Sustaining all the foregoing conditions; extension, expansion and
diffusion of feeling, the retention of the breath and the
simultaneous openness and relaxation of the throat, laugh low but
heartily:--ha ha, he he, etc.
The tone should be soft and pure. The softer the better. If there is any
danger of waking or disturbing someone the exercise should not be
omitted but practiced softly.
Joy must not only be felt, it must be expressed. This series of
exercises is based upon the fact that the greatest exercises are
expressive movements. The smile on the face and active laughter should
be used as direct exercises, not only for the body but also for the
voice.
This exercise implies some understanding of the fundamental elements of
vocal training. The primary co-ordination of voice conditions, that is,
the sympathetic, harmonious and elastic retention of the breath causing
the co-ordinate passivity at the throat has been explained in "Mind and
Voice." This was my discovery and the mastery of it has helped thousands
out of ministerial sore throats and other abnormal conditions, and, to
my mind, is proved as a fundamental principle. It is of the utmost
importance that this little exercise should be practiced in accordance
with the principle. The great point of the exercise is the elastic,
sympathetic retention of the greatest possible amount of breath and the
simultaneous passivity and openness of the throat. The study of laughter
or the best possible tone anyone can make will enable him to realize
this deep but simple principle.
The effect of this exercise is to centre the breath and to harmonize the
activities of the whole man. The central organs should always be
exercised before the organs of the surface. The laughter must be
sincere, genuine, hearty and natural.
No one can imagine what wonderful effects can be brought to the voice by
such simple exercises as these. The voice is an index, not only to
mental and emotional conditions but to health. The voice cannot improve
truly without improving health.
We reserve breath and have a certain sympathetic fullness due to
retention of the breath in the middle of the body. Simultaneously there
is an openness of the whole throat and tone passage. All the organs of
voice are thus brought into right conditions. When this condition is
violated there is a misuse of the voice.
Vocal training consists in the use of such simple exercises as will
establish all these conditions that have been mentioned, especially the
last. The conditions of voice must be co-ordinated, the vocal organs
must respond to thinking and feeling. We cannot ignore, we must
demonstrate on every plane. Man is given the greatest opportunity for
progress. It is an opportunity he must take. There is no growth, no
advance without labor. The labor may not be voluntary, it may not be
hard, but man has his work to do. It is a joyous work. Man has an
instinctive desire for right exercise which will enable him to really
unfold his faculties and demonstrate his powers.