Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-21
From the New York Musical Review Gazette.
At what Age should instruction in Oca
Music Commenced

CHILD should be trained to tones or musical
sounds, as he is to words, from early infancy. He
should be taught first, to listen to tones, either
vocal or instrumental or both, and afterwards to
produce tones. The most simple little melodies,
chaste and beautiful united to pure and appropriate
words in poetic form, should be ught by the
pattern of the mothers or teachers voice; or, as
we often express it, by rote. If this is successful
continued until the child is eight years old, he will
by that time sing readily, as easily, and with as
much accuracy, as he speaks; and then he may
commence learning to read music, or may acquire
prstical knowledge OF the musical signs. or OF
notatons. In the mean time, much attention should
be given to taste both in respect to the delivery OF
tones and of words. That which is usually called
expression should receive careful attention from
the first lessons of childhood. Care must be taken
to treat the voice according to the physical strength
of the pupil, but there should be regular daily
practice. The child should never sing when
fstigued, or Immediately after eating In short, the
voice should be used under the guidance Of common
sense, with the addition of a little physiological
experience, so as to avoid too much effort, by any
attempt to force il up or down. At the age Of 10
or l6, the voice changes: when the change has
passed, the vocal exercises may be gradually taxed
more severey;i the pupil has extraordinary talent,
or remarkably fine voice and especially if there be
an intention TO become u professional vocalist, or
public singer now is the time TO aim directly at
the full development Of the vocal powers. Two or
thr ee years OF close application will now do much
for the pupil, so that, at the age OF about 90
young lady may be, in the professional sense sin
ger. IT. however, the profession OF a singer is not
intended year devoted TO vocal cultivation (after
the previous Juvenile training mentioned above)
will be quite sufficient for ali the domestic and social
purposes Of song.
It is very common error TO suppose that a
child will be injured by the use of her voice in
singing; il is just as reasonable 20 say that
she will injure her eyes by looking, or her limbs
by walking or especially by dancing There il no
danger in the use Of the voice in singing ut any
time, from four years Of age up to full growth,
provided the condition OF the child be taken inIo
consideration and hsr efforts always KEEP. with.
in the bounds Of prudence, adapted TO the
health, strength, etc, OF the pupil An impor-
tant consideration in favor of teaching vocal music
to misses Is this it prepares them tor the piano
forte. No one ought ever TO commence the piano
forte unless she has acquired knosledge Of the
musical Oh Grscters previously, by attending sing.
ing school or class. instructions be able 70
read easy music readily at sight; or if it be desired
in particular cases to commence the plAno-forte at
q very early age, the two things should be carried
on simultaneously We do not mean, however to say,
,hsI If ID be desirable 20 teach child the insr,u.
ment without reference 10 cost il may not be well
done without the previous knowledge OF notation;
yet there things in music for example. Iia.e,
which cannot be 20 we'll taught Individually as
in classes On the other hand il is true that csss
instruction, either in vocal or instrumental music
is nos sufficient for who desires 10 excel il pre-
pares thewsy, bus individual instruction must toll
low. On the whole, the idea that IL will inure
child TO sing is foolish one; We might with just
as much propriesy say that ii viii inure child to
laugh. But, as in extreme cases, children have
been injured by severe laughing, or by severve
protracted physical exercise IN playing, one may
may ipjure her voice by an Incorporate use Of IT,
Most certain IL is that exceps 10 extraordinary ca
ses II one does not commence singing in childhood
she Sill never do much Af.erwsrd. II one has not
been taught TO use her voice freely in singing
while yet child, she viii not in all probability,
ever acquire much control Of her vocal organs.
fW We are suthorfsed 10 Announce JOHN X HDN0ND-