The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-03
The Piano--Female Education.

A new work on music by DR.. II. r.
HAYES, of London, besides interesting cri-
ticisms, biography, and history, gives some
account Of musical education in England that
brings out points not unlike some which
characterize the study Of music in the United
States. In referring to some facts stated in
this book, we were surprised at the vast an
nual sales Of pianos in Great Britain. In
twenty years BKoADwooD, of London, has
sold 1858 pianos, and CoLLARD $4,000.
About 10000 are annually issued from the
manufactures of the Kingdom, whilst about
10000 foreign-made are yearly imported.
The writer estimates that about 400, 900 pianos
are now in use in the British Islands. What
world Of banging is here. A gentleman
recently explained the meaning of "forte"
in the name of the instrument by remarking
that it meant fortitude: the piano so pa
tiently submitting to the incessant humping
to which it is subjected.
We have no means of cenjecturing the
number of pianos in the United States, but
the value of those manufactured in the
United States in 1860 was upwards of
s5,eoO00o. ''
We find that very much the same ideas
and rules with regard to musical education
exist in England that prevail in this country,
and that the results in both countries are
pretty much the same. The English are not
musical people. They are not possessed of
a musical genius, although admirers Ito
some extent In obedience to fashion) of
music. This is decidedly the case in Anne
RIGA, though there is great improvement
going OF. In England we sec, as is the case
here, a girps education is as much based
upon the piano-forte as boys is upon Latin
grammar, and, as our author remarks, "too
often with similar results" The "routine"
is pleaded in both cases; and in the matter
of the girl learning the piano, 1t is merely
fashion. f@-f-' ffm'
Singularly enough it is said that in Ger
many, land which stands either first or Sc
cond for its musical genius, young ladies are
never ashamed to confess that they cannot
play or sing; but in England and America
it is considered an Inbred admission, and the
young lady whe has to make it bushes and
looks pensive, like martyr. ,s. ,s.os p.
This is indeed "false shame" 1t is great
piece Of folly to be wasting money upon
teaching young girls the piano who have no
musical talents. 1t is costly, and is only re-
muneratiye when the scholar has the talent
that should be cultivated. If young per.
con has not this talent she has more than
likely some other that merits attention:
love for the classics, or for positive science.
or for drawing, or painting, or literary COM
position, or, last but not least, the house
hold arts, In some Of which distinction may.
be gained; while to waste time on
music and then to drawl out ballads full
of false notes, or bang out dissonance
on the piano In the parlor, affords no pleasure
to any one and brings the performer into
ridicule. O.! how much horrid discord and
abominable vocaiization Is perpetrated in
private parlors In the name Of music. How
much. better for society would it be were the
money expended in the musical education Of
persons incapable Of proiting by it devoted
to teaching them something else that they
could understand and profit byp The
cause of music IS injured, and the social
pleasures and family pride are in no way
promoted. 49, ss j @
AS DR.. HAWKS says of musical education
In England: Why am / expected to ask o
young lady 70 play although ! know she !
cannot play, is nervous dislikes playing be- |
fore people, and 80 forthp How many are
athereS who would fam be spared the h,imiHa-
q ton Of exposing their weak pointsi The
piano source Of trouble to them and
their ffisnis 4 they cry over the!r music