Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-14


XooAL Music IN Our PUBLIC ScHooLs.-At
the recent public exercises on the West Side
every one was delighted by the singing Of
the schools. The pupils showed great pro-
fciency in vocal music and the spirit and
expression with which they sang proved
well their careful and judicious training.
Mr.. W. W. Partridge, who has entire charge
of the Musical Department in the public
schools Of the city has labored under many
Disadvantages and deserves great credit for
what he has accomplished. The following
extract from bis report TO the suPerinten-
dent is of public interest.
l found the discharge Of my duties,
though more lsborious than l anticipated
quite pleasant and agreeable. The arrange
ments for giving the lessons to the classes
that were TO come together were quite good,
and attended with as little inconvenience
as possible, though in some instances a part
Of the scholars in the secondary schools
were obliged to stand during the lesson, for
want Of seats. Could q sufficient number of
seats be supplied, it would render the lesson
10 these scholars at least more interesting.
The High Schools passed through q COM
piete course of elementary instruction. go
ing through all the various .ranspositions of
the scale, and many Of the pupils became
enabled to sing tunes in all Of the different
keys, with q good degree of facility. The
Grammar Schools advanced in their eli
mentary course, as far as through two or
three transpositions of the scales, and a
goodly number acquired the ability to sing
in those keys quite readily. The Secondary
Schools progressed in elementary instruc-
ton, so as to be able, generally, TO sing ex-
ercises and tunes in the key Of G, and learn
ed, as did all the schools, a large number of
tunes.
I have examined all the manuscripts for
the musical examinations of the scholars,
which have been semitic me, and am obliged
10 state, that the general standard Of the
schools does not range as high as l antici-
pated. Perhaps the fault is somewhat my
own, caused by an over estimate OF their
musical knowledge, while making out the
questions for their examinations. / can
truly say that l think there is much more
than an ordinary degree Of musical talent
in the schools OF our city, and that by a
continued course of correct instructions in
music in them, a very large proportion Of
scholars, during their school term, will be-
come able TO read music readily with the
voice, and all in q greater or less degree,
share in the healthful, refining, andelevat-
ing ;nau nee Of music upon the body and
mind, and lead both the scholars INC pat
rops of our schools, duly TO appreciate the
advantages Of a musical education, and es-
pecially of pursuing those studies by which
it is acquired, II connection with those of
other departments of education
Under the arrangements for mutual in
siruetion last year, the Primary Schools de-
rived no benefit from the singing lessons,
save in a few instances where they Joined
the ~Secondaries, and I would recommend,
that if consistent, where the teacher of the
Primary school is a singer, she attended the
Secondary School 10 learn the tunes and
sing them with her own school; where she
is not, that she selects four or more Of the
best singers and send them into the Second
ary School, (where there is room sduring
the singing lesson, to learn the tunes, and
sing them in their respective schools In
this way the Primaries may derive some
benefit IRON the singing lessons. 1 think it
desirable TO divide the East High School into
two singing classes the first, or A class to
consist Of those who can read music in the
different keys somewhat readily, and the
second or B class-those who cannot do 80
as readily. By such an arrangement, each
class might progress according to its own
ability, without interfering with the other.