From these axiomatic principles we deduce the very first rule for the singer and speaker,--=THINK the right tone, mentally picture it; then concentrate upon the picture, not upon the mechanism=.
WHEN IS THE VOCAL ACTION CORRECT?
There are two sound criterions for judging the correctness of vocal action,--first, the _ease_ of the action, its naturalness, its flexibility.

As Mills concisely states it: "He sings or speaks best who attains the end with the least expenditure of energy." Second, the _beauty_ of the result.

Harsh, unlovely tones are a sure indication of misplaced effort, of tension somewhere, of wrong action.

On the other hand the nearer the tones approach to perfection the closer does the organism come to correct action.

_Beauty of tone_, then, is the truest indication of proper vocal action.
Judgment as to the relative beauty of a tone depends on the training of the ear.