Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-03-19
For the Chronicle.
PLANO FORTE PLAYING-No. I.

nectS, are very commonly entertained
y well meaning and otherwise very in
elligent parents, relative TO the cultiva-
ion of the beautiful and ennobling art Of
iano playing in their families. 1st- That
heir children are too young to attend to
at all until tLey have attained quite
nature age, say twelve, fifteen, eighteen
md even tweRty years, and thus they
must nearly complete their education in
,ther respects, Housekeeping included)
before they commence music I'd, that
4 very Indifferent and often times
wretchedly poor instrument will do to
earn on; Sd, and rather the most bane-
full in it, effect of the three mistakes.
that poor teacher. one knowing next
to nothing about it, twill answer very
well to give the first lessons" The in
variable and inevitable result Of such a
policy is, that the pupils, of whom great
things were expected, obtain merely
smattering of the art, just enough to
be known as making some pretensiens.
and Just enough to cause notification
and embarrassment to themselves and
disappointment to their friends, when
ever they are coerced into an attempt at
playing. The conclusion then is, that
the children were not possessed Of sufi-
cient talent 10 ever render them skillful;
whereas, had judicious course been
adopted from the beginning. with but
little or no greater expenditure Of time
and money. they might have attained
degree of skill that would have proved
a source of the truest pleasure and graft
6cation to themselves and their whole
circle Of acquaintance during their life
time. Now let US expirin why the three
ideas first mentioned, are mistakes
First, when a child has reached the age
of twelve years, and over, the joints
and muscles of the fingers become more
and more fixed and incapable Of spright-
illness and hex:bility so indispensable in
good playing. The mind is then more
occupied with other things. and the re-
quisile application is almost an 'mPossi-
bility second, the use Of a poor instru-
ment, besides being decidedly unattrac
tive to the pupil, greatly injuries and
sometimes ruins the ear, as the tone is
always more or less incorrect. 1t also
nearly ruins the touch Of the performer.
as the action of the keys is very imper-
feet The third point. it seems to me,
hardly needs comment. Consider for
moment how important is good and thor
ough instruction in the commencement
of every art and science, and you will
certainly conclude that it must be mere
important here than in almost anything
else, from the fact that piano playing
consists in the acquired habits of years.
and ten years severe labor would hardly
suffice, to entirely counteract the lnjurl-
Gus effects of one years superficial and
incorrect training. / will now give in a
condensed statement, the modus ope
randi invariably recommended by the
most distinguished and successful pro-
fessors and teachers, as the only method
of acquiring the degree of proficiency SO
much to be desired. The child should
commence as soon after it is five yeals
old, as circumstances will permit, and
BY no means delay it after the age Of
eight years. True it is often said, and
that With reason, that too early applica-
ton is injurious to the child, and is no
benefit in the end but such a result is
not necessary. Application. amounting
to anything like fatigue or irksomeness.
should. in this, as in all other branches
Of education, be avoided, because, in chill
dren so young, it not only begets dis
taste for the study, but frequently In
lures both mind and body. The time
that is devoted to it at the commence
ment, should be determined BY the incli-
nation and strength Of the child. Let
parents BY no means lose sight Of the
fact, that from the age Of to 12 years,
even fifteen minutes careful practice
every day, will be of incalculable bene-
st. That much time, and usually much
more, will be willingly devoted 10 il By
any child, if the right course ispursued.
and would be considered as most pleas
ant recreation and amusement. Com
sencing thus early. it need not interfere
with other studies. The reason why it
has sometimes (as we hear parents say
been detriment to other studies, is be
;ause the piano was not commenced un-
il the child had reached an age when il
'equired 2 or hours Of hand labor to
accomplish what might have easily been
lone in half an hour when the hands
we're soft and pliable. Understand mo
low, as referring only 10 the execution.
The theory could be learned as well
II even better by an adult; but of what
lse would be the theory without the a5;l-
ty to execute? In my next, L propose
o consider the best method ofimparing
10 very young pupils, the
qualifications requisite in teacher, the
qualities tc be sought for IN piano, and
he probable expense ofthe whole. e
AWArr-rp