KD 27620 HARVARD 45×91 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. THIS work is prepared with three objects in view: completeness, that nothing be wanting to assist the teacher or student of reading; correctness, that nothing erroneous be learned; and brevity, that its price be within the means of every person desiring it. To teach reading properly, we must possess the knowledge or avail ourselves of the assistance of the following works, viz.: a work on Calisthenics, or chest development; Orthophony, or voice-training; Elocution, as a science; Gesture, or action; and Rhetoric, in order to review the selections which are read in class from time to time. This Manual is intended to combine all the essentia qualities of these books. Part First contains Orthophony, or Voice-training, including Calisthenics; Part Second, the most popular and practical Class Methods, both primary and advanced; Part Third, Gesture; and Part Fourth, Elocution, including a chapter on Rhetoric. The following works have been consulted during its preparation Dr. Rush on the Voice, "Bell's Anatomy of Expression," Webster's and Worcester's Dictionaries, Vandenhoff's "Art of Elocution," and Murdoch's and Russell's "Vocal Culture." Thanking William A. Wheeler, of Boston, and Miss Emily A. Rice, formerly of the Normal and Training School in Oswego, N. Y., now principal of a ladies' school in Darien, Conn., for valuable suggestions, this little work is respectfully submitted to the public. HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL WITHOUT A TEACHER. THE following series of graded lessons may serve as a guide to another plan more or less difficult, as may be required. If the lessons are too long as you proceed, alternate some of the exercises day by day, or omit a few of the easier ones. Thirty minutes' continuous vocal exercise should be succeeded by at least thirty minutes' rest. First Week. Daily Exercises. 1. Rub the chest with the hand or brush every morning. 2. Percussion (page 25). 3. Sustain one note of the scale (page 20). 4. Count as many as possible (page 21). 5. Repeat a line or couplet (page 21). 6. Learn the definitions (one or two each day) on page 115. 7. Memorize one stanza each day of some favorite poem (see page 86). Second Week. Daily Exercises. 1. Chafe the chest, and percuss, as in the first week (page 25). 2. Take the single thrust exercise (page 25). 3. Sustain the three first notes of the scale (page 58). 4. Read the examples for monotone upon each of the three notes (page 59). 5. Count (page 21), and repeat a line or couplet (page 21). 6. Practice Fig. 1 of Table 11 (page 13), and dissyllables (page 16). 7. Learn facts on page 117, and practice five of the examples on page 55. 8. Memorize one or more stanzas each day (page 86). Third Week. Daily Exercises. 1. Chafe, percuss, and add the double to the former thrust exercise (page 26). 2. Sustain five notes of the scale, and read upon each key in monotone (p.59). 3. Count and repeat a couplet, aloud and in a whisper (page 21). 4. Practice Fig.1 and Fig. 2 (page 13), and dissyllables, and trisyllables (p. 16). 5. Learn facts on page 118, in connection with the table (page 116). 6. Memorize as usual, and practice ten examples (page 55). Fourth Week. Daily Exercises. 1. Chafe, percuss, and take 2, 3, 4 chest exercises (pages 25 and 26). 2. Sustain five notes of the scale, and read upon each of them. 3. Count, and repeat stanzas aloud, and in an intense whisper. 4. Practice Figs. 1, 2, 3, Table 11 (p. 13), Figs. 1, 2, Table 10 (p. 12), and page 16. 5. Practice 15 examples (page 55), and drifting exercises (page 59). 6. Memorize prose or poetry. Note.-Continue in this way until you have mastered every table and every exercise, also the entire scientific portion of the Manual. |