ol of the correct vocal-cord action, absolutely no
means has ever been found, scientific or empirical. On this, the
surpassingly important feature of the vocal action, Vocal Science has
thrown no light whatever.

It was also remarked that the strictly scientific idea of Voice Culture
is very seldom carried out, to its logical conclusion, in actual
instruction. One important reason for this is that a student seldom
remains long enough with a teacher to cover the entire ground of
mechanical instruction. Students move about from teacher to teacher. In
the class of any one master the proportion of pupils who have never had
any previous instruction does not average one in ten. To carry the idea
of averages further, the length of time a student takes lessons of one
instructor may be set down as seldom more than two years.

How long it would take to apply the complete system of mechanical vocal
training has never been precisely stated. Cases are on record of pupils
being kept on mechanical drills and elementary exercises for four
years, without being allowed to attempt a simple song. But these
instances are extremely rare. It seldom happens that a teacher can hold
a pupil long enough to carry out the complete course of mechanical
study.

There are however many teachers who try conscientiously to have their
pupils pay attention to all the mechanical features of the vocal action.
What it would mean to sing in this way can only be imagined. Before
starting a tone, the singer would prepare by taking a breath in some
prescribed way, and retaining this breath an instant by holding the
chest walls out. Meanwhile the lips, tongue, soft palate, and larynx
would each be placed in the correct position. The jaw would be held
relaxed, and the throat loose and open. The expected tone would be felt,
in imagination, high up in the head, to assure the proper influence of
nasal resonance. The vocal cords would be held in readiness to respond
instantly to the mental command, so as to assure the exact state of
tension necessary. Preparation would be made to direct the "column of
vocalized breath," through the pharynx and mouth, to the proper point
on the hard palate. Then, at the same precise instant, the breath would
be started, and the vocal cords would be brought together, but without
touching.

So the tone would be begun. And all this would have to be done, with due
attention to each operation, in the fraction of a second preceding the
s