New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-04

being for the most part abandoned. inc chiu ~ nv"
expected begin read the notation Of simple musical
phrases at sight In the sixth or lowest class begun
an intellectual study of the sounds II the scale Chill
dren ale taught recognize any sound Of the scale by
s scale name, l. 2, 3, l, 4, y, T. y :, &C. ana
they Will produce the at the dictaton OF the
teacher This educate the One or two minutes
spent this exercise which is followed by repre-
sentation of the sounds upon the blackboard five
minutes spent I'm this way each day rs drill exer-
cse followed by practice upon the music charts The
result OF this dr is remarkable. The becomes SO
well trained children will 90 the blackboard ana
the syllable H. THIS drill OF single sounds y followed
by triad practice, after which the class ~ dlVneu an
additional pointer used, aud the pupil If trained N Two
part harmony. This is followed by tne paeuce vt wv
part upon the charts together with the Oeahg OF
the time and in addition to this, IN the fourth aud ul
classes by the chromatc scale, and study OF e ssy
which out of 10. such has been tde progress uit
children 10 or II years OF age viii go 10 the oae
and with the pitch OF any progression OF so4nus
may he given IN any OF the sharp key Expe ib
class Will practical knowledge OF all the nlhe
different KEYS that they will sing correctly any ehoTh
which may be written in OF those keys at sght IN
the fourth class il commenced also the study Of sucn 10
tervas necessary 10 thorough uhdtr-ld"!.hH
and analysis OF the trads the different degrees Oh te
scale, such as the major ana mnor secoh' VD[ III ~,
minor third, perfect and diminished hitD, &c also VIC
usual form of the chord OF the seventh IL taught
After the class Is familiar WIN the major anu iniho vi
thirds explanation of the roman numerals uscu 10
indicate major and minor different degrees OF tine sce
is followed by analysis OF fhs developing an lhIe
l.ent Idea OF the triads found ON the leent
of the scale. The triads first studied separately
and the pupils then shown OF the exercises ~
one and parts that grow OF each triad Ihis
continued until the triads have been introduced ana
added the exercises This is continued with twopart
singing through the fourth class IN the thd class thls
ground Is reviewed adding the other trldu WHICH s'e'
the three parts
In studying tho harmonic relation Of sounds, the
pupils are gradually becoming familiar with the ground,
Work OF threeprt singing as based upon me uus, anu
acquiring practical knowledge oil the lhteI, ~,
Trias At the end Of the year the pupils can readily
sing IN plain threepat harinOnlesi ana shoulu uhu,l
stand all the signs and characters used III musical coo
sOn. and be able 10 cOmprehenu and read az slE any
OF the music found IN ordinary coectlons on psaIlI
Up 10 this point the instruction has been gwen mainly
10y the regular school teachers, with the ald inu keneI
direction only OF professional teacher IN te ~ ~
per cl the schools tile musical uItctor
Tie burden OF the work. The lessons Oh tne
lower classes at first carefully reviewed. lhe pups
receive additional training in the scale ~ anu tIe
ads Of the different degrees, while rhythnlcal studies
IN the easier Kinds Oi measure slol as ~ - - az Pd
decd. A series ~ short soleggi0s, III one I"o, aIe
three parts, including most or the simpler snD yohs on
ume as well ~ the PLAN halnones resnItnS IIon ne
major scale, are found useful. In the boys grammar
schools pupils whose voices are in the process OF chang
Ing are excused for the time being from pirlIipLms ~
the vocal exercises but they are required 10 ne present
aud gave their attention 20 the lesson Among the
sO'eggiOs mentioned there are some for soprano aito
and bass the latter part being taken Dy the boys "h0s
voices. without being yet fully settled, nave passed
through the ordeal OF mutation Ihey are not alio"su
force their voices above simple piano ana the prtt
sav from 10 r. The pupils having previously in
sTucted in the theory OF the Transportation OF The sca9
eggiOs in all these keys placed before then giving
the pupils only the ability 10 read IN the above Keys
n the voice and OF respiration The compound times
such 6 So rs, attempted for the nrst time
used 10 enven the lessons These songs
lie the exercises at first pr9loed without tDe piano
only when the pupils have learned to snS the parts
unaded that the piano accompaniment II au4e a. s
point Is given tO the minor scales III D0t tnelr
harmonic and mol0dic fOrms their relationship To the
chief triads the same. The study Of the chTonauc
scale opens here easy road 10 soegglos, including
nOdulatOns the dominant, subdominaut, and relative
minor KEYS. The terms indicating various Kinds or
movement explained. The pupils who have pasted
a., aulu hA
read simple music at sight with comparative ease'
STUDIES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
In the high schools OF which there are SIX within the
limits OF Boston, music OF higher and more difficult
order is taken up for practice and some knowledge OF
harmony and of musical composition is impaired. The
course begins with review Of the work done In the
grammar schools Singing at sight constitutes the chief
study OF the Junior classes and the faculty Of thinking
music e. the thinking OF sounds without singing, is
carefully cultivated. A short solfeggo is writ
ten upon the blackboard, and the pupils are
then requested TO look at the exercise
and so mentally conceive how it would sound. Great
Importance attached To this study tending, "a 1t does,
TO bring the mental faculties more and more to bear
upon music. The training of tho eye, hardly less i'm
portan in music than in drawing is much facilitated by
this practice. most excellent exercise, which has
come to very popular in tho high schools Is then in
troduced consists the dictaton OF musical phrases
from the piano. Each pupil IL furnished VITA q OOOz
property ruled for music and required to wrte down
report, il were, the phrase az comes from the
piano only with reference 10 the interval sound,
then with reference 10 time, and finally they are obliged
10 write phrase complete with reference 10 interval
time and proper expression The books are not taken
home used in the periodical EXAMINATIONS serving
as fair record OF the scholars progress In order to
cultivate taste only the works of the best masters
are studied These carefully anay led before putting
them to practice aud their course OF mOduatOn As vel
their general construction, Is explained Inc mlddie
ana senior Glasses receive Information concerning
;e nature and character Of the orchestral Instruments
and when feasible they are made acquainted III he IoIh
short lectures, with the upca ana ceI works VI me
great classical composers and ther iIhuelee upon
musical art Great care is exercised III tle geInens
of the voices girls well boys am satisfied
says Mr. Echberg, that the voice Of gri
the moro careful management, rom the yerv
fact that suffering like boy from AN almost absolute
lmDossbity To sn j. likely 10 OVeT-exet herself, Il
tine lasting Injury OF both health and voice II has al
ways my aim 81 secure beauty rather than strength
expect from young girl OF - the riSned vocal p0wers
of singer perhaps zen years Aer elder Ihe eject OF
this temperance IN singing ~ seen III the improved quar-
ty OF noticeable the Last few years 10 l. seen,
am told in the Handel and Haydn Society many ~ the
members Of which are Graduates OF the GIFTS Hlgh
school prime Of the oyersfralng or Tie voice.
show singing" does not form part VI the Boston
e result OF visit to several Of the schools Of different
grades 10 confirm my impression OF tue 'ane OF lHis
- when IL 10 properly taught uouDt l. tne ttle
children ia the lower classes or me primary SCHOOLS, WHO
sang the scale with such evident pride, viii be- able
they grow up TO remember any easier "hen lucy
learned music than Nhen lhty eafDcu % Iedd
print! Here, N tae SpPr R .gn o ~ e MN
and boOtbacks able read of the notes and sing cor
recty simple soiegAlOs winch they Add never seen De
gore The progress the grammar schools Wa equally
marked: and IN the hi IN schools under MI. Eicbnergs
teaching, the result was surprising, especially ~
the bright, Intelligent junior el,ss' WHICH, seemed
IN catFh his magnetism. His ingenuity ~
writing incorrectly without any warning, for the
purpose OF catching them, was hardly more SURPRISING
lna their ingenuity IN detecting the trap. And here
must say that the best system VIII suffer n 1t mas not
capable teachers 70 present T. Boston - fortunate IN
this respect ts teachers are live men, Iley Keep the
classes Interested. Attention IL never suffered 10 aS
Mr. Eicnberg is specially gifted as an Instructor lis
fund OF wit and put under bute ln the school
room and the techuetes OF musical dll are invested
with a charm which makes this hour Of the pleasant
est OF the week.
Perhaps there those who have no music IN them
selves who will runbe the outlay necessary 10 teach
music schools But no study pays better interest
10 The city which provides II. The little rtganuIn from
the North End cannot fail TO be- melOwcr ana more pS
tic 10 good Influences from breathing this musical at