The Republican journal., 1881-06-16
Musical Education.

From the Boston Home journal
The cultivation OF vocal music has increased 10
such an extent in this country within ten years
that there are many persons who believe in the ex-
| lstence OF American talent and training to supply
the future operatc stage and lay the foundation of
national school of singing, The talent is unques-
tlonaby of sufficient force to Justify thorough
education in music if other elements necessary for
Its successful development as easily controll-
ed. Let US examine the conditions necessary to
produce singer and consider as to what extent
| they can be fulfilled here
There are three distinct classesof musicians each
of whom is necessary for the advancement Of art
The composer. who is the creator, relies upon the
knowledge and appreciation of the artist to re
| produce his ideas. while the amateur is the ntel
gent lover OF art upon whose support and sympathy
the efforts OF both composer and artist depend
The singer therefore, must be ranked, according
| to the extent Of his talents either as an amateur
or an artist An amateur singer should possess
tor foundation of study, good voice a musical
nature good health, and disposition to study If
lacking IN any of these gifts the cultivation Of the
voice will be unsatisfactory and unrewarded A
voice soon loses its vitality if the health is at
| tected. The strain upon the nerves bv continued
application or the slow progress made if study is
| often suspended, renders this point an essential
one. disposition to study is certainly necessary
to accomplish anything in art but musical feeling
is gift Of nature, and cannot be supplied from anv
artificial source.
| HOW TO BECOME AN ARTIST.
HOsc WIZ " lSu VI eApeCt 10 pe luCluueQ IN tllS
class, which must be born" as well as made"
should submit to rigorous examination, as it is
not often that the gods bestow ia requisite
measure the numerous gifts Of mind and person
that make the individuality of the artist The
fundamental elements essential in an amateur
must be demanded in greater degree of the artist
/ lie must not only possess good voice, but a fine
voice. BY this is meant one Of exceptional quality
strength and compass The quality of voice is
| that element which marks its individuality and
| retains Its natural character throughout tba All
ent stages of development. This element may be
much strengthened by cultivation, but being the
result OF natural causes, is seldom transformed by
! any artificial treatment The quality OF voice is
often difficult to determine, however in the begin
ming. Often voice is foun Of musical quality
clear and sweet, that does not grow with cultiva-
tlon but rather becomes thin and metallic if urged
to sustained effort. A large voice, in its natural
| state Is often rough aud harsh. we'll as unman
ageable For that reason, it is concealed by many
faults, which require the patience and discrmna-
ton OF master and pupil to throw off Only time
and constant study can thus extrlcate the diamond
| from It's hard covering and give the polish which
reveals its beauties to the world. Who has not
| heard of the illustrious Pasta! who studied six
years to sing the scale perfectly. and only after
several failures did she acquire the fame whose
| brightness a hundred years cannot dim Jennie
Lind, SO it is said, found her voice growing thin
and weak IN the beginning of her career. Atter a
great many trials and disappointments she pre-
sented herself to Garcia in Paris. He astonished
| anu discouraged ner Dy saying. = l must
three months without singing note Jennie
Lind obeyed, and returned at the stated time with
! fresh voice to study. Her voice did not show
for some time its exceptional capabilities or give
| the promise of her remarkable success
| The second element required in an artist il a
strong musical nature, which not only sympatbzes
with art. but instinctlvely assmates with it.
This feeling is awakened early in life and is either
the gift of inheritance or has been nurtuTed in
| congenlal artistic atmosphere The talent for
| families and is aa
| one generation to another with hardly an excep-
non Those who have been assisted from child
MOOD by the mpalpaDle influence of surroundings
have been nearly educated unconscousy
| The third qualification of an artist is robust
health. This IN fact becomes first for professional
success IN this art Not only does singers voice
depend upon it for quality and power but its style
is DOUBTLESS formed by the character OF the singers
| physique. The demands of public life can only be
endured by strong constitution. Singing is
IN Itself conducive to health, promoting the free
use of the lungs but sustained force can only pro
ceed from organs naturally strong. There are
other physical qualifications which deserve atten-
| ton. These are, well formed mouth and teeth
These organs affect the quality Of the tone as well
as Its easy Development; also attractive per
sonaI appearance. This is great advantage to a
singer Many instances might be mentioned OF
artists who have achieved only moderate success
or have been obliged to give up singing in public
for lack OF the favor which is granted easily to
winning face.
The last important element for an artist to pos
sesS is mind trained to habits of thought which
develop an intellectual character 1t is this alone
which spurs him onward to conquer the difficulties
OF art and create standard which is only satisfied
with perfection. In comparing the histories of
celebrated artists, the conclusion to be drawn is
that natural gifts have not been the cause of their
fame but perseverance and mental force, aided by
circumstances have shaped the material placed in
their grasp
The goal OF an artists studies and efforts is gen
q liz ,yb> ~, 4;
planes Of knowledge from which he snccessivelv
rises, the ultlmatum to be attained is success be
fore an audience. Everything that is likely to
strengthen his powers is legitimate part of his
studies 1t ls not always, unfortunately that the |
highest training, combined with requisite talents |
achieves popular success. This is peculiar acc |
dent, not to be controlled. 1t may be consolation
to remember that those persons whose talents have
been cultivated under adverse circumstances and |
who have worked up slowly from the smallest po
stlon IN public life, have in their wide experience
OF different tastes, succeeded oftener in gaining
the sympathy and applause Of the most cultivated |
audiences
1t is apparent tina, the method of training voice
must be more or less modified by its characterand /
the aim of its posseSsor. While adhering to the /
same general principles, nevertheless, the applica
tons OF method may vary in intensity Of purpose .
and rigid eXactness OF discipline, The first thing
therefore, that person should do who possesses /
voice and wishes to cultivate it, is to ascertain his
qualifications from an unprejudiced musician and |
the best course OF instruction to pursue. Without
taking such precaution. many singers must
spend great deal of time and money in vain. or
at least be disappointed in the hopes which they
themselves, or their friends, have raised The tes-
tlmony OF an able teacher will show that of one
hundred applicants who examined by him. not
one-thlrd have the proper requirements OF singer
1t is also known that within ten years, the number
of Americans at Milan studying to become public
singers was more than two hundred at one season
Among these only one has risen to emnence That
cot of
went abroad to study for an object that they could
not attain, owing to the false Judgment of their
advisers In some cases, doubtless unfavorable
circumstances nterfered with the singers pros
poets, often much influenced by tritling causes in
dependent of the merits of the aspirant
The time to commence vocal studies is the next
subject OF interest to consider. AS pupils on the
violin, piano, and other instruments demanding
much execution, are known to begin at an early
period, the impression is sometimes given that the
earlier one is taught to sing, the more is accom-
plished. This is mistake. The voice is not a
mechanical instrument and is governed by laws
often beyond our control. For instance physical
Development which is intimately connected with
the condition OF the voice, is fastened or retarded
beyond the average age by the degree Of heat and
cold peculiar to different climates In the north
the period of maturity is late and in the sunny
south the reverse is the case Tracing musical
culture to Italy, the biographies of celebrated
singers prove that their vocal studies were under
masters direction as early as ten years of age. No
prlma donna OF renown is mentioned, who was
more than twelve years old when course of train
ing was commenced. The advice of the best mu
sicians at present does not justify such course,
especially in this climate. The safest rule under
all circumstances is, therefore, to wait until the
singer is physically matured. Before that time ar
rives, the system is in less robust condition, and
the vocal organs unreliable After that time
the ability to acquire control of the voice becomes
less certain as the impulse of the vocal chords to
respond is slower X
1t is stated that the eastern clam has become
naturazed and thrives in San Francisco bay.