Diary of Jaco Pieterse
Selected Quotes for Singers

Every sportsman and artist knows that the secret to success lies in the mind, more than anywhere else. In order to study, refine and control the thinking process which underlies success, keeping a diary or journal can be extremely helpful. Every student should be encouraged to record each day's thoughts and experiences on paper. That way it is possible to go back later and search for patterns, faults and strengths by looking at the past. Or simply to become encouraged and motivated by seeing how progress has come despite occasional periods of hardship. Jaco Pieterse kept a diary during his time with Professor Feuchtinger and in it he recorded many helpful thoughts. Some were direct teachings of Feuchtinger which have never been printed elsewhere. These tips are still as valid and helpful today as they had been in 1967.

Jaco Pieterse's Voice Training Diary from 1967

Following are short extracts from Jaco Pieterse’s diary:

“He [Feuchtinger] is the best voice teacher alive, but that is where it stops. Beyond that I have to decide myself what is right and what is wrong.” 19 October 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“When I hum a falsetto I must have a picture in my mind of the uvula which contracts as I go higher. This works very well in order to bring in the top.” October 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“The old method which I have used my whole life to sing was 88% correct and would have been 100% correct if I had learnt to bring in my palate in stead of my larynx. When I count in falsetto it must never be very high.” October 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“When the full voice is not functioning correctly I must correct the position in falsetto and then come down until it falls into a full voice spontaneously. The action is almost as if you are biting and when it is done lightly the falsetto voice finds and holds the top more quickly.” October 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“You just sing and act what you are and you will be a hit. Anything else will be a strain and will not work well. Be yourself. Don’t think you are something you are not.” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“I have to practice a lot every day. The songs I sing have to be exercised a lot, not with the words, but how to feel and sing the song well. Nothing should be sung which is too difficult for me. My voice works well up to B flat and I must go no higher at this time. I can go higher in scales, but not in songs until my voice has developed enough and is strong enough.” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“I find that as soon as I get tired I get pinched in the throat. This habit of mine could draw me back very far if I continue with it. Accordingly, when I practice I have to concentrate especially on the falsetto voice.” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“The exercise I must use the most in the beginning is the falsetto hum and counting. From this onwards I have to work in my full voice on the AEIOU until it is strong. Nothing else is correct or will work. The only thing which my voice needs is the top. When I sing without it I am putting myself back many weeks.” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“Thumb in the mouth against the soft palate and suck the palate down (thousands at a time).” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“Every singer who doesn’t succeed becomes ill and uses that as an excuse for why he cannot sing.” 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Mobile, Alabama.

“If you want to become a piano player or play the violin or any other instrument, you will have to practice many hours every day. The same is true if you want to become a singer. You have to practice several hours every day and continue with that for your whole life.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 16 October 1967.

“The 3 point exercise is that the tongue grooves, uvula contracts, arches close, palate holds down and make a whisper sound—all at the same time. When you do all these things right, you have the whole secret of singing. Then you just have to build it up until it becomes a habit to sing like this. And you are in business. –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 11 October 1967.

“Unless a singer naturally has the right action, it will take a long time, or might never happen that he will sing completely correctly. With the right action the voice grows very quickly, but when you are trying to achieve something different you develop problems or lose the voice. There is only one correct way to sing.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 11 October 1967.

“I have to count thousands every day in a falsetto voice. Very softly and without forcing it.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 18 October 1967.

“Whether you sing soft or loud, it takes the same action and strength. Think the pitch and not the sound. When you think pitch you have got the action coming in all by itself and not vica verca. If you think sound you lose pitch and you have got nothing.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 11 October 1967.

“When counting in falsetto I must sometimes jump from a very high note to a very low note. That will show how good the position is.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 11 October 1967.

“As an exercise it is a good idea to press in front of the ears with the fingers where the jawbone hinges and then to hum the vowels while running through the vowels. Especially the ‘E’ up and the ‘I’ down.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 9 October 1967.

“Take a breath and hold it and then hum. The pressure is from the top down. The palette sits first and then the sound. Never vica versa.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 6 October 1967.

“I think that to be a singer is one of the most ungrateful undertakings that exists. If you succeed you are supposedly born to sing and if you flop then you have always been a flop, no matter how good or bad your voice is. I am sorry that I every chose singing as a career.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 30 September 1967.

“This is an important note: the practicing in falsetto with the thumb on the soft palette is the best to exercise the voice. This must be done at least a couple of thousand times per day and as it becomes more comfortable the thumb must be eliminated and one must continue counting in the same position, while later singing in the same position. Anything else is wrong.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 27 September 1967.

“The two fingers in the mouth helps to eliminate the chin and to let the tongue work. The fingers must be inserted between the teeth and not in the mouth. You must not bite onto the fingers.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 27 September 1967.

“Today’s lesson was hard because my palette would not work correctly. Feuchtinger said this is because I have been listening to records. He says this is the third time that my voice has acted like this and each time it has been after I had been listening to records. He is entire correct when he says this. I am still trying to form my sound and because of the fact that my voice is not working completely correctly I am immediately kicking out my palette and in doing this I’m throwing myself back a lesson or two. I am definitely not going to listen to records again until I have realized my own sound and have learnt to use it correctly.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 24 September 1967.

“If you want to become an opera singer you have to learn to live like a singer. You have to get enough rest and not waste your time with unnecessary excursions or amusement. Rather devote yourself to the study of rolls which you may one day perform.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“The full voice is exactly at the same place where the falsetto is and it must be assisted to grow there. Then alone will the voice grow to something. Anything else is wrong and not natural. A singer must be natural.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“In order to allow a voice to grow normally and correctly the I sound must be used as a foundation and the other notes must then be formed in the same position as the ‘I’” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“The larynx must not move up or down when singing. It must remain in the normal position of breathing.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“An opera singer must always feel that the stomach muscles tightend when singing. It must not be tightened without sound, but at the same time when the sound has left the mouth, this tension should remain.” This action should not be forced. It must be natural.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“In all my time in Italy I learnt nothing about how to improve my voice, but I did learn what not to do. The only thing that the teachers knew was how to make the voice something it isn’t and this is everything that doesn’t work. They know nothing.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“I am now learning for the first time in my life how a voice works and what causes it to work. My previous notes were close, but not close enough. My big and only fault which I have is balance. All the parts of the voice are a chain and it is only as strong as the weakest link. My weakest link was my palate which goes up instead of remaining at the same place, and which provides the spot where the vocal cords must find their support. Feuchtinger is not one who says much but with the last lesson he once looked and me and laughed. He said I’m one of the few people who manages to get it right quickly.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“How long it will take I don’t know, but that my voice is going to come right is certain.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa 24 September 1967.

“I am finding that my voice is changing a lot. Feuchtinger says that the sound only changes for my own years. One thing is certain, and this is that it is richer and stronger and more comfortable.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 13 September 1967.

“I find that when I am singing towards the point of my nose the sound works correctly. In other words I think that when the sound comes from the point of my nose and not from the mouth it helps my palate to kick fast and the uvula to contract away. I’m learning that this sounds a lot like Donald Duck but I like it.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 13 September 1967.

“I noticed today that when the uvula contracts the eyelids move towards each other. This is an automatic action and it should be this way.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, circa September 1967.

“I have to do much exercising with the thumb in the mouth because it is very important that I form the ‘I’ correctly and in the same position as the ‘A’ and the ‘O’. I must also remember that it must be done without the lips.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 11 October 1967.

“A very good exercise for the uvula is to count in falsetto while the thumb or any other finger is inserted between the teeth. One may not bite onto the finger. The jaw must remain still and the tongue must do all the work.” –Jaco Pieterse recorded in his diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama, 3 October 1967.

“I shall have to practice every day for the rest of my life as I’m doing now in order to sing like I must. It takes much exercising to achieve the desired effect. Today’s lesson: 35 minutes.” 11 October 1967. Jaco Pieterse diary, Feuchtinger House, Mobile, Alabama.