Seed Thoughts for Singers

by Frank Herbert Tubbs

Certain quotations and sayings, through familiarity, lose their point to us. We not only are not impressed by them but forget that they are truths. Do you recall "All things work together for good?" Does that mean anything? Does it mean what it says? Does it mean nothing? It means nothing or else exactly what it says, and you may be sure that the latter is the true meaning. What are "all things?" The few which seem bright, maybe; and those which to most of us seem evil, do not belong to "all things." But may we not be at fault in our idea? We are, we are. Whatever appears to happen to us (although nothing ever happens in the common meaning of that word) belongs to "all things" and at some time we will be able to look back and say from the heart that all was well with us.

LITTLE THINGS EFFECT.

Every shade of tone has a meaning which is either artistic or inartistic and one who has developed his appreciation of artistic rendition can so use his tone that just the right effect will be produced with his tone. A noted cartoonist recently showed by two little dots the ability which he possessed to change the character of his picture. He had drawn a sketch of a sweet young girl; rosy cheeks and cherry lips; big sleeves and a Gainsborough hat; the most demure and modest little girl ever imagined. Then to carry out a joke he changed the position of the eyes, just rubbing on two dots. The character of the whole picture now changed. The demure little girl became the sauciest Miss that could be imagined and one could almost imagine a shrug to the shoulders. Are singers less able to portray in art than is the cartoonist? If we know the resources at our command and how to use them we can give expression just as well as any other artist can. We do not always know how small a thing can change all expression. The bright face, the warmer tone, the more elastic delivery of voice, quicker attack, all have their value in expressing something.

Not enough attention is paid to personal appearance before an audience. There are a few things which can be prepared before our appearance which can make the whole performance more artistic. The way of walking across the stage, taking position before the audience, manner of holding the music, of turning its leaves, way of looking up while singing, way of leaving the stage; all these have to do with artistic rendition. They should be taught to pupils by the teacher and should become part of the pupils' instruction. We give all attention to tone and that is only part of the instruction which the student needs. The other matters must not be left to chance. The little things point out the difference between the singer and the artist.

MUSICAL LIBRARY.

A musical library should be a possession of every singer. There are less than two hundred books on music printed in English, on subjects directly connected with music and singing. These contain all which has been printed which has any great value. Many are books for reference and a few contain direct practical instruction. Each teacher and all earnest students should see how many of these they now possess and plan to develop the library. All the books need not be purchased at once, nor is it wise to obtain books and put them away on the shelves just for mere ownership. Get one book at a time, one a month perhaps, and read it carefully enough to allow you to know what is in it. Then put it away for reference. It takes but a few minutes to refresh the mind on what is read. A dozen books a year added in this way will, in a dozen years, give a valuable library. What is more valuable to the owner is that he has lodged in his own mind for every day use more than a hundred good ideas. Books taken from the public library and returned to it do not have the lasting value that one's own books have. The sense of ownership is worth something.

CHANGE OPINIONS.

In these days of invention, discovery and progress, no one need be ashamed of changing his opinions. In vocal music the ideas most commonly held twenty years ago are being exchanged for something new. The man who has made a change is often sneered at as "having a method." He may have that, but he may only have advanced to new ground which is to be occupied by common opinion a dozen years from now. The man who changed early was in advance of his fellows and would attract attention. Who thought, outside of a very small circle, only forty years ago, that the music of Wagner would become the most popular of any age? It is to-day the music of the present and we are already looking for a "music of the future." The present time is, in the manner of dealing with the singing and speaking voice, a transition age. Ideas which are being taken up now were scouted as nonsense twenty years ago. They will be commonly accepted ten years from now. It is better to join the army of progress, and change early, even if it does raise a laugh.

REPUTATION COMES SLOWLY.

Reputation which will last comes only by slow degrees. Man may spring into notoriety at a bound because of some fortuitous circumstance and he may hold the prominence which he gains by his strength of manhood, but the cases of this kind are rare. It is by "pegging away" at something which one knows to be good until by the merit of the "something" and the worth of the labor put into it, attracts the attention of a few judges of its worth, that a reputation is begun. It is begun then, only. Some more of the same work must follow but those who have seen the worth now assist in thought as well as in word and the circle which appreciates the worth grows. When good reputation has begun nothing can stop its growth except some unwise or unmanly act of the person himself. For this reason no man need strive after reputation. Do well what is good and the result will take care of itself. The reputation will not come because of striving. It will come to any man who is doing good work and living a right life. It takes time to make the lasting reputation and that impatience which so often influences Americans, prevents the growth of many a reputation.