The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29
(Reprinted from Musical America" OF
which the writer is editor)

as you are in great perplexity.
Il You believe you have talent for
the stage, a good voice. a presentable ap-
pearance.
In local musical affairs, you say, you
have won more than ordinary success.
You have had several teachers, you tell
me- and have gone through terms at
two Conservatives.
Your troubles are that you get so much
different advice. Your teachers vary so
in their meathods. Some tell you you
should go to Europe-others tell you you
can get all you need in this country.
Often you come home from your les
sons dispirited, your voice hoarse, all
your energy gone; the wished-for goal
seems SO far Off especially as your means
are limited You see the modest fortune
your father left you melting away.
What are you to do?
With your question you enclose me a
photograph and some clippings from the
local newspapers.
The photograph would indicate that you
| are a tall, handsome girl of from Is
to 20, with a face whose expression
Is sweet and amiable, but somewhat lack
ing in force The newspaper notices are
certainly kindly but they are evidently
written by persons without much musical
knowledge or experience.
Forgive me if | tell you that your case
| is but one of thousands.
| Now, what advice should a man like
me give you,, under such circumstances
Shall | tell you to abandon your ambl-
ton, become the gentle, loving wife OF
| some good American, and the mother OF
children-and so, fulfill woman's noblest
destiny-or shall l tell you to perseVere,
and to the end?
II is a hard question, indeed, to put TO
| one who, like myself knows what pro-
| fessonal singer must go through to win
success.
However here are few points, a few
| suggestions, which may be helpful to you,
little western maid, and perhaps may be
helpful to others. For /, myself, have
been through the mill and have known
your doubts, your distress, and have ask
ed myself the questions which you now
ask me.
In the first place, to be a really success
full singer it Is not enough to have natu-
raj abilities good voice, fine presence,
training. One must become personal
ity"-that is, an intelligence developed by
study of many things besides music: art,
literature, the drama, languages. One
must travel, see the world and above
all, get in sympathy with humanity-with
It's aspirations, its struggles.
Above ALL one must suffer. Did not
Goethe sing:
"Who never ate with tears his Bread,
Who never through the sorrow-laden
nights
Sat weeping on his bed
He knows Ye not, Ye Heavenly Pow
ersi"
You can never feel the inspiration of
music sufficiently to be able to interpret
it to others until you have been through
the valley of the Shadow" Then, pei =
haps, you may be able to reach the
6, If ut
of the lark delights but it does not thrill
us!
Genius means k-work-and
| more work; suffering; and above all,
self -denial-and for years, years, years!
Now, as to singing teachers. There are
many. Some are sincere, able and help
| full, patient; but many are charlatans,
voice-ruiners,
No one teacher can prepare you for a
professional career as a singer. One is
good to place and develop the voice, but
that is all. Another can take a pupil al
ready advanced, and study songs Or
operate roles and. finally, there Is the
artist-man or woman-who, after NE
time of experience, can impart the
''nuances. the points the knowledge
of how to work upto climax-and, above
all. how to work down from one, which
latter so few know.
Then there is the vital question of elo-
cution. With half our singers we do not
understand one-fourth of the words they
are SUPPOSE to sing. That is why one is
always glad to listen to singers like Sem
brich or Bspham, because their enun-
citation is so clear, SO distinct and be-
| cause they always give ''the spirit OF the
composer.
1t will be necessary for you, little maid,
to learn to recite poetry-poetry with
music in it, like that of Swinburne. You
xfyn11
that, without the aid of music. your lis
teners will hear the music in your voice
and so become suffused, by your aid,
with the story, the spirit, of the poem.
AS to whether it is necessary In these
days to go to Europe for at least part
of ones education as a singer, emphati-
cally it Is not necessary. We nave teach
ers and Conservatives fully the equal,
and in come cases the superiors, of any
thing there Is In urope today. 1t was
not always SO. Still trip to Europe is
a great education. 1t broadens the mind
and cultivates the taste.
You write me that you are often dis
couraged, find your voice hoarse, tired,
after your lessons.
Encouragement
That is a good sign! All those who love
their work and are sincere, feel TINS.
Emma Eames has said that she has been
sometimes so discouraged before going
on the stage to sing one of her greatest
roles that she felt like running away.
The editor feels it, the actor, the paint
err the composer, the statesman. Perfect
self-confidence is rarely seen In great
or conscientious nature.
AS to the hoarseness after the lessons.
Here let me speak to you, little maid,
with great earnestness.
Mature imposes no penalty upon the
rightful use of her powers Indeed, she
rewards with added grace, strength and
beauty those forces which are properly
and temperateiy used.
The singing teacher who, after lesson,
leaves the voice-when 1t has had half
AN hour or an hours rest-hoarse, tired.
UNPLEASANT. is a fraud, and l care not
what his or her reputation, nor what his
or her honors or diplomas are The
speaking voice should become sweeter,
stronger, as your singing education ad-
vances.
The teacher who develops piercing high
notes and leaves the middle register fiat,
without strength or character, is fraud.
The teacher whose pupils develop q
tremolo is a fraud, though some singers
get q tremolo from singing music below,
or more generally above, the natural
scope of their voices or they get 1t by
forcing the voice. -,
Finally, there is the question OF n.y.
giene, the grave question or proper,
healthful care of the body. The quality,
the timbre, of the voice depends largely
upon a good circulation and good d.
gestion.
Care Of the body means exercise, plenty