The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-04-19
NOVEL SINGING SCHOOL.
Where Little BullHnches Are Taught the
 Vocal Art

 which inhabits the well-wooded dis tricts of Asia, central and southern Europe, and parts of England. It is found in this country only as a cap tive. At home the bullfnch attacks the young buds of fruit-trees, and in- CUTS the enmity of the gardeners all through Europe; but the bird is such sweet singer and whistler that his faultin this respect is overcome by his excess of good qualities. In Germany thousands of bullfinches are bred and trained for the market every year, and many are imported to this country as cage birds.
 At Hesse and Fulda are several cele- brated singing-schools where these singers have their voices and ears trained almost to perfection. Germany has supplied to the world some of the grandest human musicians; and she excels as we'll in cultivating and train ing the little bird-musicians sent forth to all parts of the world.
 The little bullinches are raised in confinement, and when very young they are divided into classes of six each. Each class has a separate room, where the six little birds are shut up in dark ness, with plenty of food near them. This is before they have yet learned to whistle and initiate the songs of other birds. Suddenly the sweet notes of an organ startle the birds, and cause them to hop around in their dark prison, As the music continues, thelr spirits be- come enlivened. Soon they pick up some of the food and chirp forth few crude notes in imitation of the music. Light is then gradually allowed to en- ter the room, thus increasing the hap piness of the singers, and they break forth into ecstatic song The music is continued all day, and the enthusiastic birds try to follow and initiate it until fairly exhausted by their efforts.
 This is the preparatory school; and after each class of six has spent some time here. the several birds are handed over to training-boys whose business it is to continue their instruction. The advanced pupils are taken into separate rooms where organs are played from early morning and night. The organs used are ordinary organs that have soft, pure, fute-like notes, with nothing harsh or disagreeable in the sound. Some birds are trained by means of the flute but in the larger establish ments small organs are commonly used.
 Everything is done for the birds hap piness, and the little creatures are kept in the best of spirits. The owner comes around every day or two to ex- anime his pupils. So well does he un- derstand the natures of the little singers that he reproves or praises the various ones in manner that they perfectly understand This training goes on for eight or nine months, when the birds are ready for their diplomas. If their voices have acquired firmness, and they do not forget or leave out passages in their songs, they pass examination, and are permitted to leave the singing school. There are different grades of pupils in these bird seminaries, as in every other large school, and, while the majority can re- member only simple air with short
 
 ones that can be taught to whistle as many as three different airs, without spelling or confusing them. Such bright birds are often kept longer in the seminary, and a postgraduate course is given them.
 In this course they are taught to initiate the songs of other birds, which they do to perfection; but care is taken to preserve their memory of the early education. They are also taught amusing tricks, which increase their value as performers. The birds from these German seminaries are distrib- uted all over the country, and are sold for good prices. Sometimes on first being taken from their seminary | home the bullfnch becomes gloomy and quiet, and refuses to sing. This is an important period in his life, and the new owner should at first occasionally play the air that the bird has been ac- customed to hear on the organ. This will cheer the captives dropping cour- age, and start it into song once more. | These bullfinches begin their train ing about four days after they are out of the shell, and are not dismissed un- til nearly years instruction has per. | fected their voices. Like the parrot, they are very attentive, and they will learn some of the harsh notes of their parents if allowed to remain with them many days. They never pipe until they can feed themselves, and then they are given correct piping to initiate. A high, pure, manly whistle will be responded to by them in full
 round, fute-lilse tone. Bullfnches brought up carelessly soon acquire bad habits in their singing, but those sent from the German singing schools very rarely offend in this way. They carry their diplomas with them, and they do credit to their instructors. - George Ethelbert Walsh, in St. Nicholas. The Name of Turner.
 | Not every Turner owes his name to