THE SECRET OF SINGING

There are three sensibilities that govern singing.

Sensibility to pitch and tone (over-tones) developed and controlled through nerves of touch.

Sensibility to vibration and resonance developed and controlled through nerves of touch. 

Sensibility to energy and breathing developed and controlled through nerves of the entire body. 

These sensibilities, though studied and developed separately, must be co-ordinated, so as to cause unity of action. 

Unity of action of the three sensibilities takes place when imagination and emotion lead and command a performance. 

Genius depends on his nerves of hearing and seldom realizes his full powers of touch. 

Talent uses both sense of hearing and that of touch, and often excels genius. 

The rest of us must acquire sensibility to the three, pitch, vibration, and energy, and co-ordinate them, to compete with genius or talent. 

Arousing and maintaining a continuous activity of this co-ordinated trinity of sensibilities, is the secret of singing. 

Until you feel the permanency of your vibration, you cannot play on your resonance.

Until you feel the resiliency and elasticity of your resonance you cannot modulate your voice. 

Your tone must be part of the vitality of your body. 

There are no muscle drones.  All work as soon as a motive stimulates them. 

What is co-ordination?  "All for each-each for all."

If any part of you pushes or pulls too much this fellowship of muscles and nerves is imperiled. 

What brings success?

Vision, initiative, and perseverance.

Let the desire to sing command your energies. 

Let your singing educate and discipline your muscles.

Consider all else but gymnastics--setting up exercises.

by Giovanni Battista Lamperti, English Transcription by William Earl Brown  ©Crescendo/Taplinger