The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-08-24
Learning to
Sing


the plano, that singing isn't an art
nor talent? It's Just record Of 81
many dollars and cents. And the
more dollars and cents you've spent
on your voice the better your voice Is
THAT doesn't mean. either" she
went on. that It's all a matter OF
training. II / should take a hundred
lessons at 81 lesson I'd be considered
Just about one-third as advanced and
proficient in vocalizing as I should be
II I'd take hundred lessons at 50 a
lesson"
why this pessimistic mood?" In.
quired 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 plano or the violin it's differ
ent. While I grant that with them
dollars and cents count lot, still, If
you can play the keys and the notes
the same, people will listen to you,
and, perhaps. enjoy the playing-but
with vocal music everything depends
on the money cost. There seems to
be quality In the tone, or something
that tells people Just who your teacher
Is and what you pay for your lessons
and you get complimented accord
lngly."
"Yes?" The mans voice invited
further explanation.
Well" the girl proceeded. even II
one practices alone on the piano one
can accomplish something. can't one?
But when 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 a whole precious half hour to
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 a
baby I've always had modest de.
| have generally seemed to be alone
In my opinion. II sang 1t was usually
an accompaniment-an when | was
younger 1t used to hurt my feelings"
why, I've always told you that I
like your voice." The man took on a
tone of reprcach, but 1t didn't seem to
work well
'You!" she laughed why, Of course
/ mean people who count. In
That seems to dispose of me effec-
lively" conceded the man.
"But as was saying" proceeded the
girl, ''it's absolutely no earthly use to
have n nice voice. You may sing like
4 bird. but If your voice has been
trained outside of a first.class studio
you simply can't sing, no matter how
we'll you sing, That's all there is to
L! Why. If Melba herself hadn't had
hrst-class voice teachers no one would
have ever realized what voice she
had, People would still be telling her
10 sing something instead OF forever
practicing scales, whereas they gladly
pay S. or so for seat to hear those
very scales put into some handy
songl"
From all of which," commented the
man, summing the matter up, ut ap-
pears that you are sick OF It all and
are going to leave the vocal field to
the moneyed classes and stick to the
piano, | really think you are wise,
myself. Singing isn't such a great
stunt after all, unless one has a fine
selection of songs-and even then the
same things can't please every one.
On the other hand, II 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 a decent solo
In that recital, so that my voice would
show off well beside the others, you're
badly deceived.
I'm going to spend some real
money on good teacher, that's what
I'm going to do! I'll show them that
they were all good and mistaken"
Then she pounded the plano keys.