American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-11
For the American Republican,
MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC SHOOTS.

JheSSTS' EutIOFS:-AS we are aUOuI W give
some public entertainments by the musical de-
partment of the schools, it may be regarded a
proper time for giving our citizens short &C
count of this branch of our public school sys-
tenn. To do so, the usual clemency Of the city
press must be put in requisition; and sense
of justice compels US here to assert, that very
much Of our present success is the result of the
favorable notice taken of our music, from time
to time, by the papers. The only return we
have at hand is TO return, for more favors.
A brief history from the first will be the best
method of presenting the subject. Some three
years since the propriety of introducing music
into the public schools was considered by the
Board of commissioners, but there appeared to
be too many embarrassments connected with it
10 meet their approval but as there Appeared
to be teacher of music already in their en-
ploy, permission was given him to form private
classes in the schools at cheap tuition, and at
such hours as might not interfere with the re-
gular sessions. The experiment proved so sue
cesstul and satisfactory to the pupils and pa
irons, that in August last, twelve months, our
enterprising Board resolved to incorporate ma-
steal instruction among the regular branches OF
study. The musical teacher was therefore re-
moved, at the same salary, from his place as
assistant IN No. |, and appointed to the musi-
cal department, with general instructions to
give his whole time to vocal music in all the
schools. The number ofdivisions, (then seuen-
teen, now nineteen, male and female presented
a rather torbidding prospect to a single teacher;
but upon close arrangement, it was found
that two ha[f-ho lessons week could be
given to each division, with time TO pass from
school to school. We have endeavored to keep
in progress regular course of Elementary and
Practical Singing. One half Of each lesson
has usually been devoted to rudmental exerci-
ses and the other to the culture of the voice in
singing. 1t has been found best to alternate
from time to time, by'giving at first series of
lessons to the whole division, conducted stimuli
taneousy; and afterwards by taking only the
older pupils out for individual recitation, in or
der to insure personal attention to the rudi-
ments, which cannot be determined en- masse.
Our progress is perhaps slow, but we are deter
mined to estimate our proficiency by our elc-
mentary attainments-and it is presumed that
the first classes are generally able to sustain
respectable examination. The songs practiced
have been selected with great care, to avoid
immoral levity on the one hand, and sectaran
preferences on the other. Indeed by far the
greater number are designed to inculcate sem
timents of filial duty, love to country, due re-
gard to authority, integrity, industry, charity
social obligations, SIC. Thus, patrons may be
assured that no hurtful impressions are more
likely to be imbbed from the musical than from
other studies We hope, therefore, that the
friends of popular education will keep a steady
eye to the music in the Public Schools. They
can but foresee the advantage that must iii
short time accrue to every branch of music,
both sacred and secular, from the constant, tho
slow training of 5000 youth in our city. In
deed, juvenile exhibitions, excursions, sc. have
of late derived much of their music from tho
instructions in the Public Schools. We trust,
then, that our friends will readily perceive that
any encouragement they can afford, by their
presence, at our Concerts, will be far more
consistently bestowed than that which is so
often impaired to strangers who crafty us
for an hour, and then indtferently HE away,
exorbitantly paid, and leave no trace of perma-
nent good behind them. IA.
We we're at the othor concerts honoured by
the presence of the head and members general
ly of the city government, together with a
crowd of our respected citizens, and we hope
to be not less favored in future. Our object in
these public entertainments being the gratiiica-
ton of our friends, we hope to excite the same
satisfaction again on their part, as was apparent
before. W.