CHAPTER II PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF THE VOCAL ORGANS The physiology of the vocal organs will be extensively treated in the following chapters. Each anatomical part illustrated in Plate No. 1 will be separately considered, in order that its specific function may be understood. The pupil will be required to practice some special exercises by which the physiological condition of the individual parts will be trained and accorded with the other parts of the vocal organs. The psychological study, the power of the mind over the vocal organs, should be considered by itself, and it is desirable to treat it first. It is generally agreed that the mind has some influence over matter. Some teachers go so far as to claim that remote objects may be influenced by the power of a person's mind. This is not generally accepted, but that our own mental power may assist our physical efforts no one can entertain doubt. No matter how much he may read on the subject, and no matter how many hours a day he may spend in vocal exercises, without the desire and determination to regain the natural use of the vocal organs a pupil would accomplish little. On the other hand, a pupil with the desire and determination to regain the natural voice will succeed even when but little time is given to it. The intellect has to be exercised to be brought up to its normal development. An inferior mind is either incapable of dwelling for any length of time on one subject or for-ever returns to the same. An ordinary intel lect has usually some incoherent glimpses of ideas not related to the train of thought under consideration. The practice of entertaining two coherent trains of thought at the same time is an excellent mental exercise and it can be effectively practiced by any one of average intellect. The practical use of the science and the art of tone production may often be benefited by an intellectual possibility of entertaining three distinct trains of thought at once. could dictate five letters at one time. Napoleon The power of the mind has probably more to do with the success of acquiring the science and the art of tone production than it has with anything else, because the voice is yet, at times, under the complete control of the subconscious in which is invested the mind power. but An intelligent struggle generates little power of the mind until it is incor porated into the subconscious. It is then permanent, and it may be active even when the conscious mind is wholly involved in something else. It is in this way that sometimes, in cases of great moment, we do the best for the welfare of the Ego without any mental responsibility. The following chapters will have to be intelligently studied. The exercises will have to be carefully practiced with some intellectual effort until the organs become automatic in their action. QUESTIONS FOR TOPICAL REVIEW How is the student in the science of tone production instructed in the physiology of the vocal organs? When should the study of psychology by the student of the science of tone production begin? Why does psychology especially concern the student of the science of tone production? Enumerate different mental conditions. In what part of the mind is the power which we call will or mind power? With what part of the mind should vocal exercises be first practiced? How can we ascertain that the various anatomical parts of the vocal organs have regained their natural functions? |