The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-28
.. vsox A. Music studied Amone Uss"
III he Editor Of The Dispatch:


vour issue OF the 10th Instant ! will en-
desvor IN replv. not as cone who knows"
huf Sc one who has the subject much at
hcart- and who feels most lively interest
In the Advancement OF the most divine OF
the arts.
III understand your correspondent cor
rectly, he lameuts that music has made no
progress In this country, and that the taste
al the masses shows 10 Improvement, not
withstarding the great amount OF labor
and Of money spent on the part OF students
or OF parents. To this cannot fully sub
scribe, because do maintain that the love
and appreciation OF the higher class OF
music have been greatly improved In this
country: but I do admit that the improve
meut has not been as great as the expendt-
ture OF time and money might warrant.
The chief reason for this failure, think,
I can express in two words, "Cheap teach
ers.v | do not mean 10 say that every
teacher who asks large sum for his ser
vices Ia q good teacher, but mean those
teachers who have nothing to recommend
them but cheapness, by the term cheap
tcachers.'' As your correspondent mas
confined himself more particularly TO the
study of the piano-forte, and as that Is the
instrument In general use In this country,
/ shall speak only Of the study Of IT..
Every intelligent person knows that the
aim Of the teacher must DC twofold first,
to develop the mechanical powers. relating
10 a correct position and action OF the
hands, fingers. &C.; secondly, TO bring thc
intellectual faculties TO proper under
standing al the composers ideas as they
are represented by the music, relating 10
time. marks OF expression, and, above all, q
proper conception and rendering OF the
composition.
In regard to the first the rules are so ex-
plicit, and the examples so abundant in
books of exercises, studies, &C., that it
would seem a matter Of wonder that any
should err. and vet here we find failure in
a large majority Of cases where the "cheap
teacher has been employed TO instruct
the beginner. Parents do not send their
children to a rough stonemason to be in
structed in the principles OF sculpture, nor
to a house-painter to receive the first lesson
in landscape or portrait-paintlng, and yet
in the most important OF all the arts-in
music-the most superficial. the most care
less, and, in many cases, the Leash
Informed teachers are often chosen to
Law the foundation, upon the correctness OF
which depends success or failure for lie
time. II ever faithful, conscientious, and
intelligent teacher il necessary in music,
IT is at the beginning. A correct position
and action OF the bands and fingers are OF
such vital importance that everything de-
ponds upon attaining it in the beginning.
Far and wide failures are found because of
these "cheap teachers" who are good
enough for beginners. How can a teacher
succeed il his predecessor has done every
thing wrong. or has neglected TO do that
which Is right The hardest task OF the
intelligent and faithful teacher is to sun
teach.r The teacher must study and un-
derstand not only the disposition Of the
pupil, but also the physical peculierities in
the formation OF the fingers and hands.
No two faces are exactly alike, nor are two
hands exactly alike.
A principle must underlie all teach
er's efforts; and while that principle re-
through means "a different as there are diff
ferent dispositions and differently formed
hands 10 teach. But how can this be done
II the teacher be but a tyroi Can the
blind lead the blind? IL parents could be
made to understand the great injury that is
done their children by the "cheap teacher"
then, indeed, would music progress to the
Joy of NIL lovers OF il, and the competent
teacher would not only have more pleasure
in bis profession, but also greater success,
because the "cheap teacher" would be a
thing OF the past.
The National Music-Teachers' AssOcia-
ton at their last session, fully understand
ing this nuisance OF "chcap teacher" pro-
posed to appoint committee to examine
all the teachers belonging to that asSocia-
ton, and. after unsatisfactory examination.
to give them certificates; but / cannot see
how this will remedy the evil. Lawyers
and physicians pass an examination before
receiving q certificate or diploma, but not
withstanding that persons are, through the
ignorance of some lawyers, not inireQuent-
" deprived of their liberty, or worse,
hanged by the neck until dead, while the
victim Of The ignorant physician is covered
with six feet Of earth. The certificate won't
do it. but parents must Danish this evil,
the " cheap teacher" for nothing else will.
That once accomplished, then the second
part OF the teachers duty-viZ.. the train
Ing of the intellectual faculties will follow
easily enough. For that part no explicit
rules can be laid down; that depends upon
the inmate sense Of the beautiful. Here
the teacher may and can guide and direct |;
but where the perception OF the beautiful
is wanting in person, then his perform
ance will be soulless and cold. But the
perception OF the beautiful is not confined
to any nation, nor 10 any cline. Who will
say that this country, which has pro-
duced great painters, great sculptors,
and Is no longer deficient in poel
or historian, shall not have in the neal
future the greatest OF them all, the must
clan? But before his advent the young
men OF this country must study music
The young ladies study 1t only as an ac'
complishment, and il there are any thai
make profession OF it, still with them IL il
not cuisines" Let the young mel
study ii for the purpose OF making it ;
"business," and then our wishes shall be
fore many years be gratiied, and we shal
see Americans among the honored names
in this divine art.
This brings me again to a Statement
made In the first part OF this article--namc
ly, that music has made commendable pro
gross In this country.
Thirty years ago the New York Phil
harmonic Society had to put symptom,
last on its programme, so that any who diI
not wish 10 hear the classical part OF tn
programme could leave before it withou
missing the lighter pieces. Many person
then left. But to-day II the same Societ
should omit tirst-class symphony from IL
programme IL would raise rebeIIio
among It's subscribers. What was suliere
thirty years ago to appear on o programm
has now become the chief attraction.
thirty years ago Thomas had given a cor
cert here such us he gave q few weeks ae
venture the assertion the majority of hi
audience would have considered his ore
gramme an intolcrable bore; but who wi
deny that not only that programme. but tb
classical parts OF 1t, were enjoyed by tina
vast audience?
II Is true some people will talk about no
understanding" " scientilicv or " classi
cali music. To all such | wonld cav
My friend, YOU are all wron0 II Il 81