Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-08
Leaning to
Sing

do you know" unused the girl al
tho piano, that singing isn't an art,
nor 4 talent. It's just record OF so
many dollars and cents. And the
more dollars aud cents you've spent
on your voice the better your voice ls.
"rh.t doesn't mean. either" she
went on. that It's all matter Of
training. II I should take a hundred
lessons at 81 lesson Id be considered
Just about one-third as advanced and
proficient In vocalizing as I should be
n I'd take a hundred lessons at 81 a
lesson."
why this pessimistlc mood in
ouired the man who was sitting near
I'm not pessimistic," replied the
girl. calmly. 1--WE just discovered an
other truth. You try it and you'll see.
With the piano or the violin it's diner
ent While I grant that with them
dollars and cents count lot, still, II
you can play the keys and the notes
tho same, people will listen to you.
and, perhaps. enjoy the playing-put
with vocal music everything depends
on the money cost. There seems to
be a quality in the tone. or something
that tells people just who your teacher
"a and what you pay for your lessons
and you get complimented accord
ingly."
"Ysss" The mans voice invited
further explanation.
well" the girl proceeded "even il
enc practices alone on the piano one
can accomplish something. cant one:
But when a poor soul tries to practice
singing alone the neighbors shut the
windows and the members OF her own
family beg for mercy, and even the
children make fun OF her. But let
that same person announce that her
vocal lessons are figuring in the high
'numbers-that Professor Somebody
devotes whole precious half hour TO
her voice every once in while-and
the neighbors sit out on their porches
evenings to listen to her scales. Her
family is impressed.
NOW, I've been singing of and on.
for my own pleasure, since / was q
baby. I've always had a modest de-
gree Of respect for my own voice-but
have generally seemed to be alone
In nv opinion. If sang it was usually
an mpaniment-and when I was
Younger 1t used to hurt my feelings.
why, I've always told you that l
"a 81
tone Of reproach, but 1t didn't seem to
work well.
"You!" she laughed. why, OF course
you--but i, mean people who count. in
music!"
THAT seems to dispose of me effec'
lively" conceded the man.
"But az I was SAYING" proceeded the
girl. Its absolutely no earthly use to
have a nice voice. You may sing like
A bird. but If your voice has been
trained outside of a first.class studio
you simply can't sing. no matter how
well you sing. That's all there is to
It, Why, il Melba herself hadn't had
frst-class voice teachers no one would
have ever realized what voice she
had People would still be telling her
to sing something instead Of forever
practjcing scales. whereas they gladly
nay S. or so for seat to hear those
very scales put into some handy
song"
From all of which," commented the
man. summing the matter up. lit an
pears that you are sick Of II all and
are going to leave the vocal field 10
the moneyed classes and stick to the
piano. I really think you are wise.
myself. Singing isn't such great
stunt after all. unless one has fine
selection Of songs-and even then the
same things can't please every one.
On the other hand, If You play. you
can play to please the whole bunch
and"
"You are entirely mistaken" inter
rupted the girl, deeply offended. IF
you think that after all this work I'm
going to give up just because my
teacher didn't give me decent solo
in that recital. so that my voice would
show off we'll beside the others, you're
badly deceived
TIN going to spend some real
money on good teacher. that's what
I'm going to do: I'll show them that
they we're all good and mistaken
rrho, ,ba 1o,ndad rho DiaOo Eeys