Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-08-04
MUSIC IN SCHOOLS.

W c allude to 1t now. to offer a few re- I
marks upon the Idea.
, Singing in the common school is Of but
recent occurrence-So recent that we who |
have come to the estate Of manhood know I
nothing of its benefits by experience .
And it is urged by those who cling to the |.
good old way" that it is pernicious in /
novation. st distracts the attention of
scholars" say they, "takes up their time,
and units them from learning that which
is useful, necessary, and proper" We
ask the attention of these to a word or
/ two.
Singing is as much an exact science, as
/ is any other branch Of mathematics, for
it is. in reality, branch of mathema-
tics it is the measurement and combi
nation of sounds, as geometry is the meas
urcment and combination Of lines and
angles. And as a science, it is as proper
and necessary to be taught in the com
mon school, as any other science.
The notion that it is not useful sci
cncc is most sadly erroneous. There is
10 inStrumentality SO adaptable and 50
effective in soothing grief, dispclling de-
spondency, quoting excessive nervous
excitement, ami bringing the whole men
tai and nervous system into a healthy.
proper tone, when disarranged by any
sudden cause. as good muse. al are
complete slaves to its influence. 1t tamcs
the most fierce, and the most timid for
get their fear in the eager delight it gives. /
Invention has failed to contriye an in
strumcnt to soUth to rest an unGuict
child. but the mothers ''lull-a-by" is al
WAYS cilcctual And where arc the
/ children, however young, when put to
bed. so as not to disturb an evening par
! tx, but have, when song was struck up
crawlcd noisclesSly from their resting
places. and with their ears at key holes
and door cracks, have hung upon the de
| lightful sounds. and this often when their
/ very limbs have become palsied with cold
! And who ofmaturer years, when he hears
song first heard from the loved ones of
! the youthful circle but rises with tcndercr
emotions, with better feelings in his soul.
/ greater love for his kind. and with more
yirtuous resolves in his purpose
! In any aspect in which it may be view
ed, whe Their as social accomplishment
to give a zest and charm to the visiting
/ circle. Il soothcr and chcercr in times of
/ despondency, OF a health rcviviiier when
the mind and nerves have been lisarrang-
( ed music-good music--rightly under
stood, takes high rank among the useful
developments of life.
And of all kinds Of music yet discover
ed SINGING is first, best, and most eXal-
/ ted
Then, where SO fit place for it to be
/ learned and taught, as where the other
elementary sciences oflifc are learned and
+ taught?
/ The idea that it distracts attention"
/ from other uscful-m0re useful as some
may be inclined to insist-studics, we
! think very erroneous. The mind Of the
+ scholar wants to be kept in a vigorous.
eager, buoyant condition. Fit is pleased
and elighted-in harmony with itsclfand
all around tit will learn thousand fold
more rapidly and Thoroughly. than if OPP
pressed with the dis rust of monotonv and /,
/ irksomeneSs. Hence the benefit of va
riety of studies learning at the same time. /.
+ And no other variety will so cheer up
invigorate, and expand the mind, as the
+ exercise of this branch of study, when
taken up as a change. The hard. dry
studies of grammar and arithmetic will
be perused with much greater zest, after
the relief of short exercise in singing.
than before. And so on throughout. /
1t is said, too. that the Concerts given
at the close of school terms. interferes .
with the progress of studieS--that moth I
ing is thought of for weeks but the Con-
cert, practising the pieces, preparing the
parts, fixtures, and so forth. This same
objection is urged against school exhi-
billions, where orations. declarations, col /
loquys. &c, are given.
To all this we say. that any thing which E.
eXcites the keen ambition of the scholars. /
and puts them in love with their duties,
is beneficial to their whole course of stu
dies. And the good is not confined to
the school room and its particular du-
ties.
Does any one suppose that the taste
ful garniture-of the school room, which
was most splendidly done, and the beau
tiful and simple dressing Of the girls on
that occasion, will have no lasting bene-
fit Originality, Invention, Taste, Con-
structiveness, &c, were all brought into .
active requisition, and vast and lasting
good was done-they were educated in
very useful accomplishment. j
The same remark will apply to all such
and kindred efforts in schools. We ap-
prove these efforts. and think they ele-
waite the school of To-Day great way
above the school Of Yesterday.