The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-06
STUDYING MUSIC ABROAD.
Valuable Advice from Large Experience to
Those ccniempla ing Foreign Study

W ritten for the Sunday Journal
am constantly receiving such q number or
letters, not only from friends. but from those
desiring to study here. asking my opinion OF va
rious places and the facilities for having the
best teachers that have determined to write
my views which viii. as far ss possible, answer
in general way all correspondents Having
been educated by the best teachers that could
be had. wherever have lived. and finally at an
see when could better understand and sriti-
else, coming 70 Europe where have not only
heard the greatest living artists of the various
countries. but have heard representative
singers in. representative works In France.
Italy. England and Germany, cannot believe
my opinions at all partial Any one living
here az do, meeting the many students and
knowing the teachers. cannot fail to have heart
aches and their sympathies called into play IS
be sees the failures that are made and the hun
dreds that are deceived by Inscriptions teach
ees.
The fauls does not lie wholly in Europe. Il
begins In our own country and with Americans.
II child sings few songs prettily, many
friends who have nothing at stake begin to
compliment the wonderful talent shall write
majority who fock here. aspiring tn lyric honors,
and who really suffer the most A man is ex-
empt from many of the trials and he has to
stand on his own merit. A fair voice and
pretty face have no weight in his case with i'm
presarios or teachers. The woman il
sent To singing teacher and
eventually sings a. a concert Some one,
who probably never heard q Patti or Nilsson,
but knows Of them, discovers in her . singer
who will be . rival OF these srtistes- 1t Is not
long before she IL advised to 90 70 Europe to
study. That Is all that is necessary. Before
you have time to recover from the surprise OF
seeing your acquaintance OF on her voyage, she
Is here and studying. II must say before going
further that what write does not apply to all.
for am happy in knowing . number OF most
honorable. upright teachers. and 1t takes away
great deal of the stigma that rests on the pro-
fession at Target. What 10 the RESULT II she is
not fortunate rs to have friends here. or comes
with letter to some reliable maitre. she falls at
once into the hands Of the thousands mot an ex-
ageerated numb er) OF chsrlatans that like YAM
pres live upon the Americans who bring
their money to Europe. for must assure
you no one comes here without IT, and II
the family cannot pay the prices demanded some
wealthy friend or philsnthropist comes TO the
rescue. advancing the money. Hence. to all
eAchers. their pupils are rich, or have enough
TO meet all demands that may be made. 1t is
an exploded idea that the Europeans give much
away to foreigners. There are erough deserving
poor at home. and will praise the spirit that 10
shown their own. No teacher here 10 without
his charity pupil to whom he gives lessons
because the pupil has 10 bonnie disposition. but
he charges his American pupil enough to pay for
the two, aud often, As have reason to know,
the girl goes on studying for year, two years.
yes. three years, being told she IL not quite
ready for her debut. until. the money givins out,
in despair she tells her master she must begin
her professional career, when. perhaps, he will
say: S'You can go and find the work
l can do nothing more for you.'
Then, after time snd money are both spent
she is cast sdrifr, hopeless, helpless have
now before ne q singer, who has already had
successful cxreer IN concert-a singer whom ev-
eryons has heard many times 10 New York and
other large cities. Nature gave her beautiful
voice and face. She came to Paris TO study
She fell into the hands OF well-known teacher,
who could not have failed TO see at once that
she had no dramatic talent, but he led her on.
assuring her that with his influence he would
have her debut at the Grand Opera One year
passed-shs was not ready-a second, and when
che began insisting that IL was about time that
she commenced to study her role for her ap-
pearance. he, seeing that she was in no way to
be trihed with LONGER, said, in . rage. go; you
will never sing there, and never intended that
you should" And il WAS fortunate she did go.
FOR her beautiful voice was fast going. The man
was forcing &c out OF its register trying to make
IL something il could not be; in fact her voice
has never been the same since. / also know OF
young lady that was sent to Italy. and after
several years theres concluded to come to Paris
| to finish her course. Her master, after finding
she was really going to leave him. said: Il will
give you letter TO teacher with whom / ad-
wise you TO study" He did 90. but at the end
added these words. "a rich American, fleece
her" Fortunately for the girl she was not a.
ignorant in regard to foreign languages rs her
master thonehs her and the little phrase was
easily read by her. Another instance. but of q
more encouraging nature. beautiful central
to voice came here from q city where. unforuu-
ately, the girl had been badly taught She had
| the good luck Of failing into the hands Of
Madame Visrdot--s rare woman--ths greatest
Madam vi.sdos ss S' Yon DO One nos ''i know
enough as yet, to come to me. because I have
not the time to do the work
you need before you take mp
later You will come to me-" This was all DONE
aud when the pupil returned, after several
months Of study In Der preparatory course,
| Madame Visrdot said: my child, lot me advise
| cannot have a career. Your voice Is beautiful
but you lack other qualities Sing Ia salons and
| concerts am sure you will succeed there, but
You will be far happier If 7ou will abandon the
idea Of operate career, with all its vicissi-
| tudes of which ss yet you know nothing about
and which you have not the strength to endure "
| The young lady did this, aud ! am sure she
has over since considered Madame viardot .
| most esteemed friend to whom she owes many
| blessings
To enter, the Conservatoire is almost impossible.
for the vacancies are rare and one must be able
| TO speak French. and from what have seen of
| the workings OF that institution. DO not see
| that there ia any great advantage Ia being a
| pupil, except II one IL tho lucky winner of the
Premier Prix. he or she is entitled to debut at
| the Grand Opera. and If these dsbuts are sue
| cessful. then the young artist is engaged for
| three years. But the opera is not recruited
| from the ranks of the Conservatoire, as the per-
| sonnet shows artists from other countries hold
| the first places, and the Premier Prix must nnd
| employment for his talents elsewhere. was
| told not long since by one of the great artists
| here, that the teaching at the Conservatoire on
| the whole Was bad-that more voices we're
| ruined there than we're benefted-forced out of
| their compass; forced beyond their power, they
| sang false. and soon develop tremoo. hence
| you 90 often hear IN America that this
| defect is . part Of the French method
| of singing. But il 10 not 90. for the bes,
| teachers all fight against 1t and never permit q
| pupil to use 1t. The most eonscentious teacher,
and one whom can recommend. Is Monsieur Ed
mund Dnvernoy, . gentleman who comes foom
family Of musicians. whose members have
| ranked among tho artists OF Paris. His class
az the Constructors Is very fine. and he knows
how TO advance bis pupils he Is the repre-
sentative Of the Faurs method ana . man who
| works because he loves his ART Among ths
male teachers here he 10 the one should recon
mend, for seen both. his female as we'll ss