The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-21

line OF industry wnlch requires
this form Of cultivation.
The voice is produced by the
vocal cords, when air is forced
over them, and they are drawn
sufficiently together TO leave a fine
opening called the CLOTHS. The
length Of the CLOTHS in the adult
male averages l.s en-, and in the
female, IL en-.
Speech is composed Of funda-
mentals called vowels and conso-
nants. As speech proceeds, there
is constant shifting of these
sounds which depend for their
modification upon the shape Of the
resembling cavities. When the
sounds are continuous, they are
called continuants, and when the
sound stream is interrupted, they
are called stops.
Physical Properties
There are four physical prop
critics of speech which make it
characteristic: pitch, intensity,
timing and timbre.
Pitch is the compass Of the
voice. 1t goes through and points
the way.
Intensity depends on the pres
sure Of the air below the CLOTHS
made by the air coming up from
the chest. A simile would be made
with boxer when he finds place
to land on his opponent-that 10
pitch. The amount Of energy be-
hind the blow is intensity.
Timing is Of the utmost impor-
lance in the effectiveness of any
kind of speech. The emotion be-
hind the speech is shown in the
timing. Rapidly is for conveying
excitement, and for abrupt com.
mand; elaboration is emphasis il
argument. President Roosevelt,
as an orator, has it all: pitch, in
tensity, timbre and timing, but the
great effectiveness of his oratory
certainly lies in his timing.
Timbre depends very largely on
the size of the CLOTHS and on the
mount of air space IN the sinuses
around the nose ana IIe upper
jaw These cavities in the upper
jaw form a sort of sounding board
which give the characteristic ele-
ments and personality to the voice.
By their timbre, you recognize va
rious individuals over the tele-
phone.
All these elements can be cult
waited best by practice and imita-
ton rather than formal instruc-
ton. A great deal Of formal in
struction given by voice and sing
ing teachers is bad. The breath
control which singing teachers in
sist on, which consists in throwing
the breath stream against the pal
ate or facial bones TO produce .
particular sound, is entirely un-
scientific, since the air is governed
by the laryngeal muscles and
passed to the resonating cavities.
The result Of this teaching is
usually a throaty effect.
Controlled by Mind
In voice production the mind
still controls the mechanism. The
singer when sounding a note Of
certain pitch, must have a mental
image Of that note. The good
singer knows how to bring about
first a mental adjustment, and
then a physical adjustment to pro-
duce the tone desired. Singing
teachers are coming to ask advice
from specialists in throat medi-
cine, and with the pressure Of the
modern age, the medical profess
sion is reawakening to an interest
in this subject which has become
80 close to our daily lives.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
S. F. W.: II have been on a re-
ducing diet. never drink but one
cup of black coffee at breakfast
and do not seem TO care for hot
drink at any other time Of day.
My weight averages 1874, height
Sly, age 70. My ailment is
high blood pressure. Is there any
drink to be substituted for coffee?
Answer: l do not believe you
should try to substitute anything
for black coffee. You probably
need it at your age, and it will do
your blood pressure good rather
than harm.
against the latter and. when the
Axis is licked and the Communists
are all played out. it'll be possible