Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-29
TO GIRLS WHO SING.
SINGERS ADVICE TO THOSE ANx-
IOUS TO STUDY MUSIC.
xhc Task that Lies Before the Young
= Woman With Taste for an Exten-
sive Musical Education.

would be to warn her Of the very great
obstacles to be surmounted; to give her an
idea OF the courage and patience which are
necessary to success, and to ask her if she
was perfectly sure that she was destined
and fitted for this career.
If her voice really warrants cultivation,
and il she has the necessary determine
ton. I would then say, go ahead, and
godspeed.' l succeeded, and why should
not she succeed alsos
At the same time it often seems to me al
if many pupils of vocal culture in our days
begin, and are permitted to begin, in the
wrong way. They often begin too late;
and more than this, not enough weight is
placed upon what l consider the absolute
necessity OF a thorough, all round musical
education. I was particularly fortunate in
this respect, and l attribute great deal of
my success as a singer to the fact that /
was well trained in all the other branches
of music.
When / was eight years old was thor
oughly conversant with nearly all the
classical pianoforte music, and could play
most Of the Beethoven and Mozart sonatas
When left Albany and went to Paris to
study was seventeen years old, and al
though my whole idea was TO study music,
strangely enough had no idea of becom-
ing singer.
studied in Paris the pianoforte and
organ playing, composition and also the
voice. Dear old Duprez, my master, finally
told me that ought to give up all the rest
and devote myself solely to singing and
this determined to do.
At that time Prince Poniatowski, the
well known Polish musician and composer,
told me that the French school was not
suited for my voice, and insisted that
should study in Italy. 1t was finally de-
cided that | should go to Lamperti, the
celebrated Milanese master. With him
remained nine months. This may at first
seem short time, but it must be remem-
bered how much and how thoroughly
had studied before
CARE OF THE VOICE.
If a student has the real genius of song,
it will show itself very soon under proper
teaching. II she is destined to sing she
will sing; and although it is very far from
my idea to recommend slovenliness or
Sinking, it is also true that the mere train
ing of the voice can be oyerdone.
Assuming that the beginner has reached
the point where her public career is about
to begin, the time comes when some really
valuable advice can be given. Up to that
time her master will be her helper and
guide. She must, of course, take the great
est care of her health, for anything which
is bad for the general health of the body is
also bad for the voice, and vice versa.
1t is especially necessary that the stom-
ach and digestive organs should be in a
thoroughly good condition, and for this
reason singer should avoid all indigesti-
BILE food. Nuts, cakes and candies are es-
pecially bad for the voice, and strength
ening, simple diet is the best to adopt.
A great deal of exercise and fresh air are
absolutely necessary. For an opera singer,
who is probably getting plenty of active
exercise on the stage, l consider driving to
be the best open air exercise; and there is
never day, no matter what the weather
may be, that 1 do not drive for an hour and
a half, making a special point of this on
singing days.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE.
With regard to clothing, the chief thing,
of course, is not to catch cold. Singers
should be careful not to muff1e up their
Threats, for this only makes that precious
organ the more susceptible to exposure.
Conversation is to be avoided on singing
days, but otherwise it is an excellent ex-
ercise for the voice, and to be recommended
within moderate limits.
These simple precautions are not difficult
to follow. They do not inconvenience to
any great extent, and they repay tenfold.
The first appearance of beginner will
always be very trying occasion, but to
her her art must be sacred, and she must
live up to its highest canons. Not only
must she show what she has learned, but
also what she is herself. The voice itself
comes from God, aud the requirement of
vocal technique is mere matter of routine
1t is in the singing itself, the phrasing and
the defamation, that the artist shows what
is her very own-her artistic personality.
Probably the young cantatrice will be in
l1noeeleee by her first applause. 1t is, in
deed, the most grateful of all tributes to
the artist; but she must not be induced by
this to think that she is perfect. Artists
should never cease to study; and they will
find that. however well they sing, it is al
ways possible to improve.
l have been particularly fortunate in the
degree of success l have obtained during
my career, but this has not debarred me
from constantly studying Even now, in
my Oldest operas, often find that an i'm
provement may be made in the manner of
singing some of the passages and phrases.
wAGNRR's MUSIC.
1t is very necessary thing for singer
to take vacation every year, during which
time all singing is absolutely given up.
Although vacations are undoubtedly
necessary, both for the student and for the
finished singer, still they should not be too
long, for in that case ground would be lost
which it might be laborious matter to re-
cover.
Before closing want most especially to
speak of Wagner's music in its relation to
the singer, because wish most positively
TO deny the theory that it is in itself injuri-
Gus to the voice. OF course most of his
beautiful music is very difficult to sing.
The intervals are new and unusual, and
there are many very long sustained notes
and cantabile passages which must be sung
carefully. But l maintain that to prop
erly trained singer, and there is the whole
point of my argument, Wagner's music
need have no terrors.
If a young and inexperienced artist at
tempts to sing these parts, it is very likely
that the result will be injurious The
school days are only just over, and the voice
has not yet learned how best to make use
of its freedom. 1t is always best to begin
with simple tasks in any art or profession;
but in the case of singer, when few
years have bro@sht experience and self re-
lance, she should be able to sing anything