Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-10-10
M-ISCEILANY Y.
To the Editor Of the Bellows Falls Times.
Musical Education of Women.

| Musi, al education seems TO be fir, quently
considered among American women merely
as species Of fashionable Establishment
of no real value further than as il may serve
to crafty personal vanity occasionally, or
contribute, by some train of accidents, to a
matrimonial alliance. With the consumma-
ton Of this latter event, many appear TO
lhirk the legitimate object of musical ac-
4 quirement ends. The harp, guitar, or pi-
ano-iorte are usually after marriage allowed
10 rust out in silence, except as some strang-
er hand may now and then awaken their
chords. Even the roice of the bride or
young mother is suffered to take eternal
leave Of that discipline, which preserved 10
its maiden tones the power to hold listen
ing circle spell-bound. In her new home
| il is seldom heard, save in lullabies, or in
indicating the listlessness Of her occasional
hours of solitude. She is, in short, taking
the usual course to divert her future fire.
side Of its conservative influence prepara,
tory to her realizing, in common with thous-
ands of other American wives and mothers,
the sweets Of sitting solitary during the
long winter evenings, while the husband
Iand The sons are in quest Of recreation else
where, from The tolls or the studies of the
| day.
This. with some happy exceptions, is the
usual destiny o. whatever Of practical ac-
quirement may be engrafted on the musical
talents of our countrywomen. What WON
der, then, that the music teacher finds it
difficult to obtain the necessary amount of
the right kind of practice from his female
pupils With this low view of the objects
Of musical requirement, what daughter will
submit TO, or what mamma favor the devot-
ing of two or three hours per day. for a
term of five or six years, to the practice of
the piano-forie, or the education OF the voice
or the tastes
A time" or two, acquired by rote, will
accomplish all the purposes. they contem-
plate in a musical education and the teach
er who will not countenance this estimate
of the subject, is dismissed to make room
for some musical quack; which creatures
are by such means multiplied.
In consequence of this short-sighted APP
prehension OF the use and influence of mus
ca requirements, few of our countrywom-
e. attain that proficiency in the art which
can command the voluntary attention of a
mixed company. Though many get
smattering in this direction, yet few Amer
lean homes afford any irresistible attrac-
ton in the form of music.--and few Amer
lean children, Of either sex, are submitted
TO lis soltening, humanizng, and refining
influences. That musical impressibIity,
with which they are as much endowed by
the Creator as the children of any other
clime--as a visit TO any F" Infant School
can ndetermine-frequently finds nothing in
surrounding circumstances to call it into
pervading action. The noise that proceeds
from tasteless and diseordant singing, or the
unieeling hammering of piano-forte strings.
fails to unlock that fountain of musical taste
which is as latent, for instance, with tue
American lad. as with the boys Of other
continents; as his correctly intoned whist
ling of any popular melody abubdantly
proves.
What wonder, therefore, if under such
circumstances, our countrymen and women
grow up in the comparative neglect of an
art which is the aliment of one of the most
important ingredients in human organiza-
ton? What wonder, that in such multi
tude of instances, home is SO pewefless in
retaining those who, TO satisfy the cravings
for some barmonizing aud tranquilizing in
auence, seek employmenfs which blunt the /
sensibililies, or destroy the moral percep- |
tions? How different would be the result 1
did American mothers place deeper esii- !
mate on the objects of musical education !;
did they consider its varied and permanent |
utility, and its consonance with the con-
struction of our physical and mental organ.
ism. Then would they anxiously submit
their offspring. as early as practicable, 70
the most critical, thorough, and comprehen-
sive musical discipline such as would not
only render them appreciative and eloquent