The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1889-06-27
MUSIC HATH CHARMS.
Why Should Net Vocal Music be
Taught in the Public Schools
Of Logan?

Taught in the Publlc Schools
Of Logan
The question of teaching vocal
music IN our pubic schools is just
now being discussed. We are OF
he opinion that it is a study that
,hould not hive been done away
with by the school board. If music
had not been made part OF the
grade of scholarship, the protest
against the act of the board would
have been almost universal, but as
1t was, many persons, whose chill
drsn's grade was cut down because
they were slow TO master the study,
were not sorry when it was dis
continued.
Now all children nor all persons
are not singers and never Will be.
they may master the principles of
music, but the sense that must har-
monize the tones IS lame aud it
were wise that they should not seek
success IN that line. AS We write.
the sound of a Voice, u perfect 6asso
6yoEsus; strikes our ear. 1t Is as
deep and sonorous as the roar OF the
winter storm 9 that swoop down from
the northland. 1t is the voice OF
an. orator and consequently not un
musical, but it lacks the training
that shouldslead smoothly oyer the
line of march marked out by the
music, though the owner Of II de-
sires that it should be so. That
.ame voice we have heard in debate
and though it swayed men IN the
Jury box, as summer gales sway
trees on hill and in vale, a thorough
course in vocal music such as was
taught in our schools o number OF
years ago, would add charm that
will forever be lost unless sach q
course should be taken.
A course IN vocal music devel-
opes and strengthens tho muscles OF
the throat and adds to the girt OF
the chest 1t modulates the voice.
makes 1t flexible and perfects artlc-
ulation. If 1t should do nothing
more, it puts child in good form to
talk distinctly, to speak clearly and
| would eliminate ali harsh notes that
come up to us from the ply ground
Some of the greatest lovers OF
music in the land are these who
will tell you they cannot sing a song
| nor whistle q tune, and yet they
will follow an orchestra through b
great symphonies with the keenes'
delight. In the creation or others
they hear the echo of the unborn
song IN their own breasts. With
out training In youth, they como te
manhood or womanhood, and are
plagued with the thought, that,
too, might have gladdened the
hearts of my friends if | had hac
proper training when a child.
Many remarkable voices have
been developed in the public schools
of the country; many children have
been discovered, who, by the advic'
OF their teachers. have taken VI
music as a profession and have he'
como artists of world wide renown
That.is what our schools are for,ant
for that very reason music shoul'
be taught in all Of tho public school
IN the land.
We do not know how the schoc
board may feel about the question
but there is not an act, VIC believe
that will give more general satisfae
ton 10 the people of this town, tha
the introduction of music in on
schools. We have in Prof. Spark!
a citizen of our town, one of til
!, mcst capable and successful teach
ers in Southern Ohio, and We ca
see no reason why he should not
selected tor the work. We cOul
bring no one here that would
e the work moro satifactory, we cou
4 certainly not bring any one he
v that could afford to do it any cheaps
= Since the days when David, Il
d sweet singer of Israel danced al
sang before King Saul, the wor
$ has hungcred for song, and IN III
IS age, when men ore straining ever
r nerve to civil.ze and humauize q
q world, nothing that enters so esse
= tally into the work AS music, shou
d be kept out of our schools. II
It echo IF the song that was heard
n the shepherds at Belhlcham near
!, 1000 years ago, still thrills the un
= :. verse. 1t will be found seated
q generations yet to come it is sea
9 ed in the generations Of to-day.
r Lot us have music in our publ
u schools. Let the song continue
y bc developed