Those who have been through the necessary drudgery and struggle and have
won out, should be able to give an authoritative answer to this all
important question. They know what they started with, what any singer
must possess at the beginning, and what she must acquire.
Naturally the singer must have a voice, for there is no use trying to
cultivate something which does not exist. All artists subscribe to this.
They also affirm she should have good looks, a love for music and a
musical nature. Let us hear from Mme. Homer on this subject.
"1. Voice, first of all. 2. Intelligence; for intelligence controls,
directs, shines through and illumines everything. What can be done
without it? 3. Musical nature. 4. Capacity for Work. Without
application, the gifts of voice, intelligence and a musical nature will
not make an artist. 5. A cheerful optimism, which refuses to yield to
discouragement. 6. Patience. It is only with patient striving, doing the
daily vocal task, and trying to do it each day a little better than the
day before, that anything worth while is accomplished. The student must
have unlimited patience to labor and wait for results."
Mr. Witherspoon states, that students coming to him must possess "Voice,
to begin with; youth, good looks, musical intelligence and application.
If the candidate possess these requisites, we begin to work." Anna Case
answers the question as to the vital requisites necessary to become a
singer: "Brains, Personality, Voice."
Quotations could be multiplied to prove that all artists fully concur
with those already mentioned. There must be a promising voice to
cultivate, youth, good looks, (for a public career) and the utmost
devotion to work.