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TRAINING THE SINGING VOICE |
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7- Singing improves the interpretative sense by stimulating a deeper
understanding of poetry and prose texts.
8. Singing develops appreciation of the art of great singers.
9. Singing promotes interest in music generally and especially in the literature of song.
10. Singing is uplifting to the individual through the absorbing pursuit of an ideal.
11. Singing provides emotional catharsis and is an important medium of self expression to the individual.
12. Singing is self satisfying as a means of entertainment.
These are typical evaluations endorsed by the teaching profession. [11] The health factor is especially stressed. "Singing is . . . energetic exercise," says Scott. "Limp, listless people cannot sing." [501, p. 41; also MacCrate 362] Doubleday reports that only 3 out of 3000 members of choirs and singing societies in London, England became ill with influenza during a great epidemic of that disease. [141] Sir Morell Mac-Kenzie, a prominent British physician and voice specialist makes a sim-.ilar observation regarding the health-promoting value of singing. "The rare occurrence of pulmonary disease among singers is well known/* he says. [364, p. 133] Podolsky, another physician, declares that, even when illness is prevalent, singing is one of the best of health-promoting hobbies. [449]
Barnard writes, in the Idaho Journal of Education, that singing is the "natural basis for complete musical education." [35] It also develops poise, improves health and removes inhibitions. [16] Edward Johnson, of the Metropolitan Opera Company, advocates "voice study for everybody.** In Ms opinion, it has great monetary value if followed professionally but, for even the average individual, it promotes happiness, is a mark of culture and refinement and, above all, it develops courage and stamina. [305]
PREREQUISITES OF VOCAL STUDY
Can everyone sing? Shaw maintains that the ability to sing is latent within each individual. "The physiological functioning of the vocal organ is practically the same in song and speech." Hence, anyone who can speak can also learn to sing. [533] "The voice is a birthday present when a child enters the world." It merely requires development. [Votaw 625] "If you are a normal, healthy person with a speaking voice, you also have a singing voice/* says La Forge. [329] In this opinion he is sup- |
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