Introduction to the First Edition

Arthur D Hewlett, MA, BLitt, LRAM.

Sinus Tone Production is basically an explanation of how the voice works. It describes what constitutes the vocal instrument and what is the proper function of the vocal cords. Tone actually originates in the sinuses, which are cavities in the bone structure of the skull, while the so-called vocal cords assist in directing the flow of breath. The realisation of these facts leads to a vocal technique founded on acoustic principles and sensitive control.

This extract from the prospectus of the Ernest George White Society sums up what this book is about. White published his revolutionary theory of the voice in 1909 and spent the rest of his life, until 1940, in teaching and writing to make it known. The Society was founded in 1944 to be a means of preserving the knowledge of his discoveries, to which he gave the title of Sinus Tone Production. There has been some difficulty in deciding how this modern treatment of the subject should be presented. It could not fairly be offered as a self-tutor, for the help of a teacher well versed in the practical application of the theory is almost indispensable. It should not, for the most part, be disputatious: in White's lifetime there was endless contention to no purpose and it is clear by now that the truth or error of these theories cannot be established by abstract argument. So the book sets out to record the accumulated experience of a generation, some of those who learnt from White himself and have since taught on the lines he indicated, carefully recording and evaluating the results. For them the basic correctness of the sinus tone theory is now beyond question, though there are still details awaiting a fully satisfactory explanation.

On the other hand, this is not the formulation of a creed to which assent is demanded before any progress can be made. The practical student is asked merely to work on the supposition that sinus activity may be controlled and to see what happens when he practises as directed. It is now generally conceded that the sinuses have something to do with the voice, though they were disregarded in this context until White propounded his ideas about them. The usual compromise is to allow that the sinuses may be resonators, a point which is considered later, and anyone may reasonably keep an open mind on this until experience leads to a conclusion. The idea of tone production in the sinuses is presented as a hypothesis, which can be, as it has been, repeatedly tested in application.

The plan of the book is as follows. Chapter 1 restates the theory as White originally formulated it and adds the developments, by way of clarification, elaboration, or modification, derived from further experience and thought in the Society. Chapters 2 and 3 describe current practice as precisely as possible. The fourth chapter examines commonly met objections, since these may equally occur to the new reader, and should not be dodged; and the final chapter surveys some related points of interest. Among the appendices we now publish the material used by teachers belonging to the Society, in the desire to make their practice as clear as it can be made short of personal tuition.

This leads me to a word to those who for any reason cannot get personal tuition and yet are eager to try these ideas. Readers of White's own books have from time to time reported improvement in the voice by following his directions unaided, so it may be that this work, although not offered as a self-tutor, will give some help to isolated students. After all, White had to find it all out for himself once he had the gleam of an idea, though such original work naturally took more time and concentration than most of us could give. I sometimes reflect, when doing a crossword puzzle, that the composer of the puzzle in effect had to solve it first without the benefit of clues, whereas my task is easier thanks to the clues he has written. In the same way, consideration of the voice and how to use it to the best advantage, with or without personal guidance, is illuminated by the clues left by White's industry and insight.

Therefore, although this volume-is intended to be complete in itself, and to offer a sufficient, up-to-date, practical guide to voice education, it will not supersede White's own books. These will remain of fascinating interest to any who wish to follow the searching of an original mind, to note the obstacles which had to be overcome and to share the excitement of discovery. They contain much illuminating detail for the specialist, to which references will be made as necessary, and they remain essential further reading for anyone who wishes to qualify as a teacher of sinus tone production. However, it is the hope of the Council of the Ernest George White Society that this present handbook will make the subject more widely known and understood, and be a welcome revelation to many who have themselves been searching for new ideas about the voice.