Singing Fundamentals

Practice makes ______.

It is very important for all who wish to become ______ to begin their work not with practical exercises in singing.

The best way is for pupils to learn preparatory books by heart, and make ______.

The pupil should be subjected to strict ______.

Scientific men are not at all agreed as to the exact functions of the several ______; the humblest singer knows something about them.

The true art of song has always been possessed and will always be possessed by such individuals as are dowered by nature with all that is needful for it—that is, healthy ______ organs, uninjured by vicious habits of speech;

In former times eight years were devoted to the study of singing—at the ______ Conservatory, for instance.

Artists are turned out in factories, that is, in so-called ______, or by teachers who give lessons ten or twelve hours a day.

The incompetence and lack of talent whitewashed over by the factory concern lose only too soon their plausible ______.

Introduction to Singing

Scientific men disagree on the functions of vocal organs, but every serious artist wants to help others sing well and beautifully.
The true art of song requires healthy vocal organs, a good ear, talent, intelligence, industry, and energy.

The Problem with Modern Singing Education

In former times, 8 years were devoted to studying singing, allowing teachers to correct mistakes and pupils to learn self-judgment.
Today, artists are turned out in factories (conservatories) or by busy teachers, receiving a certificate of competence in just 2 years.
This factory system hides mistakes and deficiencies until the student's public career begins, with no time or teacher to correct them.

The Consequences of Factory Methods

The incompetence and lack of talent are soon exposed, leading to a sad end for factory-produced singers.
The whole art of singing is being sacrificed to these factory methods.

The Need for Proper Study

Artists should acknowledge their deficiencies and discuss ways to overcome them, putting pride aside.
Only then can bad singing and inartistic effort be checked, and the noble art of singing come into its rights again.

Preliminary Practice

To become artists, students should start with serious practice in tone production, breathing, lung and palate functions, and clear pronunciation.
This would help recognize talent or lack thereof, and the "proletariat of singers" would disappear.
Pupils should learn preparatory books by heart, make drawings, and undergo strict examinations to learn vocal organ functions.

Artistic Singing vs. Natural Singing

Artistic singing differs from natural singing in a clear and fundamental way, but the exact difference is not fully explained.

Introduction to singing, understanding the role of organs and the art of song. This lesson covers the basics of singing and the qualities required to sing well and beautifully.