The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15
TOML|NS TALKS TO-DAY,
An Eminent Exponent of Song
to Address Five Hundred
Pupils.
TEACHERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC.
His Success on Original Lines Is
Said to Insure Musical De-
velopment.

This afternoon William L. Tomlins of
Chicago, the president of the celebrated
Apollo Club there and instructor of 1900
children as choir for the Worlds Fair
concerts, will address 500 pupils drawn
from various grammar schools of this
City at Golden Gate Hall. The authorities
of the School Department and the school
teachers are enthusiastic over the results
to be expected from Mr.. Tomlins' inhu-
ence upon the schools.
School Superintendent Moulder is in
clined to indorse Mr.. Tomlins' work as
likely to be of the highest benefit to the
children. AS far as he has been enabled
to Judge, Mr.. Tomlins is very competent
man and comes Endorsed both by Eastern
authority and his known record.
/. Deputy Superintendent Babcoci has &C.
companied Mr.. Tomlins to various gram
mar schools, and has derived a high
opinion of the aims of the musician.
"Mr. Tomlins," said he yesterday, sis
more than singer or an instructor of
song. AS I understand him his object is
not so much to teach pupils how to read
music as to direct their attention to what
his singing is the art of developing the
child morally and making him better
child at home in every way. He is more
than a mere singing -teacher; he is an edu-
Gator in the broad sense. While was a
little prejudiced against him at first have
learned to feel that we are to be congratu-
lated on having Mr.. Tomlins here, even
for so short time. think it will benefit
us greatly"
All the teachers interviewed expressed
the greatest enthusiasm on the subject OF
| the proposed lectures. Many of them have
banded together to take private lessoSs
| from Mr.. Tomlins in the art OF instructing
in music, and are looking forward to de-
irving substantial results. Among them
are teachers from the Clement, Broad
way, Denman, Pacific Heights, Hamilton,
Croker, Hearst, John SWEET, South Cos
mopolitan, Mission Grammar, Spring Val
ley and other schools.
Elisha Brooks, principal of the Girls
High School, has arranged for Mr.. Tom
Inns to give lecture to the pupils twice a
| week. the first to take place tomorrow
the matter yesterday Mr.. Brooks said:
II don't know Mr.. Tomlins, but think
the project an excellent one. The whole
| school will be given an opportunity to
| hear him two hours week for five weeks
and l consider the benefits to be realized
will Justify the sacrifice of the regular
class time"
Mr. Tomlins has been in the City a
month and has arranged to lecture at the
| high schools twice a week. while the pu-
| pills of the grammar schools will come to
hear him at central point twice week.
| Speaking of his opinion of Californian
children as music material Mr.. Tomlins
| said yesterday:
"As far as have seen am greatly en-
couraged by the outlook. OF course it is
too soon for me to speak with absolute
confidence, but | think l notice recep-
tivity as far as physical tone goes which
may be attributable to the climate. Ma
lively there is something, which / may
perhaps call greater spontaneity, and
which may be traced to the free, open-air
| life and favorable natural conditions.
| Possibly this great advantage may have a
counter-balance in lack of intensity or
concentration, but of that l am not quite
sure. 1t is absolutely essential in my
| method that the attention of the pupils
should be concentrated, keyed up to the
supreme point of attention, and it may be
that l may have to address particular
| study to developing that essential | am
and seen, and very much interested in
drawing out the finer differences in the
| splendid material offered me-"
| In circular to the pupils and friends OF
the Girls High School Director Charles A.
Murdoch has this to say:
| Mr.. Tomlins makes no charge for his services
| trusting TO the success of the concert for the
| benefit OF the library and piano fund of the
| Girls High School, to be given at the conclu-
sion of the lessons. An exercise-book and two
| song-books are required, which will be fur
nished to those who wish them at 25 cents "a
| third OF their retail price). The books will be
| loaned to those who do not wish to buy them
but it will save trou BILE and be an advantage to
| the pupils if they own them.
| Mr.. fomlins imparts new conception OF
| music and the possibilities of song. He makes
| singing vital and real and reveals its soul. In
| ten lessons he cannot teach technical music
nor does he attempt it, but he gives an idea
that can never be forgotten, and teaches how
| to sing.
Ia n0IlrnsIlar alIliUIrnnlny