The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-28
COMMUNICATED.
MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

IN 1HE IUBLlC SCuOOLS.
Aessrs. Editors; As an ardent sympathzer with
your unfaltering devotion to the cause of munich
pal reform, permit me to venture to enlist your aid
In matter OF educational REFORM the necessity for
which seems to be but feeby appreciated by our
citizens generally. refer to the Importance of a
sound and thorough system of musical culture in
our Public Schools. Now, although | do not in
tend either to provoke or maintain discussion as
to the comparative merits of the system of teach
ing therein adopted, do assert and defy the sue.
cessful contradiction of the fact, that after an ex
perlence of twenty years the results of such tuition
are barren to most deplorable degree. In pro
portion to the immense number of pupils who have
graduated with high honor in other branches of
learning and accomplishment, the number vino
nave evInced the most ordinary acquaintance with
the cardinal principles of music has been so ex-
ceedlngy limited, that the fact is beginning to at
tract publc attention. In city of a quarter of a
million oil people, in this era of progress in learning
and art, and in the presence of the undeniable
truth that thousands have been nominay taught
music in the Public Schools for a period which.
judging from its fruifulness in coordinate branch
es OF education, should have given US thousands of
Well-traned readers and skilful vocalists we have
the mortItying spectacle of a city which, in musical
knowledge and correct taste, has actually retro
graded In the last decade. city which, with the
large number OF scholars who every year finish
cannot
really supply singers for the exceedingly simple
purposes OF church psalmody. Now, Messrs Edi-
tors, without desiring unjustly to arraign the
worthy gentlemen who have always composed the
Board OF Commissioners of Public Schools, do
assert that, in my humble opinion, they have indi
recty contributed to this result BY not thoroughly
approaching the Importance of an orthodox system
OF musical tuition as branch of education This
cause, however, is only secondary. The immediate
fault must be sought for in one or the other of the
following hypothesis: The inadequacy of the sys.
tenn the inetciency of the teachers or the stupid-
ity of the pupils. To suppose that the last is true
would not only be a libel upon American children
generally, but would be in direct antagonsm 70 the
convictions of the large and highly respectable
audience which attended the performances of the
youthful band of musicians from the House of Re-
luge at the Maryland Institute on the evening of
Thursday last. That mere children shouId after
the brief period of fifteen months tuition. be cana
Die OF performing in the presence of d;scriminat
ing audience of $500 persons, with such precision
steadness OF time and correctness of information the
dilcult trio from Lucrezia Borgia, is, to saw the
least OF 1t, conclusive evidence against their ren
eral want OF musical capacity and would also seem
10 claim Tor both system and teacher the favorable
regard OF all who truly value the extension of mu-
seal knowledge 1t is this dissemination which
most earnestly advocate, and in behalf of which |
nave thus ventured to solicit your valuable sympa
thy. a, ~ n,p"-
Baltimore, February q, 1861