"There is so much to consider for the girl who desires to enter the
profession," began Mme. Homer, in response to my first query. "First,
she must have a voice, there is no use attempting a career without the
voice; there must be something to develop, something worth while to
build upon. And if she has the voice and the means to study, she must
make up her mind to devote herself exclusively to her art; there is no
other way to succeed. She cannot enter society, go to luncheons, dinners
and out in the evening, and at the same time accomplish much in the way
of musical development. Many girls think, if they attend two or three
voice lessons a week and learn some songs and a few operatic arias, that
is all there is to it. But there is far more. They must know many other
things. The vocal student should study piano and languages; these are
really essential. Not that she should strive to become a pianist; that
would not be possible if she is destined to become a singer; but the
more she knows of the piano and its literature, the more this will
cultivate her musical sense and develop her taste.