Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-13
Music in the school Room.

/ President Mayhem Business College, Detroit.
Music ian the school Room.
1t would seem almost superAu-
Gus to put in plea for music in
schools. Yet it is surprising that,
in so many cases, music is either
ignoted entirely, as if there were
no such agency in eXistance or else
the aid of that heavenly maid is
but indifierently invoved, as if the
time and attention devoted to her
charms were misSpent, at least dur
ing the ordinary school hours.
No greater mistake could be
made. The influence Of music is
needed in youth, and in the school
room especially should it hold sway.
The education or development ofno
person can be complete whose soul
is not capable Of being
"Moved by concord OF sweet sounds"
and youth is the period of suscep-
tibility, when the milder Influences
of nature and art should, like the
rays of genial sunshine upon the
germ of the plant just starting
from the soil, be let in upon the
soul Of childhood, flooding it with
celestial light in harmonious radi-
ance, Illuminating also and gladden.
ing the pathway which leads forth
to the sterner duties of after life.
And when music has thus shed a
hallowing and mellowing influence
DER the earlier days, in later years
one may look back with joyous re-
Elections, instead of sad regrets, to
the ''days O auld lang syne."
In the province of discipline,
there are the indispensable puloa Of
rudimental studies, such as the
sharp angels representing the in
flexible, unvary logic Of mathemat-
les; then there is the discipline,
sometimes rather stern, of the rules
of school government itself. All
this is necessary. There must bc
law, and there must be obedience.
But obedience, to be easy, must
be willing; and the young pupil is
susceptible Of higher motives than
fear. The finer impulses Of child
nature should oftener he cultivated
and appealed 10, and music is one
Of those exercises which open TO
the teacher new and effcctual aven-
ues - the heart, and thus moral,
poTes, which j. superior to intel
lectVal, may easily be gained.
Where's, II the agency Of sweet
sounds, either vocal or instrument
tai, be wanting In the school, there
j. loss in two directions.
The teacher viii find the work Of
government more difficult, while
the pupils will fail TO have that in
terst, or the esprd Dir cO,ps, which
is 50 desirable in the school room,
and which, as in an army among
soldiers, j. always awakened by
suitable strains Of music. How
often have we visited schools where
the spirit Of restlessncss seemed to
prevail, owing 10 some underlined
cause, probably a change in the
weather. The teacher is discOur-
aged. Apologies are made "Never
did the school behave 20 badly
never did school teachers seem ~
weaiisOme on 50 thaukless and un-
promising task" The whole ma
chincry lags like heavily-laden
train on the upward grade. What
is the troublel
You cannot tell! The spirit Of
Gloom and Darkness is there
Enough to know this. How shall
he be thrust out
Let the machinery be stopped
Ring the bell, reverse the engine
and switch off upon another track
The wheels need oiling. Start VI
a lively school song and do not fear
that the time will be wasted.
Then sing another, and still an
other. Raise smile change the
order Of things, no matter if some
recitation is put of till next day
Let the teacher entertain the pu
pills with song, or an instrumental
piece, and let the pupils cheer NJ
the teacher or rather, let the di
version be mutual.
Thus shall the evil spirit he cas-
ont, more efiectually than was Chi
ghost Of Banquo, whenever, 10y tn
aid Of music, the teacher shall ex
claim: "Avaunt aud quit IN,
sight !"
Not TO dwell upon this importan
and fruitful subject longer at pres
ent, let it be suggested as an incen
tive to the cultivation Of song i,
the school room, that there are, be
sides these general benefits, othe
more tangible and material result
TO he obtained.
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