Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-04-07
PoF tbs UrbaRA Union.
NUDEC.
20. ".

will now consider the importance of
vocal music. Ny experience has been
that in no way can any one obtain SO
good an idea Of instrumental music as
by learning TO sing. -......
That greatest Of instruments, the hu.
man voice is the prototype OF all others,
Every one who aspires to perform well
on any instrument, should learn to sing.
By singing good songs even those OF
an easy though expressive character,
one learns to give that expression so in
dispensible to all musical performance.
It may be objected, that all persons can
not be taught to sing. This emphatic
ally deny, for in all my experience as a
! teacher, I have never found one that
could not learn to sing. I do not mean
to say that all can become accomplished
OF artistic singers, but I do mean that
have never had a pupil who could not be
taught to sing well enough to joinp, leas-
antly to themselves and others, in con-
gregRtional or social singing, and even
to sing alone for their own amusementOr
that Of their friends.
Many years ago, a young orphan girl
was placed under nay instruction by her
guardian to be taught singing. He said
it was almost a hopeless case as two
teachers had already failed with her,
but if did not succeed I should be paid
all the same. In less than two months
she sang Handel's "Angels ever bright
and fairD in the church during the cell
ebration Of mass.
Twenty years ago I commenced teach
ing young pupil music, and when in
sisted that she should learn singing, her
parents and relations laughed at the
Absurdity, as they were convinced she
could never sing. In a few months she
sang easy songs in a correct manner and
at Soiree, she sang with me two Duets,
carrying her own part. told the audit
ors who were mostly acquaintance ofthe
young lady, that there was proof that
any one could be taught to sing as most
Of them knew that six months before
she could not sing at all. Some invited
guests, who were strangers disputed my
statement in the hearing of her father
who informed them that I was wrong
IN only one part Of my statement and
that was the time, it having been only
five months since she began. Neither
Of these young ladies could initiate cor
rectlyA single sound Of the scale when /
they commenced.
A little girl from the South was sent
to the school where 1 was then teaching
who had lost the use Of her voice by
sickness. 1t seemed almost hopeless to
try to teach her singing as she could not
speak above a whisper, bnt by persever-
ance and the influence Of one voice upon
another, in less than ten months her
voice was restored, for which received
the grateful acknowledgement of de-
lighted parent.
I had another case Of the same kind,
but was only partially successful in res
toring the voice, which l attributed
to the young lady's general
deficiency in mental calibre, for in this
as in all other studies much depends on
the energy and industry of the learner.
In an apartment near my music room, II
dwelt an old lady nearly sixty who was
very deaf and almost dumb; I say al
most FOR she talked only by motions
when was singing with /
my pupils, she would come to the ms, |
md seem to listen with great pleasure,
and would say in a faint whisper "pret-
.y, pretty" II she had been sixteen
instead sixty, would willingly have
attempted to teach her to sing, and be- f
ieve l should have succeeded. So I q
repeat that every one should learn to |
ling who wishes to he good performer =
1n any instrument. Music like language +
3 made up Of sentences, therefore the r
angusge Of words must go with the Ian c
yuage Of music, hence, the necessity Of :
earning both in connection. 1t is the
anguage sung, or the sentiment ofthat
anguRge, that gives pathos and eX- +
'FessiOn to the performance, and with I
nut this It becomes merely mechanical. 2