ully to ascertain the exact limits of the
registers in every single case. In choral singing, however, where
individual attention is impossible, the breaks as given above may be
implicitly relied upon. Not only should the registers never be carried
above these points, but if the teacher is wise he will insist upon his
pupils forming the habit of changing the mechanism a tone or two below.

NEVER "EXTEND" LOWER REGISTERS UPWARDS, BUT STRENGTHEN THE UPPER
REGISTERS, AND CARRY THEM DOWNWARDS, THUS EQUALIZING THE VOICES FROM TOP
TO BOTTOM, AND ENABLING YOUR PUPILS TO SING WITHOUT STRAINING. That is
the great lesson taught by the investigations described in these pages.
I have seen a singer pull himself together, and with a tremendous effort
shout a high A in the thick register. His neck swelled out, his face
became blood-red, and altogether the "performance" was of an acrobatic
rather than of an artistic nature. The general public, of course, loudly
applauded, but people of taste and refinement shuddered. Such
exhibitions are, unfortunately, not rare. If this little book should
contribute, however remotely, to discourage them, it will not have been
written in vain.

APPENDIX TO THE THIRD EDITION

It has been suggested to me that the usefulness of my little book would
be enlarged if I were to add an appendix containing some application to
practical work of the physiological laws already explained. This I have
endeavoured to do in the following chapter, and I trust the simplicity
of the directions will enable the reader to carry out my instructions,
to vary them, and to enlarge upon them according to circumstances.

HINTS ON TEACHING.

One of the most important lessons taught us by the study of Vocal
Physiology is the correct method of breathing and of obtaining control
over the respiratory muscles. I will now give a few exercises for this
purpose.

Divest yourself of any article of clothing which at all interferes with
the freedom of the waist. Lie down flat on your back. Place one hand
lightly on the abdomen and the other upon the lower ribs. Inhale,
through the nostrils, slowly, deeply, and evenly, without interruption
or jerking. If this is done properly the abdomen will, gradually and
without any trembling movement, increase in size, and the lower ribs
will expand sideways, while the upper part of the chest and the
collar-bones remain undisturbed. Now hold the breath, _not_ by shutting
the glottis, but by