The sun., 1919-04-27

the old school for early practice, as
"Tona Frontale" or forehead tone,
now so prevalent. The natural or
ice is "Ah," because it is the sound
lfter taking breath, If nothing is al
the articulatory organs. Therefore
9 medium for the primary exercises.
which never develops a clear attack.
good legato nor a good staccato.
The fad that technical practise such
1T the singing of scales and appesios.
single sustained notes, staccato and
legato passages, various intervals,
&C., are not necessary, but that the
singer should go at once to the singing
Of songs and arias.
The fad that a soprano should never
sing a good. healthy. strong low tone.
The fad of the raised upper lip and
wrinkled nose which makes the singer
look like jackrabbit, with a tone just
as foolish and insincere as his face.
The fad of the bowed head or goose
neck" which is supposed to turn the
voice over into the head. Singers
who have been taught this are ex-
stretching the head upward and then
bowling it when taking high note.
Great scheme if it would only work!
The fad Of placing" the voice in any
one spot of the singers anatomy,
acoustically. physically and in every
other way impossible.
The fad Of separate muscle control.
which is pretty nearly the worst Of oil.
This concerns a method taught here
some years ago. and perhaps even yet,
In which the poor singer was supposed
to move, stiffen, agitate, control,
tighten or loosen certain muscles in
the neck outside and inside the throat
The similar local effort" schools of
the day, which control" various or
sans locally and separately. This Is
ridiculous.
The fad OF a certain kind of bronchial
beginning of the lesson. DO as "to clear
the pipes" and make the voice. clear by
'rmoving all the excess mucus.
The fad of standing near, very near
to the piano ut must be a grand),
taking a deep breath by protruding
the abdomen as much as possible, un-
til it touches the side Of the piano.
then singing an exercise without let
ting the abdomen sink inward away
from the piano. In other words, TO
push against the piano while singing.
This makes fine piano movers, but
doubtful singers.
The fad OF vomiting" tones into a
big brass urn placed in the middle of
the studio, so that the tones would
come from deep down on the breath"
The fad Of counting one, two, three,
four, Ave, six. seven, followed by the
singing Of "Ah." ruinous Of attack as
the tone should be begun Immediately
after inhaling.
The fad of the delayed or slow at
tack in order to avoid the stroke OF the
CLOTHS. whereas what the teacher is
trying to avoid is the stroke from the
chest which causes n violent explosion
In the larynX. and is very injurious TO
the voice, or the "pinched" CLOTHS,
which can be cured only by correct
breathing and support. not by a SCOOP
ing attack.
The fad Of producing high tones
with the aspirate III" which causes
escaping air before the tone and is
ruinous to the vocal cords, and dis
tresslng to the listener.
The fad Of curling up the tip of the
tongue back Of the upper front teeth
so as to focus the tone.
The fad Of the grinning smile which
invariably tightens the throat and
gives the singer again n silly, con-
strained expression.
The fad of lying upon the floor with
heavy, large books upon the chest
which books are to be raised by the
pupil on inhaling so as to strengthen
the chest. A fine exercise for fat
| prima donnas!
| The fad of practising while stand
ing in a patent machine which is
equipped with arms and hands.
These rest on parts of the singers
anatomy and are furnished with elec-
trio attachments which cause a bell to
ring II false movement is made in
the breathing muscles or the throat
When the singer appears in public
critics do the bell ringing the next
day.
! The fad of practising the most fully
CLOSED" U, for three or four years
! without singing any other vowel, until
the voice is entirely placed up. Re-
suit. all words sound lugubrious.
THE fad of singing "Zim. Fam
Zum," until the resonance is COM
plete!
The fad of raising tho palate as
high as possible. pushing down the
larynx as low as possible. forcing on,
the upper abdomen and placing the
voice against the spine. How is II
dcne2 That is the teachers secret anG
costs money.
| The fad of raising the chest as high
as possible, never allowing 1t to fall
either for inhaling or exhaling.
The fad OF letting the whole box OF
the chest" collapse and relax. so as &c
free the throat from tension!
The fad OF making the foolish face
to get relaxation! After this the
pupil Is to put his hands behind him
bend slightly forward and chase at
imaginary dove around the studio
Why a dove? This is supposed to 70.