West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-28
A MUSIC LESSON.
A Few Valuable Hints from Chris
tine Nilsson.

My DEAR FRIEND. 1t gives me great
pleasure to comply with the wish YOU
have expressed that | should give YOU
few hints which may help YOU i'm
carrying out the musical education and
vocal training of your daughters.
should first suggest that unless child
shows some natural aptitude for music.
~ seems "a mistake to devote much
time To the attainment OF the art such
an aptitude generally manifests itself
in early childhood, as when it exits
the child will evinee pleasure and at
tention in listening to music, and will
try TO initiate the sounds it hears. If
successful i'm this attempt. there can be
no doubt of its being gifted with a
musical ear.
If | had the musical training of a
child, l should adopt the system of call
ing the seven notes constituting the
scale according 10 their Italian names.
VIZ: DO. Re, Mi, Fa, Sol. La. 81. and
by striking each one Of these notes ON
some musical instruments, or singing il
out Associate at once, from the very
beginning, the sound of every note
with its proper name, Just as the
alphabet Is taught before spelling or
subsequent reading is attempted Then
the child's eye must get used 10 the
fyc lines forming the staff i'm the treble
clef, and each note must he taught by
its position on the said stan.
After this, the same process must be
gone through with the bass clcf. so that
IN due course of time the study of the
piano-forte may be pursued But il is.
IN my opinion. very great mistake to
teach a beginner music bv the help of
the keyboard, or ciarjor. rs il is called
IN French, Of the piano-fortc. Such
teaching does not tend TO the forma-
ton of a musical ear or help the stu
dent 10 read easily at sight, which is
one of the chief objects to be attained
by the musician. The appcllatiOn of
the notes, their respective value or du-
ration, the rests. division of timc-the
theory of music, i'm fact, should he well
taught. Ii is a work of time and pa
tiencc, but when thoroughly attained.
iS never forgotten, and j., Indispensable
10 the requirement OF instrumental and
vocal talent
Soifegc, which is the first kind of
singing taught TO children on the con-
tinent of Europe consists i'm singing
out the notes 10y their apcllation: Do,
Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, la. ri, and smultanc-
ousIy beating time with the right hand.
IN order to designate the proper division
OF each bar, and mark the rythm which
J., of the utmost importance. The study
of SOlfcgc is absolutely indispensable
10 vocalist, and ought 10. be pursued
-
it will thus establish good and solid
foundation TO the subsequent vocal
studies. The aye at which "a Girl NAV
begin TO learn singing must depend
upon her health and physical strength.
and also on the natural development Of
her voice. Some voices being much
stronger than others, may be cNcrci,cd5
early i'm life without injury: such WI
Patti case and mine; but these being
exceptional Instances, one can not pre-
sent them a~ examples
From sixteen 10 eighteen would be-
about the average age when easy cx-
erciso- should bc taught to the student.
carefully avoiding straining the voice
i'm any way
The proper way Of drawing breath.
which should Doe from the diaphragm
or waist, is study in itself: also the
opening of the throat and mouth. I'M
order to insure. from the first. "a GOOD
emission Of the sound Garcia. Bor-
dOgni. Randcggcr and other celebrated
masters in the art of singing have
written excellent works on the subject.
with clear and practical observations
and instructions. and also exercises
and vocaIiIc-. admirably adapted for
the study Of the arr they 20 thoroughly
understand; nevertheless. students can
not teach themselves singing oven
with the best OF written methods and
without thc assistance of an expert
cnccd and capable teacher. directing.
watching and guiding Tine student, bad
habits are formed which arc most diff
cult and -Omctimcs impossible, 90 cor
rect
As there arc different kinds U voices.
some being naturally high. such a- the
soprano. som low pitched. as the CON
tralto, or others varying between the
two, more of tine moIlo-soprano kind.
10 is important thdt they should bc
guided according to- their natural
tendency in order not to- force or strain
them and of this the teacher must
Judge and direct the studies Of his pu-
pills accordingly It therefore requires |
dh cNp'Il'h''u professor particularly |
gt the commencement
Singing must not Doe practiced too |
long at time. -o a. 10 fatigue the
voice. a period Of twenty minutes tJ-
gcthcr Is sufficient. bat may bc repeat
ed twieo or three times dav. whom F..
once the pupil has understood how fo /
practice alone At first it is better to
be- content with The lesson 90 wrong |
Yt.4Df .etrs L. tr,r.g fNrf U,.r. ..
sons therefore houid bo taken FOO /
qucnDN ln commencement is rapid iW
prOfemcut is desired and by degrees