How to Sing

Every day of my life I receive letters from men and women, mostly women, whom I do not know personally, asking me to advise them how best to use their vocal talents. Some of my...

Singers may be divided into two classes. No, I do not mean, as some might suppose, those who can sing and those who cannot, though that is a possible classification. I mean in t...

The career of a singer is one offering a certain number of prizes but many, many blanks, and only those possessed of the most unmistakable natural gifts and ready to work tremen...

For this melancholy state of affairs the only remedy is a return to sounder views. The fact must be recognised that there are no short cuts to perfection in singing any more tha...

A famous teacher who was once asked this question made answer: “Voice! Voice! Voice!” I agree, and in the case of the professional I should be inclined to add also: “Work! Work!...

Of course, too, wide general culture is very necessary. Everything that can be possibly acquired in this way helps, and is, indeed, almost more necessary to the singer than in t...

I may add, too, that there is no excuse for singers to neglect the cultivation of their minds, inasmuch as they have so much more time for this purpose than many of their fellow...

Next comes the question of voice. That this is a fundamental requisite you will not expect me to tell you, although it may be noted, in passing, that some of the greatest singer...

As to the absolute necessity of a teacher there can, I suppose, hardly be two opinions. Much can be learnt from books, no doubt; by listening to other singers; and by working th...

Having found your teacher, the next thing you will want to know is precisely what sort of voice you have--and this is a matter, curiously enough, which cannot always be determin...

As to the age to start training the voice, this depends to some extent upon the individual, but speaking generally it may be said that in the case of boys the voice matures at a...

To what extent a vocal student should be instructed in matters anatomical and physiological is a question which has often been raised, and upon which the most contradictory view...

He who breathes properly sings properly, it has been said; and there is not a single authority of any weight, I venture to say, who does not endorse that statement. The old Ital...

But, of course, breathing alone is not sufficient. After the breathing capacity has been developed the power thus acquired must be rightly applied, and here the first principle...

An all-important part of the student’s training is that in relation to what is called the “placing” of the voice. This somewhat vague term has been the subject of a good deal of...

Closely allied with the question of “placing” is that of “registers,” which has been the subject of so much controversy at various times. There is not even agreement as to how m...

A few words on faults--and the correction of them. No, I am not going to attempt a catalogue of all the faults which are possible, but name just a few: faulty intonation; faulty...

I suppose there is no question which I am more frequently asked by vocal students and others interested than how to acquire agility, but I am afraid my answer is usually disappo...

After the fundamental problems of breathing, tone production and so forth have been dealt with, there is nothing to which the student should pay greater attention than the quest...

“Italian is the easiest language to sing, then comes Russian, and I should put English next. All languages affect the tone, unless the tone is first able to carry the weight of...

Style may be said, indeed, to mean everything that the singer adds to the bare notes and directions of the printed page. These notes and directions are admittedly incomplete--a...

To sing a song or a big aria well you must, for the time, be both the vocalist and composer of the words and music you wish to express. If I wish to sing, say, “Home Sweet Home,...

Is it necessary to say that daily practice is indispensable to the student--as it is also to the finished artist? A celebrated violinist used to say, “If I cease practising for...

Before leaving the subject of practising I should like to add a word as to the value of the gramophone to the intelligent student. This is, indeed, a truly invaluable adjunct. I...

Different artists have different methods of studying their parts, but all I think will be agreed on one point, namely, that they cannot possibly be learned too thoroughly. Marve...

As regards the choice of opera for début purposes I need hardly say that this is a matter of great importance which should be most carefully considered. If you happen to be exce...

Rehearsals are a necessary evil and the sensible artist will try to make the best of them. Undoubtedly they are very tedious and trying, but they are quite unavoidable unless yo...

In the case of young singers with very promising voices, impresarios are often found who are willing to finance the period of instruction for a term of say five years. Their cal...

If I have spoken largely about opera in these pages, this is because with my experience it comes most naturally to me to do this. But concert work--of which also I have done my...

Good health is essential to a singer, and it must be most carefully preserved. To this end you should live as wholesome and regular an existence as possible, seeing that you get...