T HE SINGING instrument is something like a record player. The case of the record player holds its working parts just as the body encases the voice box. The speaker that projects the tone is comparable to the open mouth; the needle that runs on the record, free and easy, is much like the vocal cords, which should also be held free and easy.

The motor which keeps the tone steady and regular is very much like our diaphragm which holds and controls the breath for use with the vocal cords; the electric current furnishes the power for amplification just as our resonators give the tone resonance through focus and through the power of projection.

The job of the mouth is to pipe the sound out somewhat as a horn pipes out sound. Those who remember the early Victor phonograph with the big bell- shaped horn will have the perfect picture. The vocal cords by themselves make    a    tiny    sound    hardly    audible    to    the    ear.

The pharynx, or throat, the most important resonator, amplifies the tone for projection through the mouth. The breath, controlled by the diaphragm, is one of the most important factors in the production of a rounded, rich, and resonant    tone.

With this in mind, we should try to set the vocal instrument to carry out three of the most important principles of singing: (1) managing the breath; (2) ease in the flow of tone; (3) projection of vowels and consonants for beauty of tone and clarity of diction.

The student in beginning to learn to sing online must make the necessary physical preparation for singing.

First, good posture must be established. The feet should be placed firmly in a position comparable to that of a weight lifter’s—slightly apart and ready for action. The abdomen should be firm and upright. Don’t pull it in so that the chest is raised or stiff—just keep it solid and ready for action. Allow the shoulders to relax and keep them down. Beware of hunching while singing. The head should be well balanced with the chin in.