The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-08
TEACHERS
! ASSA|LED BY
ARTIST
Nine. GaIIi-Curci Warns Young
Students Against
'tShort Cuts"
By WILLIAM MOORE.


The influx of fake music teachers
into the big cities Of the United
States has stirred the gorge of the
nations leading musicians and music
lovers.
National publications have vented
their spleen on the charlatan music
teacher, and have hurled editorial
invectives at the slick individuals
who annually are amassing small
fortune wrung from the purses OF
aspiring young musicians.
Nine. Galli.Curci, who was heard
In recital in Washington last week.
warned the people of the Nation
Capital against these fake instruc-
tors who promise wonderful short
cuts to fame and fortune.
Beware Of the singing teacher,
is bit of advice broadcasted by
Nine. Galli-Curci to ambitious young
singers.
The famous coloratura soprano
gets dozens OF letters daily asking
her advice about where and how
to study singing, and since she
cannot answer them all she sends
out a warning against dishonest
teachers who promise wonderful re-
suits through special methods OF
voice, production and other short
cuts.
Scores Short Cuts.
''This talk about placing the
voice in the mask and about any
shortcut to the art of singing is
mischievous nonsense" said the
diva. There are any number of
fine natural voices being ruined by
false instruction in the United
States. And in spite of the fact
that this is a country with more
naturally good voices than any
other country know of, there are
comparatively few artists. This is
because the art of bel canto is
practically disappearing and in place
of the old methods, based on must
cal intelligence and hard work, are
the new ones based on musical
Quackery.
IF young singer is really
musical he can learn more by listen
ing and applying what he learns
through the ear, than any other
way. Let him first listen to him.
self. and for comparison, let him
listen to the records of the early
Caruso which are as fine example
of voice production as can be heard.
Battistini who, at the age of sixty
eight, has voice as fresh as
boys, and Bonci are other fine
artists from whom much may be
learned. But they are in the
minority.
Can't Manufacture Voice.
A singing teacher, if he is wise,
can guide pupil, but he cannot
manufacture a voice worth listen
ing to. A singer must sing as a
bird does, without thought of nasal
resonance or placing the voice. Put
q canary in the Metropolitan Opera
House and it can be heard as clear
ly as the human voice, and that is
because it sings naturally and is
not ruined by bad breathing.
There are a number of splendid
artists at the Metropolitan Opera
House. There is De Luca, of the
old school, who knows the art of
bel canto. Mario Chamlee, among
the young American artists, is in
the very front rank and has one Of
the most beautiful voices ever pos
sessed by tenor. There is no one
with whom / would rather sing
than Mr.. Chamlee, because he never
tries to drown my voice out, but
thinks of the whole effect Of the
music instead of his part alone.
Every young singer ought to listen
to an artist such as that, but for
those too far from musical centers
70 listen to the best voices in the
country. would heartily recon-
mend the monograph as the best
teacher for an intelligent student"