The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-23
"A MOMENT MUSICAL"

1 A MOST of the many admirers of | IlWlI Mrs. E. G. Chandler have
 SVS thought that the most pleasing rcle she could possibly assume was that of--singer-for her beautiful voice has been to Birmingham a pleasure snd joy whenever it has been heard in concert, oratorio church or opera but always this talented and cultured woman keeps in reserve some other charming attribute which is pleasing to her friends and in this instance it is not only pleasing attribute that she offers, but one of great benefit to those who come under her influance-name- ly, her lovely voice as an instrument of instruction.
 In affiliating herself with the Bir- mingham Conservatory of Music, OF which Mrs. Edna Gockel Gussen Is the distinguished director Mrs. Chandler, makes an alliance which after all was not premeditated move, for when she closed the twenty-fifth year of her service as choir singer only short time ago she felt as if she were really closing the pages of service as far as her vocal art is concerned; but the best laid plans O mice and men"-you know the old saying-"often gang aslee"-and so with Mrs. Chandl er, for no sooner had she given up her choir work than Mrs Gussen, knowing the valuable service that Mrs. Chandler could render to others invited her to become member of the faculty of the Birmingham conservatory--an with the call of the blood'--or rather "niusic"-ringing in her ears, Mrs. Chandler was unable to resist the temptation.
 And so now, we have her in another charming role-that of teacher-in- structor-and she says of herself:
 T haven't the time really to teach; but when l realize that I may be os service to others and give them any help whatsoever of what I have learned during years of study and linn itless reading. I feel that it would be selfish for me not to pass on wha, has given me so much pleasure.
 My observation of many pupils who apply for instruction in voice is that they are handicapped by an utter lack of musicianship," Mrs. Chandler said. 'In the first place, my classes are limited; I have only time for a few pupils, and they must be of exception al possibilities: also, I am frank in advising my pupils, for I cannot truth fully tell a pupil who comes to me thinking that only a few lessons will make her great concert singer, or opera singer, that this is true, when I know that it is not. Some are great ly discouraged when I am frank enough to advise them; others, of course, realize that I am merely truth ful; but, at any cost, 1 want to be honest.
 If I am able to instill into pupil one principle in the art of correct voice production, I feel that-I will have achieved something worth while" Mrs. Chandler said, "because one founda- tion stone properly laid means that the pupil can build long after she has left my instruction. Mental concept is the underlying principle of the art of sing ing; pitch first. then mental picture in other words, understanding must precede physical action and when the mental concept is there it takes form in the voice in correct tone produation.
 Take, for instance, the beautiful song of Sidney Hom.ar's Sing Me q Song of Lad That Is Gone which begins with the word 'sing'--on F,'' Mrs. Chandler illustrated. T have had pupils declare to me that it was irn- possible to sing this song, because of the initial note and word, when in re- ality it is all very simple; merely that the picture must be drawn first; vis- ualized, understood. The first .hree