Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-23
SINGING IN THE PUBLuC SCHOOLS.
What Theodore Tho,na. Saw.
IT Is HARMFUL TO THE VOICE, AND Is NOT
| EVEN HEALTHY EXERCISE.

Theodore Thomas endorses. in the June Cen
tu,y. VIM. L. Tomlins' views ION the Training
Of Chidren's Voices" by way of introducing
them to the readers of The Century, and Mr.
Tomlins says In part: "When the study Of sing
ing was first introduced in tho public schools OF
Boston, the most utopian antlcipations were
INDUCED in with regard to the degree and value
of the musical culture that would then become
the acquisition of every child. Two advantages,
In particular, were counted upon: That fluent
singing by note would become common, and
that a foundation would be laid for q genuine
appreciation of good music. To some extent
these expectations have been realized. GER
tain very moderate knowledge of musical nota-
tiOn has become general among the younger
people-not only of that city, but of almost all
other cities throughout the country. for into
nearly all Of them music has been introduced.
Even this moderate facility In reading music has
served as a means Of charging the pupils prac-
tical acquaintance with musical literature, and
to that extent the school instruction has done
something to advance musical taste.
''But, on the other hand it is very far from
the truth. that the ability has become general
to sing accurately by note any but the simplest
music even among the more musical of the
students In these schools. 1t is equally doubt
full whether the wider dissemination OF musical
taste is to any considerable extent related to
There is, however, more serious question
which deserves to be considered. 1t is, whether
the exercise of singing as commonly conducted
IN the public schools Is not positively harmful
to the voice and destructive to future ability to
sing artstically.
''Briefy mentioned, the faults of current in
struction are these: Everything is sacrificed to
knowledge of musical notation. The voice is
developed only in respect to power, and this. un-
fortunately, in way which must be entirely
undone whenever the study of artistic singing
Is begun. Instead of soft, pleasant, expressive
voices, one hears in school almost universally a
hard, shouty tone, unsympathetic and inexpres-
sve. This tone is produced by an improper &C
ton of the throat which absolutely prevents the
production of an emotional tone. In this way
is formed a bad habit which must be entirely
undOne before expression can be acquired.
Singing thus conducted is not even a healthful
exercise, for it engenders vocal habits which re-
act unfavorably upon the throat.
"NOr do the musical textbooks exhibit a real
progressiveness toward higher and nobler ideas
How far this is the case will appear as soon as
we compare the singing-books with the ordinary
school readers. In the latter the child begins
with easy words and very simple thoughts. From
This he Is led to longer words, more involved
sentences and more matured ideas The pro-
gress does not stop short of SHAKESPEARE and
Milton. Instead of such progressive course in
music, the pupil is held to the lower grade
Even where the difficulties of music-readlng are
gradually increased. the musical ideas are not
correspondlngly raised.
'All Of these shortcomings finally reduce
themselves to two, namely: Ignorance OF or in.
difference to the physiological relation between
singing and the vocal organs; and second
apathy with regard to all kinds of musical re-
lations beyond the simplest and most obvious
''This state of things, which prevails for the
most part throughout the country. is to be &C.
counted for or, at least, has been influenced by
two or three circumstances. The music teach.
ers are chosen mainly for their knowledge Of
notation and the sight-reading OF music They
are generally earnest. practical teachers. with
perhaps turn'fOr music. but with no system.
atized training in the physiology of the vocal
organs, and without practical acquaintance
with the technic of vocal culture. They are pre-
centor-like singers with loud, unsympathetit
voices. and with low grade of musical ideas"