News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-02-08
Trailing Boys Voices

'oi""g Guys tUiCtS
rhe steauiIy and increasing inter
e5 III training and developing boys
VPlces III thus country "is one OF Unt
sIkns OF the times" and would be q
good sign " If we only employed com
potent teachers to handle and train
tie most delicate of all musical in.
struments, "a Boys Voice." So fal
most OF the training and developing
OF boys voices in this country has
been done in the Boy Choir "
by Incompetent Choir Masters who
have ruined thousands of good
promising voices. Among the nu-
marcus Boy Sopranos who have
sung here ln public during the past
twenty years, but with a single ex.
lcsptlon, they all disappeared from
view when tnelr voices changed. "
II alter TINS period they had any voice
lett IL was too weak, harsh and un-
musical to be of any use or pleasure.
SO entirely different are the results
received from voices trained in the
Cholrs of the Engllsh Cathedrals and
Collegiate Churches. There the
methods of "Boy Voice training" are
such that their voice steadily i'm
proves up to the time that the
"break" occurs, then the boy if he is
an artlcled chorister, is tor q period
OF at least two years, sent to the
Cathedral day school or college, and
alter his voice has settied'M he re-
turns to the choir with a strong,
healthy voice and takes his place
among the Men Singers" This sys-
TEN has been pursued at 1.-The Chapel
Royal as far back as the time of
RIcnard Ill, and probably at an
earlier date, and the Boy Choir
schools" of Westminster Abbey"
st. Pauls" and other English Cattle.
drals have also existed from a very
early date. Many of highlands great.
est Musicians and Singers were grad
yates from those schools, which is
one OF the best cradles for musicians
that the country affords. The ques-
ton arises, Why is 1t that we have no
good teachers OF boys voices in
America We have IA few competent
teachers in that line, but the large
majority of those who train "Boy
Choirs," is the Church Organist, who
may be skilled performer on the or
gan, but who knows little or nothing
about Boy Voice Culture, and his own
situa ton Is not likely to be a per-
manent one, as he Is engaged by the
year, and is liable to be replaced by
another at the expiration of his term
of service, so that he is only interest.
ed in present results, with no
thought or care for the boys future.
He trains ana encourages his boys to
sing using the "Thick Register" He
wants quantity and not quality of
tone, which means ruination for the
boys future voice.
THE Characteristics of the Boys
Voices are: Prior to the age of
Puberty" the voice of the boy is
anatomlcally and ply siologlcally like
that OF the girl. The growth and de-
velopment of the larynx in each goes
on in the same way, being compare
lively rapid tor the first six years,
then ceasicg until puberty. Ia this
from the sixth to the four
tenth year the l4rynx remains in an
unGAaEglng condition, neither enlarg
ing nor developing to any appreciate
extent.
After puberty, the resemblance dis
appears, for the second growth OF the |
boys larynx is rapid, while that Ot
the girl alters but slightly. The vo.
cal ligaments increase not only in
length but also in thickness. The |
shield cartilage loses it's gentle curve
and forms the prominence which goes
under the name of Adams Apple. y
The peculiar "break" noticeable in a
boys voice while changing is familiar
to all. The reason assigned tor 1T is |
the uneven growth OF the muscles and
of the larynx The former
develop slower than the latter during
and thus then or malrela-
ton of the parts necessary for vocall-
z alton is temporarily distur bed.
Where the boy has been accustomed
to sing using the " thick register
those muscles which at all times are
tiny and weak, have been "stI aimed"
and so injured that they will not fully
develop, and often at the time OF
put 'ty become paralyz9G, causing a
total loss of voice (singlng voice
While there is no anatomical or
difference between the
voices of boys and girls, there is an
difference in the quality OF
tone, in that of the boys the voice IS
often coarse and harsh. This differ
encein quality is acquired by the boys
in singing IN their habitual use OF the
ower or "thick register"
"A register consists of series of
tones which are produced by the same
By mechanism in
the above definition, is meant the &C
ton of the larynx, which produces
q different sets of vibrations;" and
by Register" is meant the range OF
the voice confined to a given set OF
In passing the voice
&c.,. ooo roninrop tO another the