perfect tones. What we call "talking through the nose" is not talking through

the nose, as you can easily demonstrate by holding your nose as you talk. If you

are bothered with nasal tones caused by growths or swellings in the nasal

passages, a slight, painless operation will remove the obstruction. This is

quite important, aside from voice, for the general health will be much lowered

if the lungs are continually starved for air.

 

The final fundamental requisite for good voice is

 

_3. Forwardness_

 

A voice that is pitched back in the throat is dark, sombre, and unattractive.

The tone must be pitched forward, but do not _force_ it forward. You will recall

that our first principle was ease. _Think_ the tone forward and out. Believe it

is going forward, and allow it to flow easily. You can tell whether you are

placing your tone forward or not by inhaling a deep breath and singing _ah_ with

the mouth wide open, trying to feel the little delicate sound waves strike the

bony arch of the mouth just above the front teeth. The sensation is so slight

that you will probably not be able to detect it at once, but persevere in your

practise, always thinking the tone forward, and you will be rewarded by feeling

your voice strike the roof of your mouth. A correct forward-placing of the tone

will do away with the dark, throaty tones that are so unpleasant, inefficient,

and harmful to the throat.

 

Close the lips, humming _ng_, _im_, or _an_. Think the tone forward. Do you feel