32 VOCAL MUSIC IN THE FAMILY AND SCHOOL. 



singers. Three things are necessary to make, for example, a piano- 

 player — the piano, the will to play and the skill to perform. Every- 

 body has not a piano, and that cuts short the idea of piano-playing 

 in many quarters, though the will and even the skill be present. But 

 everybody has a musical instrument, the voice, though m} T riads have 

 a fixed idea that it was only given them to use in talking. 



If this mistake is what has held you back from the pleasures of 

 singing, awaken from your trance, announce that you wish to sing 

 and that you will sing, if you can only ascertain how to sing. That 

 determination almost makes you singers, for it is wonderful if you have 

 the capital of a voice, and you certainly have, and a will to use it, how 

 little stock in the way of knowledge about singing you neel to enable 

 you to start in the business. We are all born to sing, just as we are all 

 born to swim ; experience shows that only about one per cent, in civil- 

 ized communities have monotone voices, a defect corresponding to color- 

 blindness ; the trouble is that very many think there is some mystery 

 about the method of singing, revealed only to a favored few, from 

 whom they assume 1o exclude themselves, or by neglect in early life, ex- 

 clude their children. 



It is never too late for those who are not semi-centenarians to 

 enter the ranks, though youth is, of course, the time to enlist. Em- 

 brace then every opportunity to sing, both for yourself and for your 

 children, and spend time at home upon this study and skill will 

 come soon with experience. 



If you cannot pay for instruction watch others and gain hints from 

 them. Nine-tenths of those who dance never had a master. 



If within your means, obtain at least a few suggestions as to how 

 to handle and train the voice, from some careful, but not showy, 

 teacher. Organize or join some club or society devoted to choral 

 work and you will soon find yourself longing for the weekly rehearsal 

 and regretting its termination. 



Though musical traits and ability are hereditary, thousands, who 

 may not be born Marios or Jenny Liwls, have traits and abilities 

 which might have given them constant pleasure and perhaps renown, 

 had they not neglected to develop and cultivate them. 



I am almost tempted to say, above all, learn to read music at 

 sight, for that emancipates you from the thraldom of mere imitation. 



A class of old or young c:-in study sight-reading, under a competent 



