Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-16
Music In the Public schools.

The more we reflect upon this inter
esting subject the greater Importance 1t
assumes. There are many advantages
to be gained if the instruction impaired
be based upon some principles OF art and
| science. The greatest of these, as re-
! lating to US as nation, is physical de-
velopment and strength, for our too
sedentary habits lead to a condition Of
of want Of health which may be relieved,
if not entirely ayerted, by proper use Of
the vocal apparatus. Advisedly We use
and italicise the word proper" for if
the training of the voice is attempted by
quacks or ignorant persons the most
serious p&ysieal injury must result to
the pupil. Madame Fodor, a renowned
prima donna, in her retirement writing
| to a friend says that after three years
improper instruction she lost not only
her voice, but her health also, which
we're only partially restored by entire
| rest and extreme care. She was forced
to quit the stage at the most brilliant
moment Of her career from this cause.
We viii not multiply such evidence, al
though abundant and ready to our hand.
The human voice has divisions which,
among ae best writers and educated
professors, are designated as registers
The knowledge of their compass, limits
and peculiarities is necessary to q safe
treatment of the voice and preservation
of health. Says an eminent authority,
writing on this subject: BY the proper
use Of these registers, singing becomes
the most healthy exercise of the lungs.
The improper use of them produces con-
Aary effects. To prevent other fatal re-
y It's through mismanagement in the art
/ of singing, We would remark that not
every individual has lungs capable Of
short respiration and long respiration,
as required in singing and in elocutiOn.
Now, many persons take these regis
tiers naturally, and there are some such
who have become eminent without any
knowledge of them, or even Of the ele-
ments Of music. We might mention the
| names of two cantatriei well known to
| fame, Angelica Catalani and Elena 4 An
gri Let TAN suffice, but there are
many others and some writer's believe
that the natural tendency, if left alone,
is to take the registers correctly, but
that false teachers lead their pupils
astray by directions which are contrary
TO art and science. Porpora and the
other masters Of the old Italian school
understood how to develop and preserve
the human voice, even TO an advanced
age. Thus, Farinelli, at the age OF
eighty Cafarelli, at eighty-one La
TOdi, at sixty-two; Braham, at sixty
the elder Davide, at eigbty-one Sontag,
at fifty, preserved their voices.
The experience and practice Of these
old masters of this great school Of the
golden age Of vocal music have been
confirmed by scientific experiments Of a
most useful character within few years.
Manuel Garcia, by means Of the laryn-
goscope, has obtained some interesting
facts by observing the vocal apparatus
in action. DR. HeLmhoItz, of Heidel-
berg, has recently made some careful
experiments upon the larynx, as removed
from a dead subject, and thus reproduced
the sounds Of the human voice. Others
have amplifed and extended these re-
suits, but still nothing yet discovered
disturbs the propriety and correctness Of
the long established rules Of the old TIA
Ian school, and for this We are grateful
that there is something tangible, truth
ful and certain on which we can fall back
and the confusion produced by ignorance
and empiricism.
! Not to extend our remarks to an IN
due length, nor become lost in the mas
Of scientific experiments, let US not
however, close our eyes to a danger
/ which does exist, not in Imagination, bu
, in fact, nd, knowing it, let US take suci
precautionary steps as to escape it. lie
US. by all means, have vocal music in tn,
schools, and, by deEiberation and ex
animation, let US hope to reach the hap
piest results. The first step to be takel
, is the selection Of competent teachers
Those entrusted with the training anC
} development Of the voices Of the childrel
Of our city must be thorough musicians
not mere skimmers, who can force out 8
few notes, and those imperfect, but know
nothing of the higher elements Of thei
art. If thing is '' worth doing, it i
worth doing well " and as music is to b.
taught in the public schools, let it b
I taught in a proper manner-for tn
: benefit Of the masses-and not as a mean
1 Of affor6ing livings for half score o
additional drones in the educational hive
To reach the desired point, care shoul'
/ be taken in selecting the professors
=. who are to conduct the examination 0
: teachers. If a mistake Is made at tn
foundation point, the whole struetur
. will be faulty and imperfect. There ar
{ men in. this city claiming to be pro
4 fessors Of music" who know no more 0
: the higher branches Of their art, such q
!, are indicated in this article, thar they d
q Of the history Of the lost tribes"
such be selected to examine teachers, Q
4 course the whole affair will be fare
Il and failure, and the system introduce
into the public schools viii eomman
4 neither the respect nor the support {
: intelligent persons. As sincere friend
of the use Of music in our schools v
f speak thus plainly to the Board Of Con
s trollers at the outset Of the system
:. Better start right than have to retra'
e our steps.
= 1t is said that the whole populatiC
Of San Domingo, from the Presidei
. down, are in favor ofannexation
-" White Pine Billy" is now cuttlI
: great swell in San Francisco. u
= expenditures Of money equal those
the once renowned " Coal Oil Tommy
ii Black balling is SO prevalent in Il
= London clubs that no new members ca
= get in, and a general meeting Is to
! held to remedy the matter.
T,-n saoa1iny members of a chur,