Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-31

IL mas been SAID by some OF the
greatest teachers and prima-donas OF
the world that too little is said by
some teachers TO their pupils about
the diaphramatic breathing which is
the fundamental principle Of correct
singing.
The first thought that enters the
beginners mind is when am ! to have
Il song, which should be the last
thought. Not until the voice has been
placed correctly on vowel sounds ana
the art OF breathing has been fully
mastered is he, or she, ready to take
song, 1t matters not how good the
quality OF the voice
Teachers who teach for money,
are oft-times ready to do that which
pleases tile pupil, instead OF adhering
to the one correct method, which Is
the italian" method Some teachers
tell their pupils the first lesson, that Il
Is easy TO sing. and all they have to
do is to relax their muscles and sing
II is easy TO make that statement. but
tho question is, do they sing2 II is
Just as Impossible for first grade
pupil to solve problem in algebra.
Voice is one of the most scientific
studies Of the day, a great many peo-
Pile and | will say. well educated,
think that to study voice is to study
songs. listen to what Patti, the
greatest singer the world has ever
produced, whose voice has been pre-
served longer than any living singer,
said: ITO become a singer was TO
live a life OF sacrifice, struggles and
difficulties, that It was not easy to
sing until il became an art" When a
voice has not been spoiled By early
training, or by teachers unqualified
to teach, that progress has been very
rapid. often It is forced" as the mas
ters say and then advancement is
made slowly. Wrong methods have
started many a voice on the wrong
PATH and the unfortunate student
must in such ease wait, ind be abso-
lutely patient until he has undergone
a change, that viii put him on the
right course Patti also states that
TOO little stress is placed on the
art OF diaphramatic breathing, and
too much on the scientific methods of
Voicing.' Not until pupil can mas
ter the vocalization of primal sounds
should he or she be allowed to sing
a word
A reporter representing New
York paper in an interview with Mad |
anne Semhrich. asked her which she
considered the most difficult passage
to sing. Il see. said the prima dona, |
raising both hands to level, when
speak OF difficulties a passage in Can
telina- Adagio, Sostenuto. one note
succeeding another to be sung even |
Then turn to the last aria of the SUI !.
zane In the marriage OF Figaro. no
agility, no pyrotechnies, nothing but |
the breat in control, the power to sus- !
tain. She who can do this is an ar |
fist"
II is very evident that sembrich |
lays a great deal Of stress on breath |
ing. MY reader, | could give you !
hundred just such quotations from |
articles written by some of the most :
eminent singers and teachers.
Marchesi and Iamperti. two of the |
worlds greatest teachers who have |
given us Patti, the most noted singer
and Media, who stands today pre- /
cminently the queen of song, once /
said 1T was only the woman that !
knew how To breathe correctly that /
got the most ont Of her voice.
Now. my reader are you studying
voice Culture2 III SO. are YOU takinn
daily breathing exercises? Are your
lessons confined 10 the vowels Ia, lie, /
H. 10, IN, on tones and exercises that I
will make the voice flexible, harmon
lous, crystalline, caressing, with a va
riety of inflexions? Are you taught |
to breathe through the nose and to |
inhale as deeply as possible? How is
your voice in the middle register? Can
you sustain any note in that part six (
seconds with steadlness. volume and (
freedom? II not. will the note be
made better or worse by trying to sus-
tain for a longer period? Think
which. Granting that you have at /
least one note right, can you ascend 4
from II properly to the next note up 1
or qowng II not tand the chances
are against you) are YOU not retard-
ing your progress. perhaps running II
your voice, by attempting scales. ar
peggios or other flexibilitv exercises
II your upper or lower ''Fs does not
satisfy, do you think shat YOU will II
better matters by exercising on notes
beyond that range? Are you taught