The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1889-04-19

of good iAusles ItIs used to encoul
age brave men as they rush to battle
X II used In celebrating our nationa
holidays to make men patriotic an,
love their counlry. Il Is used TO brini
men to Christ and comfort the slcl
and dying. The mother uses II Is pu
her babe to sleep, and 1t is also used Il
lead men into sin and vice. 1t is EN-
ployed To charm the eur while the sou
i led captivs by wine, cards, or othel
forms Of wickedness but this is mon
strous nervoision Of one Of the most
beautiful gifts Of God.
The world has certain notions about
music. Some people think tibet time
spent by their children in learning to
sing Is just so muchtime wasted while
others think II IL time well employed,
and to be good musician Is a desira-
Bile accomplishment, but the great ma
jority of them, like most schnol teach
ers, arc quite indifferent about the
matter.
Teachers as u class, believe, are as
honest and wish to do as nearly right
in everything as any other class in the
world. IL they are wrong in any of
their customs or methods they are
willing to fright about and do differ
entIy, hut the trouble is TO convince
them tuat they have been wrong.
Nnw what do you believe in regard
to vocal music in common scheols9 Do
vnu believe that there should be sing
iag every day In every school III this
broad land Of ours? DO you believe
that the time to commence to teach
children to read music Is from six to
eirht years of age9 / do. DO you
nelieye that they can be taught to read
the notes do, re, mi, as easily rs they
can be taught to read the words, man,
eat, rats DO you believe that pupils
can be taught, SO that when they
reach the age of lG or II years, that
they can sing any ordinary piece Of
music ut sight as easily az they Gan
read the words set to 1t? do. 1o /
YOU believe that it is your duty TO pre-
pare yourself, ii you are not already |
prepared to teach vocal music in your
own school-room? l most emphati-
cally do. De you believe that you can
prepare yourself ii, a reasonable length I
of time to teach the subject? ] know
that you c.ln.
7 am aware that there is an idea
abroad that no one can learn to sing
unless they have an ear for music
Now believe that any one who can
talk can be taught to sing. Those peo-
Die who say that they can't sing or
learn to read music have received but
little. if any, instruction. They have
had their belief mere firmly fixed by
some convention leader coming 10
fileir town advertising that he would
hold four days convention and give
them three lessons day, making
Twelve In all, and that anyone could
learn 70 read music in that time Under
his instruction, and h,y amt satis-
fed he would refund their money. OF
course they did not lcarfin that time.
Thercfoie it Is no use for them to try.
will now attempt to answer the
questions, Why should vocal
music be taught in the common
sehonIsg and second How should 1t he
taught? The importance of the sub
iect requires that all should be taught
and iii no other way can we reach
them all except through the public
schools. Nearly all children like to
sing. II II therefore pleasant exer-
else for them, and makes them happier
and better children. 1t gives pleasant
employment during leisure hours. He
who Is fond of music need never be
troubled about amusing himself, be-
e.suse he has the source within him
self. 1t makes home pleasant and is
the means Of keeping many wayward
boys at home who would otherwise
spend their time at saloons or other
places Of vice. Ifrightly taught it cul-
f.vates the vocal organs and makes the
voice clear and full. The chest is en-
larged making more room for the
lungs. Hence there is little danger Of
that dreaded disease consumption.
If our pupils were taughttorea mu-
sic in our common schools we should