The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17
TO THE WOULD-BE SINGER.
Some Practical Suggestions for the
MusicalIy Ambitious.
Home Magazine.

1OAAAC RlA6dLtliCs
Nothing is more beautiful in emotional
passages than the passionate throbbing OF
the voice. The best artists have the knack
of it. But nothing CRATES on the nerves like
the perpetual wabble and shiver of some
singers. The worst type is the nanny-goat
tremolo, that makes and breaks the circuit,
so to speak, and is no more a sustained tone
than is the rapid picking of mandolin
strings. This nanny-goat ba-a-a-a-a sound
is made by the swiftly alternating pressure
of the breath. | could tell you what muscles
make the proper oscillation OF the voice,
but, after L told you, you would have to
learn how to do 1T yourself. Observe the
best artists and initiate them. Do not be
satisfied until you have it exactly 70 suit
you. and then use it very, very sparingly.
AS to the hygiene OF the voice, 1t is SIM
ply the hygiene of the body. The least ILL
ness is reflected in the voice. Therefore
keep yourself in first-class condition with
simple, nourishing food, drink much water
TO lubricate the vocal organs, take plenty
of outdoor exercise, plenty of sleep, and
battle every day. Avoid nerve stimulants,
always breathe through the nose, never
speak loudly, and, of course, never laugh
loudly; in short. be a sensible, well-bred
person. There is no patented process Of
acquiring the knack of singing suddenly.
1t is a matter of daily practice for years,
but a few months will put the voice into
its best condition and enable 1T to grow
properly. There are many instructive
books to be read, almost all of which con-
tain at least one good idea. Leo Kofer's
Art of Breathing will make you q lot
wiser.
After the student has acquired the
knack Of singing, as she will IL she sticks
at it and uses her brains and her ears, she
may then go to New York. She may
even ''go abroad" though before that
time she will find that the worst delusion
that ever battened on the human race. She
will be surprised to find how little the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. man can tell her
that she could not get from a coach at
about one-fifth the price. What the best
instructors teach is by no means to be
taken as the Lord said unto Moses. Some
of them are insane on nasal resonance"
and teach their pupils to sing like bag
pipes, and some are insane on covered
tones,' and teach their pupils to sing like
blowing on a bottle. Some are insane on
one thing, some on another. The most
celebrated ruin voices right along, but they
all do good if the pupil exercises her COM
mon sense and does what she thinks is
right. 1t is all a matter of common sense,
and anybody could sing we'll if she would
take pains. 1t is the scarcity OF this capa-
city for taking pains that makes good sing
crs able to earn SO much money.
Proper clothing, proper shoes and a
proper looking glass are the best masters.
Daily practice. soft inging. absolute 81
lence when hOarSe or tired, a relaxed jaw,
much limbering of the speech muscles, an
unsleeping determination not to waste one
molecule of breath, a careful examination
OF every tone for beauty, perseverance and
strict hygienic living will enable any girl
to make of her voice all that is in il.