The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-08
VOICE CULTURE FOR CHILDREN.

There seems to be a wide difference OF
opinion regarding vocal training, some
singers ~contending that girls should not
commence study at an age under fourteen
years. This is an erroneous premise when
applied to all, for temperament, quality of
voice, condition Of health and climate have
much to do with determining the proper
age to begin vocal training. Nilsson COM
menced study at fourteen, so she advises
girls to m at that age. Patti COM
menced at six, Albani at four, SO they
advise training as early as possible. Who
ever listened to a more charming Desde-
mona than Albani-who ever heard one TO
surpass Patti IN her trills and cadenzas:
The cultivation of a voice of good strength
should be commenced as the child begins
to sing, whether it's age be four or four
teen. But no child with a promising voice
should be compelled to jeodardize it by
singing at inoportune times or while suffer-
ing with a cold, to the utter loss of voice as a
penalty. One of the first things teacher
should do is to instill in the minds of pupils
the great importance of taking care of the
voice, regardless of the urging of those
who care not for conditions. to sing at in
opportune times and when the physical con-
dition warns to the contrary. Each pupil
should be taught the limit of the voice and
made to understand that when she goes
beyond the acquired compass the danger
line has been reached.
While the finesse of teaching is all right
enough the common sense of teaching is
all the better. If a child of nine has a
good voice why should tone cultivation be
put off until it is fourteen? The breathing
exercises the physical culture and the broad
ening of the chest all tend to physical activi-
ty and the development of muscular strength
which would otherwise remain unused. The
nOSitiAn of the tongue throat and mouth
are no more difficult to attain in the young
er than in the older pupils. The younger
pupils can be easily taught the rules for
speaking the words in song. and the stac-
catos, trills, crescendos and diminuendoes
they are eighteen they have accomplished
their requirement without any apparent eff
under the care of a teacher who under
stands the deiicacy of the human voice.
To sing correctly and artisticaily is to
sing without labored effort and If this is true
of adults, why should it not be true or
children ? The best way to prevent children
from acquiring bad habits is 10 commence
early training.
The criticisms made by my little pupils
to those who imagine they are singing.
is quite amusing. They realize that simply
to sing a song by note does not signify
that it is being sung unsteady. They,
detect the inartistic staccatos, the ARTIFICIAL
tremolo, the lack of a foundation in sus-
tanned tones in the different registers and
the lack of the feeling that makes sacred
music sound as the author intended, de-
votionally.
So far as the voice Is concerned, puDtlc
school singing should be condemned, for
seldom do school teachers study voice
culture. / recently saw an article in one
of our indianapolis papers regarding the
music in the. public schools. The writer
seemed to think that ~rudinents and note
reading were all that we could expect. A
schoolboy recently told me that his little
friend who had a low voice was made 10
stay in after school because he could not
reach the high notes. In such a case some
thing more than a knowledge of note read
ing is required. If the teachers would study
singing, even for a short time, say two
terms, with some vocal teacher who UNDER
stands artistic cultivation. these little voices
under their instruction would not become
so harsh, for a teacher who has some
idea of the human voice will in some way
find time to examine the voices separately
ard place them where they belong. For
to those who have ii knowledge of the
possibilities of a good voice. artisticaliy
trained. care and good instruction seem
a necessity
1t is customary for some teachers TO say
that boys should not study singing until
after the voice has changed as Il would
be Injurious Any method that will injure
a child's voice could not possibly. benefit
an adult. While the voice is changing.
ii il true that there should be absolute
rest. but that does not preclude cultiva-