The aim of this book is to provide singers and teachers with a scientifically exact basis from which to work directly and objectively on the physical elements responsible for the production of the singing voice.

The main argument is simple: the authors contend that man as a species is designed by nature to sing, and that every normal human being is equipped with a mechanism whose purpose is produce beauty in sound.

In the great days of bel canto, teachers had no 'scientific knowledge, but they were closer to nature; their ears could still 'hear'; their feeling for natural, physiological laws were unspoiled; they 'knew' how to work, and thus they produced innumerable singers able to perform vocal feats considered impossible today.

Since this book first appeared twenty-seven years ago teachers have found it much simpler to work directly on developing a voice, although it still takes time to achieve what used to be quite normal over a hundred years ago. This book does not present a miraculous new 'method', but is a highly successful attempt to combine the findings of modern science with the old traditions of teaching.