only correct one. But there are
so _many teachers_, and some of them do not even sing themselves at
all. Can you imagine a vocal teacher who cannot sing himself, who is so
to say voiceless, unable to demonstrate what he teaches? A piano or
violin teacher must play his instrument, or he will not be able to show
the pupils how it ought to be done. But the vocal teacher thinks to
instruct without demonstrating what he is trying to impart.

BEGINNING VOCAL STUDY WITH OPERA

"So I did not begin my studies with a regular vocal teacher, but with a
dilettante--I do not know just how you say that in English. This
gentleman was not a professional; he was a business man who at the same
time was a good musician. Instead of starting me with a lot of scales
and exercises, we began at once with the operas. I was twelve years old
when I began, and after one year of this kind of study, made my debut in
the role of Inez, in _L'Africaine_. About this time I lost my kind
instructor, who passed away. I then worked by myself until I was
sixteen, when I began to study technic systematically. As you see, then,
I am practically self-taught. It seems to me, if one has voice and
intelligence, one can and should be one's own teacher. No one else can
do as much for you as you can do for yourself. You can tell what the
sensations are, what parts are relaxed and what parts are firm, better
than any one else. You can listen and work on tone quality until it
reaches the effect you desire. I do not neglect vocal technic now, for I
know its value. I do about three quarters of an hour technical practice
every day--scales and exercises.

MEMORIZING

"I memorize very easily; it only takes a few weeks to learn an operatic
role. I spent three weeks on _Coq d'Or_, and that is a difficult part,
so many half tones and accidentals. But I love that music, it is so
beautiful; it is one of my favorite roles. Some parts are longer and
more difficult than others. Of course I know most of the Italian operas
and many French ones. I should like to sing _Mireille_ and _Lakme_ here,
but the Director may wish to put on other works instead.

SPANISH OPERA

"Yes, we have native opera in Spain, but the works of our operatic
composers are little known in other lands. The Spanish people are
clannish, you see, and seem to lack the ambition to travel abroad to
make their art known to others; they are satisfied to make it known to
their own people. Casals and I--we ar