The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-23
SOUL OF THE VOICE.
Miss Leona Watson Says It's There,
but Hard to Bring to Life.

Miss LeOna Watson, prima donna OF
the Golden Girl" which is the Christ
mas attraction at the Grand. has some
unique ideas on the voice. She says:
Every voice has its soul, of that
am positive but it takes years and
years for one to find that soul and to
bring it to life. In other words. 1t
means the hard work of cultivation L
have a treatise on the voice that L be-
lieve will awaken you to the realiZa-
ton that it has a soul that is merely
passive and awaiting the proper means
of bringing it to life.
1.-The qualities a tone must have to
give satisfaction are:
Il Metallic.
"2. Clear (of the right height).
"3. Strong and full.
"A. Firm, not trembling, and
>. Durable.
Let us enter more closely into the
premises which cause these qualities
"A strong healthy chest and good
respiratory and vocal organs must be
named as the first condition for the
production of tone: with out these a
good tone is impossible although it is
not thereby said that these qualities
alone will cause Il good sound to be
produced.
1.-THE quality of the mucous mem
brane covering the vocal cords, as well
as the power of vibration of the vocal
cords themselves, the width of the
fauces and the oral cavity, the amount
of air the nose is able to hold, as well
as the pharynx, the thickness of the
soft palate with the uvula and of the
tonsils, greatly influence the tones All
of these may be Influenced to advan-
tage. The sooner this is done, the
more advantageous it will be.
I'VE know that the tone produced in
the larynx only reaches its variety in
tiinbre. it's fullness, it's roundness, and
altogether its beauty. in the resona-
tor. We add hereto. but only by cor
rect use of the resonatCr.
..The metal and clearness of a tone
depends upon the condition of the mu-
cous membrane covering the vocal
cords. and the slightest change in this
(dryer, moiSter. thicker, harder than
necessary has q disadvantageous in
nuence upon the metal of the tone.
1.-THE strength of the tone may be in
creased if the chest and lungs are
Widened by means of deep breathing
ercises also strengthen the organs of
respiration, the evenness of the tone
is also influenced, as this depends upon
the evenness with which the air is dis
PEELED from the lungs.
THE evenness of the tone depends
upon correct breathing.
THE power of duration of a tone
depends upon the strength of the mus
cles of the larynx, and can be attain
ed only if these parts are nourished by
animal food and by a gradual heighten-
ing in singing but never without allow
ing the necessary rest to follow
This is the case not only with the
singer but also with the orator as
well.
Before muscles of the vocal organs
have attained the necessary strength,
the voice will always more or less vary
from the correct pitch, as we'll as trem-
BILE This may also be in case of poor
musical hearing and of poor methods
of teaching. Strengthening of the voice
cultivation of the hearing and correct
methods of teaching are the chief con-
ditions for the prevention of singing
out of tune.
land now I have explained how TIC
awaken the sleeping soul in your voices
how to cultivate it to such degree
that it will sing of itself. And may
say that it is indeed an interesting
study.
I'm one of my songs. in The Golden
Girl in which Mr.. Mort H. Singer
has kindly starred me this season, ]
reach notes above the scale that are
seldom touched by opera singers. It
lis due to my system of teaching.
And if you will follow my instruc-
tons herein you. too, will find the Soul
Of Your Voice.