middle of the body--you must breathe from the diaphragm. Note the way you

breathe when lying flat on the back, undressed in bed. You will observe that all

the activity then centers around the diaphragm. This is the natural and correct

method of breathing. By constant watchfulness make this your habitual manner,

for it will enable you to relax more perfectly the muscles of the throat.

 

The next fundamental requisite for good voice is

 

_2. Openness_

 

If the muscles of the throat are constricted, the tone passage partially closed,

and the mouth kept half-shut, how can you expect the tone to come out bright and

clear, or even to come out at all? Sound is a series of waves, and if you make a

prison of your mouth, holding the jaws and lips rigidly, it will be very

difficult for the tone to squeeze through, and even when it does escape it will

lack force and carrying power. Open your mouth wide, relax all the organs of

speech, and let the tone flow out easily.

 

Start to yawn, but instead of yawning, speak while your throat is open. Make

this open-feeling habitual when speaking--we say _make_ because it is a matter

of resolution and of practise, if your vocal organs are healthy. Your tone

passages may be partly closed by enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or enlarged

turbinate bones of the nose. If so, a skilled physician should be consulted.

 

The nose is an important tone passage and should be kept open and free for