Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-09-05
ICOmmunicaLed.l

ICommunicatedl
II has been looked upon as a matter Of doubt,
in this country al least, whether children could
be taught 10 sing. with the same ease as they
could be taugh, to read. Many intelligent per-
sons can still be found who will sloutly affirm
lha, the thing is not possible. But theory must
give way TO facts, after all. When we see a
thing done, we know i, can be done Anoma-
lous cases there no doubt are, where an invin.
chile napli,ude exists 10 the perception of har-
mony of sounds; bu, those cases are perhaps
as rare as the want of power TO appreciate COL
ors or odors. The experiment now making
pretty extensively in our country will settle the
question iha, children can be instructed, not
merely TO sing by ro,e, but TO sing by rule with
lolerabe understanding of the rudiments. We
do moi wish TO be understood TO say that all
have the same degree of apiness TO learn music,
because this is manifesly untrue. About the
same diversity is observable here as in relation
to other things. Some must learn by slow and
painful degrees; others catch the art as by in
tuition, and stride onward TO excellence, appa-
renily wilhou. effort l, is just so in obtaining
knowledge in the ordinary branches of educa
ton. But what we wish TO say is lhis that
knowledge of music does not descend upon a
favored few, here and there, without any thing
TO be done on their part; but that it may be i'm
parted 10 nearly all, with about the same facili-
ly with the ar, Of reading or of arithmetic
These thoughts have been suggested by wit
Messing the performances, on Thursday the
29h ult., of the Juvenile Class of Stroudsburg,
under the care of Mr. J. S. P. FoUsT, of this
place. The large hall of the Academy had
been tas,efully decorated for the occasion, on
the day previous, by the ladies OF Stroudsburg,
assisted by The gentlemen; and upon a stage in
front of the audience the group of children, with
faces beaming with joy, took their station. A,
4 o'clock, P. M. the exercises commenced,
which were continued for two hours and half.
The juvenile performance was relieved at times
by the adul: class, under the same very excel
rem IhSiucioI anu diso ny Soiile llHe lHSiIu-
mental exercises.
1t could moi be otherwise than highly pleas
ing 10 listen TO the animated and orderly sing
ing Of some 40 or so children from years old
up TO l2 or Ia. Six months ago these same
children could no, have sung the scale; yet at
the concert on Thursday they sang some pieces,
by no means Ike easiest that might have been
selected, in style and with an expression and
a correctness that reflected much credit on
them, and especially on their talented teacher
From this time we shall know that children
may be taught this delightful art, as well as
adults. And why not Il is about as much an
exercise of The judgement 10 learn TO sing, as to
learn 10 read, and no more. The inference is,
that the two branches should be taught at the
same period, that is in youth. To this conclu-
sion some nations have already arrived-Ger-
many and Prussia for instance. There, vocal
music is branch TO be learned in the primary
school. So il should be in our country-so it
already is in many of The schools in the New
England states, and in New York so il should
be in all. And this valuable end may be at.
tanned under competent instructors, without the
least deiriment 10 the studies now pursued in
our common schools. Indeed, our ablesl and
most essiul teachers. as for instance Wood