The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-06-04
THE SPEAKING VOICE
is YOURS IN TUNE OR OUT?
BY MARY E. RAYLE,

By MARY Z. BAYLEY
The voice is a most wonderful thing
Just like some musical instrument
which is in tune or out of it.
in what does a clear and beautiful
mode of speaking consist? I would
a voice always under control, one
that will never be irritating to the
| nerves or to the ear of good taste.
| With this there should be a natural,
| easy utterance. clear and distinct,
| conveying with it a complete measure
! Of vital expression and having beau
tX Of tone rather than a wide range
! OF sound. These are characteristics
of speaking which can not be acquired
all at once, but they should always
be kept in mind as a goal.
For the cultivation of pleasing
! voice there are three essential
Good teeth. a non-constricted clear
and open. throat, nasal cavities free
! from obstruction.
The muscles of the throat should
| be allowed freedom of action-that
| is, they should not be CONSTRUCTED by
| high or tight collars-and there should
be no obstruction such as excessively
enlarged tonsils.
In perfect speech the principal
sounds issue from the mouth, but
they must be strengthened by the
resonance of the nasal cavities. This
resonance can not be properly given
If there in the nasal passages any
interference, such as adenoid growth
or spurs of bone
The first step toward controlling
which produces the voice-the breath.
| This means mastering of respiration
The Why of n SIuenky Voice
With the lungs surchaged 1t Is inn
possible to speak with a natural and
easy utterance; with an insufficient
breath supply the tone may be thin,
feeble or shrill
To be assured that correct place
/ .,f h.. 10 1fgIs 1.NF
control of respiration, you have only
to notice the singer who has develop
ed vocal ability, or the actress who
has, attained mastery Of the speech
They breathe DEEPLY The inhalation
supplies the necessary air to put the
instrument into action 1t is the mo-
tive power so to speak. The eNhala-
tion is the power which makes the
voice cords vibrate, thus producing
the voice.
In order to breathe deeply you must
breathe from the diaphragm. This
means breathing from the bottom of
In order to acquire the habit, de-
vote several minutes night and morn
ing to deep, conscious breathing The
most propitious time is just before
going to sleep and before getting up
in the morning. When lying on the
back in loose clothing the breathing
is more or less naturally from the
bottom of the chest Now If a few
minutes are given twice daily to deep,
conscious breathing in this position
the habit will become established.
Take long deep breaths eNhaling
slowly paying particular attention
to expanding the chest walls. Breath
ing from the diaphragm should also
be practiced while standing erect,
body well poised. head thrown slight
ly back, In this position fill the lungs,
and try before expiration to make
slow mental count of five, eXhaling
sometimes eXplosively and sometimes
slowly and steadily If this is done
regularly. little by little the lungs
will dilate, you will unconsciously in
crease the length of the inspiration
and the slowness with which the
air is expelled.
Read Ripping Poems.
Meditation is something that every
woman by the proper effort can COM
mand for herself. At first when speak
ing it may be necessary to make a
conscious effort until the habit grad
ually establishes itself. Smooth, rip
ping poems, repeated in the right
tone, either from memory or as read
ing exercise will aid not only in ac-
curing effective meditation, but in
beautifying the notes.