THE SINGER'S COLLAR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 8

THE SINGER'S COLLAR.

Tho average male amateur vocalist frequently fails to take into account those unconsidered trifles that are so very carefully studied by the professional concert singer. I havo often noticed, for example, that tho amateur does not always consider the cffcct which tis oppearanco and deportment are going to have on his success or otherwise during tho ten minutes that he is on tho platform. Ho sometimes omits to study the psychology of dross, and becomes careless of tho fact (perhaps througli the effect of a long course of smoky smoke concerts) that he is tho cynosure of a thousand or two thousand pairs of eyes which, as a functional entity, have'not tho slightest interest in his voice, but aro as active taking impressions as the ears are in receiving sound pictures. Then, again, do ama° teurs always select ; tho right collar P One sometimes sees a short, stoutnecked man wearing a tall stand-up collar, the upper edge of which presses (with an almost suicidal tendency) into the neck, when'ail effort is being made to reach the high G. The high stand-up turnod-down collar is almost as bad It lias all tho restrictive faults of the single stand-up article, only tho edge is smoother. Tho high collar is well enough, if it is tho right shape, and its height is adjusted to the length of the singer s neck. Professionals make no mistakes on this scoro. Mr. Paul Dufault wears a fairly high collar, put it is well fitting, and has two largo peaks turned well back, giving complete free(loin to tho throat. The same easy and well-looking collar is affected by Mr. Kennerley Rumford. Another collar favoured by singers is tho low-sitting turndown collar, which is extremely easy and comfortable to the artist, but is hardly so effective as tho stand-up collar with tho peaks turned back squarely at tho opening. Tho low turn-down collar is favoured by Mr. Andrew Black, r - JolmProuse,,Mr. John M'Cormack, Pl "'"P Newbury, but it lacks the distinction of the other. Amateurs should noto these and other little points —thoy all contribute towards greater freedom of tho throat, and servo to cnhanco tho general impression.