KOENIG, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20. + + +LARYNGOSCOPE, and registers, 2; + Garcia the inventor of, 2; + usefulness of, 2; + limitations of, 3; + disappointing results of, 38; + not an instrument for the singer, 51. + +LARYNX, moving, 3; + viewed through the laryngoscope, 3; + illustrated, 7; + description of, 8, 9; + relation of size of, to pitch, 9; + automatic action of, 38; + not alone the vocal organ, 50; + reflex action of, 51; + force of tone does not originate in, 75; + must be left uncramped, 75. + +LATERAL ABDOMINAL BREATHING, 3, 25, 28. + +LEHMANN, MADAME LILLI, on use of Ah, 19; + on registers, 39; + on nasal resonance, 54. + +LIFE'S PERIODS, 79. + +LIND, JENNY, effects of wrong methods on, 4. + +LIPS, in articulation, 14; + position of, 20-22; + illustrated, 21, 22. + +LUNGS, a motor for the voice, 6; + illustrated, 24; + described, 25; + overcrowding, 31. + + +MACKENZIE, DR. MORELL, on the laryngoscope, 3; + on singing and speaking, 17. + +MACREADY, WM. CHARLES, as a good speaker, 16. + +MARTEL, voice of, at seventy, 4. + +MAXILLARY SINUSES, 7, 8, 12. + +MAY, DR., breathing tests made by, 26. + +MCKINLEY, M.S., on Garcia and the laryngoscope, 2. + +MENTAL DISCORD, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +MEYER, EDMUND J., on resonance, 43. + +MILLS, DR. WESLEY, on breath measure, 30; + on ease of vocal action, 56; + on the function of the ear in tone production, 57. + +MOTOR OF THE VOCAL INSTRUMENT, 6. + +MOUTH, theory of its function, 1; + a resonator for the voice, 6. + +MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION, 23. + +MUSIC TEACHERS, scientific, 4; + empirical, 4. + + +NASAL CAVITIES, as reinforcing agents in tone production, 2; + a resonator for the voice, 6; + illustrated, 7; + formation of, 8; + vibrations in, 8; + effect on resonance, 12; + Edward Everett's use of, 16; + as a resonator, 52, 53; + obstruction of, in Booth, 53. + +NASAL RESONANCE, erroneous theories concerning, 1, 2; + Madame Rudersdorff recognized effect of, 2; + involved in head resonance, 52; + versus nasal tone quality, 53; + Lilli Lehmann on, 54; + Sembrich's study of, 54; + importance of, 54. + +NATURAL VOICE, what is meant by, 77. + +NERVOUSNESS, a cure for, 27, 80. + +NOSTRILS, relation of, to tone quality, 14. + + +O-sound, lip position for, 20; + illustrated, 21; + in exercises, 59, etc. + +OO-sound, lip position for, 20, 21; + in exercises, 59, etc. + +OPEN TONES, 2, 5. + +ORAL SURGERY, 2. + +ORATORIO, faulty diction in, 18. + +OVER-CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +OVERTONES, 45, 46. + + +PERSONALITY, effect on the voice, 83. + +PHARYNX, function of, 10. + +PHILLIPS, ADELAIDE, voice of, in declining years, 4. + +PITCH OF TONE, influence of resonance cavities on, 12, 13. + +PLACING THE VOICE (see _Tone production_). + +POWER OF TONE, dependent on resonant cavities and breath control, 27. + +PRINCIPLES ADVOCATED, 5. + +PRONUNCIATION, indifference of American singers to, 17; + W.J. Henderson on, 18; + change of attitude toward, 18; + importance of, to singer, 18; + relation of, to tone, 18; + Ffrangcon-Davies on, 18; + sing words rather than tones, 18; + Lilli Lehmann on, 19; + emotional power impossible without, 19; + Gounod on, 19; + Forbes-Robertson on, 19; + upper lip in, 19; + effect of smile on, 19. + +PSYCHOLOGY OF VOCAL CULTURE, 82-85. + +PTERYGOID MUSCLES, and the under jaw, 10. + +PUBLIC SCHOOLS, voice training in, 78. + + +REEVES, SIMS, voice of, 4. + +REGISTERS, 38-42; + blending the, 2, 41; + not a natural feature of the voice, 2; + fallacy of theory of, 2; + a myth, 5; + the _bete noire_ of vocalists, 38; + defined, 38; + Clara Kathleen Rogers on, 38; + Lilli Lehmann on, 39; + Ffrangcon-Davies on, 39; + of the organ, 40; + of voice and instruments compared, 40, 41; + an artificial creation, 41, 42. + +REPOSE, AS A PREPARATION FOR VOCAL EXERCISES, 80; + how to induce, 80. + +RESONANCE, differing opinions concerning, 3; + principle of, 5; + nasal and head cavities in, 12; + influence of resonance cavities on pitch, 12; + pitch of vowels in, 20; + and power, 27; + and breath force, 31; + in general, 43-50; + development of science of, 43; + quality and power of, 44; + significance of, 45; + experiments to demonstrate, 46-50; + induced, 47; + sympathetic, 47, 48; + density of air and, 47; + volume and character of tones dependent on, 49; + head and nasal, 51-55; + relation of articulation to, 51; + focusing tone a matter of, 52; + effect of its absence, 54; + exercises to establish, 58-72. + +RESONATOR OF THE VOICE, 6. + +RESPIRATION (see _Breath control_ and _Breathing_). + +RESPIRATORY MUSCLES, a motor for the voice, 6; + described, 23, 28; + action of, 25; + illustrated, 24, 29. + +ROGERS, CLARA KATHLEEN, on registers, 38. + +RUDERSDORFF, MADAME, and nasal resonance, 2. + + +SANTLEY, SIR CHARLES, on Garcia and the laryngoscope, 3. + +SCALE OF VOWEL SOUNDS, 20, 72. + +SELF-REPRESSION, a deterrent to beautiful singing, 84. + +SEMBRICH, MARCELLA, and the half-breath, 37; + use of nasal resonance, 54. + +SINGING, subtlety of, 4; + obstacles to, 5, 74, 84; + versus speaking, 5, 17; + mission of singer, 18; + defined as breathing, 23; + age to begin, 77; + in public schools, 78; + by method, 79; + vibrato in, 80; + psychology of, 82-85; + sublimated speech, 83; + defined by Ffrangcon-Davies, 83; + freedom in, 84; + deterrents to, 84. + +SINUSES, illustrated, 7; + pairs of, 8; + function of, 12. + +SMILE, EFFECT OF, on pronunciation, 19. + +SOFT PALATE, office of, 11, 52. + +SPEAKING, obstacles to, 5; + tones of, identical with singing tones, 5; + difference from singing, 17; + expression in, 83. + +SPEAKING VOICE, misunderstood, 16; + connection with singing voice, 16; + how cultivated, 16; + identity with singing voice, 17; + and pronunciation, 18, 19. + +SPHENOID BONE, 8. + +SPHENOIDAL SINUSES, illustrated, 7; + pairs of, 8; + function of, 12. + +STAGE ELOCUTION, criticism of Forbes-Robertson on, 19. + + +TEETH, function of, in use of voice, 12. + +THROAT, theory of sound in, 1; + a resonator, 6; + illustrated, 7; + relation to voice, 8. + (See _Larynx_ and _Pharynx_.) + +THROAT STIFFNESS, most frequent obstacle to good singing, 74; + effect on larynx, 74; + difficulty in recognizing one's own, 74; + throat consciousness a common cause of, 74; + induced by lack of breath mastery, 75; + American hurry begets, 75; + voice culture a struggle with, 75; + remedies for, 75, 76. + +TIMBRE OF VOICE, defined and explained, 7, 8. + +TONE, defined, 45; + analyzed 45; + experiments to determine composition and resonance of, 46-50; + focusing of, 52; + vocal, a mental concept, 82; + whole man in, 83. + +TONE PRODUCTION, largely a matter of resonance, 56; + effect of right thought on, 56; + judged by naturalness and beauty of result, 56; + function of the ear in governing, 57; + cultivating normal, 57; + exercises to aid in, 58-73; + effect of throat stiffness on, 74; + natural, 77; + age to begin study of, 77. + +TONE QUALITY, variety in, 6; + effect of emotion upon, 7, 75, 84; + relation of pronunciation to, 18; + how to secure purity of, 18, 19; + experiments to determine, 46-50; + and resonance, 5, 44, 45, 49, 50; + cause of nasal, 52-54; + beauty or harshness of, a criterion of judgment, 56, 57; + effect of throat stiffness on, 74-76; + dependent on mind and ear, 82; + related to personality of singer, 83; + natural and unnatural, 85. + +TONGUE, as an articulator, 6; + illustrated, 7; + connection with larynx, 9; + position of, in speaking and singing, 13; + tongue consciousness, 14. + + +UNDER JAW, 10; + in ascending the scale, 10. + +UPPER LIP, in pronunciation, 19; + in practising, 68; + in articulation, 72. + +UVULA, office of, 11. + + +VENTRICLE IN THE LARYNX, 8. + +VIBRATO, 80, 81. + +VIBRATOR, of the voice, 6; + of instruments, 43. + +VITALIZING TEXT WITH TONE, the singer's mission, 18. + +VOCAL CORDS, vibrator for the voice, 6; + in the larynx, 8; + described, 9; + not the principal cause of tone, 44, 45, 49; + necessity of free action of, 51. + +VOCAL INSTRUMENT, discussion of, 6-15; + beauty and complexity of, 6; + three elements of, 6, 7; + illustrated, 7; + relation of parts of, 8; + larynx, 8, 9; + vocal cords, 9; + epiglottis, 10; + pharynx, 10; + under jaw, 10; + soft palate, 11; + hard palate and teeth, 12; + nasal and head cavities, 12; + tongue, 13; + lips, 14; + nostrils, 14; + face, 15; + defects in, 85. + +VOCAL TONE, an audible mental concept, 82. + +VOICE CULTURE, opinions concerning, 2; + wrong methods of a generation ago, 3, 4; + cannot be developed mechanically, 4; + principles advocated, 5; + the right way the easy way, 5; + resonance an important factor of, 5, 43, 45, 50, 52, 54; + should begin in childhood, 77; + learned by imitation, 77; + Roger Ascham on, 77, 78; + in public schools, 78; + artistry in, 78, 79; + three periods of, 79; + application of essentials of, 79; + repose as a preparation for, 80; + the vibrato in, 80; + psychology of, 82-85; + personality in, 83; + freedom in, 84; + deterrents in, 84, 85. + +VOICE PLACING, 51, 52, 56-73. + +VOICE TIMBRE, defined, 7, 8. + +VOWEL SOUNDS, 11, 18, 19; + singer's scale of, 20, 72; + each has its own pitch, 20; + lip position for, 20-22; + placing of, 52; + exercises for practice, 58-73. + + +WEBSTER, DANIEL, as a good speaker, 16. + +WHEATSTONE, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20. + +WILLIS, on pitch of vowel sounds, 20. + + + + +THE MUSIC STUDENTS LIBRARY + + +[Illustration: THE MUSIC STUDENTS LIBRARY] + +=A series of Educational Text-books suited to the requirements of the +average student and covering every essential branch of musical +instruction.= + +_Note_:--Unless otherwise specified, books are bound in cloth. + +PIANO + +=Burrowes' Piano Primer.= Frederic Field Bullard, +Editor. An enlarged edition with pronouncing +dictionary. _Paper_ 75 A + +=Ears, Brain and Fingers.= Howard Wells. 1 25 A + +=Half Hour Lessons in Music.= Mrs. Hermann +Kotzschmar. Class work for beginners. Practical +for teachers and mothers. Illus. 1 25 A + +=Interpretation of Piano music.= Mary Venable. +Studies in the meaning of printed signs used in +music, and their bearing on the interpretation of +standard works. 2 00 A + +=Natural Laws in Piano Technic.= Mary Wood Chase. +Presents the essential laws of a sound piano +technic. 1 50 A + +=Piano Teaching: Its Principles and Problems.= +Clarence G. Hamilton, A.M. A practical book, +written by a practical man to meet practical +needs. 1 50 A + +ORGAN + +=Primer of Organ Registration.= Gordon Balch Nevin. +Numerous illustrations and a Dictionary of +Organ Stops. 1 50 A + +VIOLIN + +=How to Master the Violin.= Pavel L. Bytovetzski. +A practical guide for students and teachers. 1 25 A + +=How to Study Kreutzer.= Benjamin Cutter. What +every violin teacher discusses and illustrates in +the lesson room. 1 25 A + +VOICE + +=ABC of Music.= Auguste Mathieu Panseron. (Ed. by +N.C. Page.) A standard primer of vocalization. 1 50 A + + do. _Paper_ 90 A + +=Commonplaces of Vocal Art.= Louis Arthur Russell. +The plain truths of vocal art presented in simple +untechnical language. 1 25 A + +=English Diction for Singers and Speakers.= Louis +Arthur Russell. For all who pretend to refined +or artistic use of the English language. 1 25 A + +=French Diction for Singers and Speakers.= William +Harkness Arnold. The elements of French +pronunciation are reduced to a few fundamental +principles, readily mastered. 1 25 A + +=Head Voice and Other Problems.= D.A. Clippinger. 1 25 A + +PRACTICAL TALKS ON SINGING + +=Resonance in Singing and Speaking.= Thomas Fillebrown, +M.D. An exposition of fundamentals, +with breathing and vocal exercises and illustrations. 1 50 A + +=Training of Boys' Voices.= Claude Ellsworth Johnson. +A practical guide to the correct "placing" of +boys' voices. 1 25 A + +=Twelve Lessons in the Fundamentals of Voice Production.= +Arthur L. Manchester. Presents +clearly the fundamentals illustrated by exercises. 1 25 A + +EAR TRAINING, HARMONY AND COUNTERPOINT + +=Ear Training for Teacher and Pupil.= C.A. Alchin. +Designed to teach the pupil to think in tones, +and so to sing, name, write, and play what he +hears. 1 50 A + +=Intervals, Chords, and Ear Training.= Jean Parkman +Brown. Exercises and examples in rudimentary +harmony and ear training for use in conjunction +with piano study. 1 25 A + +=Harmony.= Sir John Stainer, Mus. Doc. New edition +of a standard text-book which presents the +principles of harmony with conciseness and +lucidity. 1 50 A + + do. _Paper_ 90 A + +=Harmony Simplified.= Francis L. York. A practical +text-book presenting in a concise manner the +fundamental principles of harmony, with non-essentials +omitted. 1 50 A + +=Manual of Harmony.= Ernst Friedrich Richter. Trans. +by J.C.D. Parker. A practical guide to the +study of harmony. 2 00 A + +=Harmonic Analysis.= Benjamin Cutter. Teaches one +to analyze the harmonic structure of both classic +and modern music. 1 50 A + +=Counterpoint.= Sir J. Frederick Bridge. This book has +freshness and plainness combined with thoroughness, +and must commend itself to young students +and teachers. 1 25 A + + do. _Paper_ 90 A + +=Counterpoint Simplified.= Francis L. York. A concise +text-book of formal counterpoint. (Sequel +to author's "Harmony Simplified"). 1 50 A + +=Guide to Musical Composition.= H. Wohlfahrt. Tr. +by J.S. Dwight. On the invention of melodies, +their transformation, development and suitable +accompaniment. 1 25 A + +FORM, INSTRUMENTATION AND ACOUSTICS + +=Instrumentation.= Ebenezer Prout, Mus. Doc. A +valuable guide and assistant to students who +wish to gain a knowledge of the proper blending +of orchestral instruments, their compass, +capabilities, etc. 1 50 A + + do. _Paper_ 90 A + +=Lessons in Music Form.= Percy Goetschius, Mus. Doc. +A manual of analysis of all the structural factors +and designs employed in musical composition. 1 50 A + +=Musical Forms.= Ernest Pauer. The students of musical +form, and especially those who study composition, +will find this a very valuable and +thorough work. 1 75 A + + do. _Paper_ 90 A + +=Sound and Its Relation to Music.= Clarence G. Hamilton, +A.M. A handbook of acoustics as relating +to music. Based on the latest discoveries and +experiments. 1 50 A + +CONDUCTING, HISTORY, MUSIC APPRECIATION +AND DEFINITIONS + +=Essentials in Conducting.= Karl W. Gehrkens, A.M. +On personal requirements, technic of the baton, +interpretation, rehearsing, program making, etc. 1 75 A + +=Outlines of Music History.= Clarence G. Hamilton, A.M. +A compact, clearcut work for class use and the +general reader. Fully illustrated. 2 25 A + +=Music Appreciation.= Clarence G. Hamilton, A.M. +Based on methods of literary criticism, this +unique text-book is for those who wish to listen +to music with quickened hearing and real understanding. +With 24 portraits, 28 diagrams and +over 200 music cuts. 2 50 A + +=Music Club Programs From all Nations.= Arthur +Elson. Outlines the various schools from all +nations with a rich series of programs and over +one hundred portraits. 2 00 A + +=Some Essentials in Musical Definitions.= M.F. +MacConnell. Covers the needed information on +all points connected with musical theory, and +therefore of special value to piano, singing, +violin, and organ students. 1 25 A + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE MUSICIANS LIBRARY + + +=This notable series has been planned to embrace all the masterpieces +of song and piano literature; to gather into superbly made volumes of +uniform size and binding the best work of the best composers, edited +by men of authority. Each volume is independent, complete in itself, +and sold by itself.= + +Paper, Cloth Back, per Volume $2 50 A +Cloth, Gilt, per Volume. 3 50 A + +PIANO VOLUMES + +=Bach Piano Album= + +Vol. I. Shorter Compositions. Edited by Dr. Ebenezer Prout. + +=Bach Piano Album= + +Vol. II. Larger Compositions. Edited by Dr. Ebenezer Prout. + +=Beethoven Piano Compositions= + +Vols. I and II. Edited by Eugen D'Albert. + +=Brahms, Johannes= + +Selected Piano Compositions. Edited by Rafael Joseffy. + +=Chopin, Frederic= + +Forty Piano Compositions. Edited by James Huneker. + +=Chopin, Frederic= + +The Greater Chopin. Edited by James Huneker. + +=Grieg, Edvard= + +Larger Piano Compositions. Edited by Bertha Feiring Tapper. + +=Grieg, Edvard= + +Piano Lyrics and Shorter Compositions. Edited by Bertha Feiring +Tapper. + +=Haydn, Franz Josef= + +Twenty Piano Compositions. Edited by Xaver Scharwenka. + +=Liszt, Franz= + +Twenty Original Piano Compositions. Edited by August Spanuth. + +=Liszt, Franz= + +Twenty Piano Transcriptions. Edited by August Spanuth. + +=Liszt, Franz= + +Ten Hungarian Rhapsodies. Edited by August Spanuth and John Orth. + +=Mendelssohn, Felix= + +Thirty Piano Compositions. Edited by Percy Goetschius, Mus. Doc. With +a Preface by Daniel Gregory Mason. + +=Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus= + +Twenty Piano Compositions. Edited by Carl Reinecke. + +=Schubert, Franz= + +Selected Piano Compositions. Edited by A. Spanuth. + +=Schumann, Robert= + +Fifty Piano Compositions. Edited by Naver Scharwenka. + +=Wagner, Richard= + +Selections from the Music Dramas. Edited by Otto Singer. + + * * * * * + +=Anthology of French Piano Music= + +Vol. I. Early Composers. Vol. II. Modern Composers. Edited by Isidor +Philipp. + +=Anthology of German Piano Music= + +Vol. I. Early Composers. Vol. II. Modern Composers. Edited by Moritz +Moszkowski. + +=Early Italian Piano Music= + +Edited by M. Esposito. + +=Modern Russian Piano Music= + +Vols. I and II. Edited by Constantin von Sternberg. + +=Twenty-four Negro Melodies.= + +Transcribed for Piano by S. Coleridge-Taylor. + +SONG VOLUMES + +=Brahms, Johannes= + +Forty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by James Huneker. + +=Franz, Robert= + +Fifty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by William Foster Apthorp. + +=Grieg, Edvard= + +Fifty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Henry T. Finck. + +=Handel, George Frideric= + +Vol. I. Songs and Airs. High Voice. Vol. II. Songs and Airs. Low +Voice. Edited by Dr. Ebenezer Prout. + +=Jensen, Adolf= + +Forty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by William Foster Apthorp. + +=Liszt, Franz= + +Thirty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Carl Armbruster. + +=Schubert, Franz= + +Fifty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Henry T. Finck. + +=Schumann, Robert= + +Fifty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by W.J. Henderson. + +=Strauss, Richard= + +Forty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by James Huneker. + +=Tchaikovsky, P.I.= + +Forty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by James Huneker. + +=Wagner, Richard= + +Lyrics for Soprano. Edited by Carl Armbruster. + +=Wagner, Richard= + +Lyrics for Tenor. Edited by Carl Armbruster. + +=Wagner, Richard= + +Lyrics for Baritone and Bass. Edited by Carl Armbruster. + +=Wolf, Hugo= + +Fifty Songs. High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Ernest Newman. + +=Fifty Mastersongs= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Henry T. Finck. + +=Fifty Shakspere Songs= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Charles Vincent, Mus. Doc. + +=Modern French Songs= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Vol. I. Bemberg to Franck. Vol. II. Georges to +Widor. Edited by Philip Hale. + +=One Hundred English Folk-songs= + +Medium Voice. Edited by Cecil J. Sharp. + +=One Hundred Folk-Songs of all Nations.= + +Medium Voice. Edited by Granville Bantock. + +=One Hundred Songs by Ten Masters= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Henry T. Finck. Vol. I. Schubert, +Schumann, Franz, Rubinstein and Jensen. Vol. II. Brahms, Tchaikovsky, +Grieg, Wolf and Strauss. + +=One Hundred Songs of England= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Granville Bantock. + +=Seventy Scottish Songs= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Helen Hopekirk. + +=Sixty Folk-songs of France= + +Medium Voice. Edited by Julien Tiersot. + +=Sixty Irish Songs= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by William Arms Fisher. + +=Sixty Patriotic Songs of All Nations= + +Medium Voice. Edited by Granville Bantock. + +=Songs by Thirty Americans= + +High Voice. Low Voice. Edited by Rupert Hughes. + +=Songs From the Operas for Soprano= + +Edited by H.E. Krehbiel. + +=Songs From the Operas for Mezzo Soprano= + +Edited by H.E. Krehbiel. + +=Songs From the Operas for Alto= + +Edited by H.E. Krehbiel. + +=Songs From the Operas for Tenor= + +Edited by H.E. Krehbiel. + +=Songs From the Operas for Baritone and Bass= + +Edited by H.E. Krehbiel. + + +Other volumes are in preparation. Booklets, giving full particulars, +with portraits of Editors, and contents of volumes published, FREE on +request. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Resonance in Singing and Speaking, by +Thomas Fillebrown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RESONANCE IN SINGING AND SPEAKING *** + +***** This file should be named 19138.txt or 19138.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/3/19138/ + +Produced by David Newman, Clare Boothby, Linda Cantoni, +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |
