The Red Cloud chief., 1912-06-20
Leaning to
Sing

tuc PiouOs thut ioH Oil OH,
nor a talent? It's just record Of so
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 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 SO
lesson"
"Why this pessimistic mood?" in.
quired the man who was sitting near.
I'm not pessimistic," replied the
girl, calmly. '1ve just discovered an.
other truth. You try 1t and you'll see.
with the piano or the violin it's differ
lent. While I grant that with them
dollars and cents count lot. still, II
you can play the keys and the notes
the same, people will listen to you,
hnd, perhaps, enjoy the playing-but
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
is and what you pay for your lessons
and you get complimented accord
ingly."
"Yes?" The mans voice invited
further explanation.
"Well," the girl proceeded. "even II
one practices alone on the piano one
can accomplish something, cant one?
But when a poor scul 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 tc
her voice every once In while--and
the neighbors sit out on their porches
evenings to listen to her scales. He,
family is impressed.
"Now, I've been singing OF and on
for my own pleasure, since I was
baby. I've always had modest de
gree of respect for my own voice-bu
I have generally seemed to be alon'
in my opinion. If I sang 1t was usual!
an accompaniment-and when ] wa
younger 1t used to hurt my feelings"
"Why, I've always told you that
like your voice." The man took on
tone OF reproach, but 1t didn't seem t
work well.
"You!" she laughed "Why, of cours
you-but I mean people who count, j
music!"
"That seems to dispose of me effe'
lively" conceded the man.
"But as I was saying" proceeded tn
girl, 'it's absolutely no earthly use
have a nice voice. You may sing lil'
a bird. but If your voice has bee
trained outside of first-class studi
you simply can't sing, no matter ho
well you sing. That's all there is
It! Why, If Melba herself hadn't ha
flrst.class voice teachers no one woul
have ever realized what a voice sf
had People would still be telling he
to sing something instead Of forevt
practicing scales, whereas they glad
pay S. or so for a seat to hear thos
very scales put into some hand
song"
From all OF which," conn. ented Il
man, summing the matter up. ut n
pears that you are sick Of 1t all ar
are going to leave the vocal field
the moneyed classes and stick to Il
piano. / really think you are wis
myself. Singing isn't such gre
stunt after all, unless one has fiji
selection Of songs-and even then Il
same things can't please every or
On the other hand, If you play. "
can play to please the whole bunch
and"
"You are entirely mistaken" int
rupted the girl, deeply offended.
you think that after all this work ]
Noing to give up just because, n
teacher didn't give mo decent sc
in that recital. SO that my voice wou
show Off we'll beside the others, you
badly deceived.
I'm going to spend some re
money on good teacher, that's VIII
I'm going to do! I'll show them til
they were all good and mistaken
Then she pounded the piano keys.