How to sing [Meine Gesangskunst]

In Short

This comprehensive vocal manual demystifies the art of singing by grounding artistic expression in physical science and deliberate practice. Lilli Lehmann systematically breaks down the mechanics of vocal production, detailing how breath control, resonant cavities, tongue placement, and laryngeal position work in concert. Rejecting shortcuts and harmful forcing, she outlines a lifelong regimen of vocal gymnastics designed to build strength, equalize registers, and preserve the instrument. It has lasted as an essential text because it offers an uncompromising, highly practical foundation that transforms abstract musical intuition into a reliable, repeatable craft.

The Story

The text begins by establishing that artistic singing relies entirely on a clear, scientific understanding of the vocal organs and their sensations. True mastery requires years of dedicated study under expert guidance to build the immense muscular strength needed to control the voice without strain. The core foundation rests upon breath regulation. Air must not be forced recklessly against the vocal cords; instead, it is sustained by chest-muscle tension, which acts as a supply chamber, allowing a steady, controlled stream to pass into the resonating cavities of the mouth and head.

As the physical explanation unfolds, the mechanics of forming tone come into focus. The larynx, palate, and tongue shape the passage through which breath travels. Lehmann pays special attention to the tongue, explaining how forming a central furrow keeps its mass clear of the throat and directs breath toward the palate and head cavities. She dismisses traditional, rigid definitions of "registers," arguing instead that a voice must be equalized across its entire compass through the subtle mixing of palatal resonance and head tones. Neglecting head tones or forcing chest notes damages the delicate vocal cords, leading to vocal flaws like the tremolo or flat singing.

The argument then turns to daily practice and vocal gymnastics. Central to this routine is "The Great Scale," a demanding exercise spanning two octaves that reinforces breath management, vowel connection, and register blending. Developing a proper trill similarly demands energetic, disciplined throat work until the movement becomes an automatic habit. Physical health and daily care are essential; singers must practice early each day, protect their throats, and avoid harmful medical procedures by relying on vocal exercises to rehabilitate strained organs.

Finally, the text lifts its focus from physical mechanics to artistic interpretation and duty. Technical control exists solely to serve artistic expression, enabling a performer to convey dramatic narrative—such as Schubert's Erlking—without sacrificing tonal beauty. When appearing before the public, an artist must ignore cheap applause, refuse to compromise for uncultivated tastes, and dedicate every performance to the master composers. The ultimate goal of vocal art is to elevate the human spirit, a duty achieved only when rigorous physical mastery enables complete devotion to artistic truth.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of breath Artistic singing begins with understanding the physical apparatus, using chest muscles to control breath pressure while protecting the delicate vocal cords from direct force.

Shaping resonance and form The larynx, soft palate, and tongue adjust to direct air currents into the resonating spaces of the palate and head cavities, avoiding improper throat pressure.

Abolishing the registers Rather than treating the voice as a collection of separate registers, singers must blend head tones and palatal resonance to achieve a single, seamless compass across every note.

The daily discipline Building endurance requires regular vocal gymnastics, including the rigorous practice of the great scale and trill exercises to make subtle organ adjustments second nature.

Artistic duty and expression Technical mastery culminates in interpretation, where physical control allows the singer to communicate emotional depth and elevate the audience through selfless devotion to art.

The People

• Lilli Lehmann, the author and master singer, seeks to elevate vocal instruction from vague tradition to a precise, scientific discipline. She struggles against the prevalence of bad teaching, lazy vocal habits, and the public's acceptance of mediocrity, drawing on decades of intense personal practice and performance to prove that rigorous control and daily exercises protect the voice.
• The Student of Song represents any singer striving for true artistry. Facing physical exhaustion, misguided medical interventions, and the temptation to force tone for quick results, the student must cultivate patience, strong willpower, and absolute awareness of physical sensations to master the vocal organs over years of study.
• The Vocal Teacher serves as the essential guide whose duty is to possess both a fine singing ability and deep physiological knowledge. Standing against ignorant methods that ruin young voices, the ideal teacher uses practical demonstration and precise ear training to cultivate correct habits in pupils.
• The Public acts as the audience whose taste the artist is bound to elevate. Though often easily swayed by superficial effects or uncultivated in judgment, the public ultimately responds to authentic interpretation when presented with uncompromising artistic standards.

In Its Own Voice

"The prescribed tasks must be mastered so that they can be done without exertion, with the whole heart and soul, and with complete understanding." Lehmann outlines the high standard required for true artistic singing.

"A good singer can never lose his voice." The author asserts that proper technical knowledge protects the vocal apparatus from permanent damage.

"In any matter relating to art, only the best is good enough for any public." Lehmann emphasizes the performer's duty to maintain uncompromised standards regardless of the audience.

What It's Really About

Underneath its detailed anatomical instructions, the book argues that true artistic freedom is impossible without complete physical self-mastery. Lehmann fights against the notion that singing is merely an innate, unstudied talent or an exercise in dramatic forcing. Instead, she framing the voice as a complex instrument requiring precise physiological control, muscular strength, and continuous maintenance. Beyond the mechanics, the text addresses the moral responsibility of the performer. A singer does not perform for personal vanity or easy applause, but to act as a disciplined, transparent vessel for great art, raising the audience's taste above daily miseries through selfless dedication.

Why Read It Today

This text remains an invaluable resource for vocalists, music educators, and classical music enthusiasts who want to understand the physical realities of world-class vocal technique. What sets it apart is its refusal to rely on vague metaphors; Lehmann provides concrete, anatomical descriptions of breathing, tongue placement, and resonance management. Reading it feels like sitting in an intensive masterclass with a notoriously demanding, highly observant instructor who views vocal technique as both a science and a sacred duty.

Readers should anticipate a dense, technical style focused heavily on physical mechanics, muscle control, and detailed vocal exercises. The text contains frequent anatomical references, German vocal terminology, and specific musical illustrations that require slow, deliberate reading. However, these technical demands are balanced by Lehmann's absolute clarity and passionate conviction. What remains with the reader is a deep respect for the vocal craft and a clear roadmap for building an enduring, healthy voice through disciplined practice.