The brain and the voice in speech and song / by F.W. Mott.

  • Mott, F. W. (Frederick Walker), 1853-1926.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The brain and the voice in speech and song / by F.W. Mott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    be effected by quickly drawing in air through the nostrils without apparent effort and to as full extent as opportunity offers between the phrases. By intelligence and perseverance the guiding sense which in- forms the singer of the amount of air at his disposal, and when and how it should be replenished and voluntarily used, is of fundamental importance to good vocalisa- tion. Collar-bone breathing is deprecated by some authorities, but I see no reason why the apices of the lungs should not be expanded, and seeing the frequency with which tubercle occurs in this region, it might by improving the circulation and nutrition be even beneficial. The proper mode of breathing comes almost natural to some individuals ; to others it requires patient cultivation under a teacher who understands the art of singing and the importance of the correct methods of breathing. The more powerfully the abdominal muscles contract the laxer must become the diaphragm muscle ; and by the law of the reciprocal innervation of antagonistic mus- cles it is probable that with the augmented innervation currents to the expiratory centre of the medulla there is a corresponding inhibition of the innervation currents to the inspiratory centre [vide fig. i8, page loi).