The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-07-13
Producing Ideal Voice.

A. uluminating discussion Of the idea
"a, and the method of its productio
&c given Friday afternoon by Pro-
rr.n stephens, leader OF the taberna cl
sSo,r in paper read before the de-
srv.n,ent OF music education OF the \
Professor Stephens said, in part
The requisites OF an ideal voice and
- ideal character are similar and
81, similarly attained. both requir-
,re eentleness. sweetness and purity
nSe the one side, and strength, firm
vess and vlrI!ity on the other The
,ro sides perfectly blended in youth
iSso, "cha actcr" and voice.
So school which overoolSs these
,,irfs In character building does Its
AMY nor music department that
overiooks them in voice building. as
tbey form the foundation Of all flu
,nre attainments. Next 10 keeping
,Ssm in mind is to constantly put
@ ,ssm into practice. that they may
dsyelop into a perfectly woven fiber
as habit In youth.
our mistake is often 10 cultivate
one et rhe expense Of the others. The
constant use OF the head voice and
mn singing makes the voice too ef-
femina,e and colorless. The ideal
sborld be j constant blending OF gem
,eness and strength, sweetness and
\ ,lr,nness purity and virils,y in daily
nrnctice-either In character or voice
building.
Aids in voice building should be.
. drst. tn control, the natural or
wsunI does not cover that needed in
. singing. or even sustained and meas
ursd speaking. But If both forcing
and repress!ng the voice Is avoided
ana smooth and calm delivery
nrscticed. the right method Of breath
control In singing viii he gradually
acnuired naturally.
Tone qualities should be mastered
by The use of vowel exercises While
correct habits ''Ah" Gas in father
gives most readily the local tone,
the most natural. as II takes the
last muscular effort Sing TO medi
p-l pitch, sag, ~ above midcle
&C" with medium power When sat
Isfactorily produced, would practice
various exercises covering from 'iE'
10 sc" II tone is too thin OF open
use "OO' (as In tool. II too thick
oT covered use ''E'' Gas In mel. But
n proper sound OF "Ah" Is main
lalned the tone quality wont be FAR
from ricit. Wary force as far rs
parity will permit Practice also in
c5rds, swelling the tones. giving
attention 10 perfect blending: then
tone color. and later add conscnants
With scale names. Doh "Rey.
NE" etc. Also produce various
yowels without In movements. Con-
sonants are better done with an
Elastic movement OF lips or tongue
than by lahored insistent pressure.
Natures greatest aids 10 develop
ment are Inherited instincts. the
power OF obsevya ton and imitation.
Hence the demands that the teachers
. example work contain as perfect
samples Of The combined requisites Of
good tone-like good character-as
possible
To be good instrumentalist, or
sven good composer while de-
also a good vocalist and metnodical
4 In the work of teaching vocal art,
!s to be incompetent 10 teach music
In O school. Instvulnentalists are
often very bad singers and one of
the greatest obstacles 10 general
progress TODAY Is that many Of the
higher Institutions OF learning have
he musical department. or normal.
IN tho hands OF such talented. but
unat, musicians. Hence normal stu
dents are not prepared for music
te2chIng, as all has TO be done
Through the vocal and not the in
sirumental In the schools. Musical
HluSl wall upon llilS
error being corrected. Too many
Professional musicians walk with
their heads high among the clouds
While tramplins under foot the
prec.ous seeds and plants Of universal
musical progress as things beneath
ihe!r notice The same is true of
OIL elementary musical work, the
pianlsl's keyboard methods are
iorced thoughtlessly upon the tone
thinking singer. the cart always be-
iore The horse Progress In meth-
pos OF universal music teaching must
come through musical educators
fathcr than the ultra professional
musician, and It's source must be In
me correct vocal tea aching OF teach
frs IN the higher schools. The voice
not only the universal natural
medium Of musical expression. but
me means through and by which
pnNersal musical growth and
knowledge must ne impaired