The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-28
A New Method of Instruction
Fully Explained.
A MOST PERTINENT SUGGESTION
Astoria Should Adopt the Teaching
of Music, Which Benefits
Physically and Morally.

AT the last session Of the Sunday
School Union, held Monday. June "a a
paper was read by Mrs III. T. Crosby
who had prepared 1t by request of the
committee on program, for that even
ing. 1t was Of such excellence and SO
pertinent to the present condition of
musical instruction in the public schools
and Sunday schools of our city that she
consented to its publication. Hoping for
good results to follow its careful read
ing by those interested In the develop
ment of our youth along all lines of
education.
Astoria, Ore, June 10, 1896.
Although the regulations prescribing the
studies to be taught in the public schools
OF Astoria require that music shall be
one Of them, yet, up to this time, no
modern, practical or adequate method
OF vocal instruction has been adopted or
taught in them, and this state of facts
has awakened in our citizens, and, am
given to understand, in the board OF
school directors, a determination to make
an effort to ameliorate this condition and
provide for fitting instruction In the fu-
ture
The knowledge of vocal, as well as of
instrumental music, should be impaired
and the foundation laid In childhood, and
that this can be successfully done, as to
the former, is amply shown by the kin
dergarten schools. The faculty of APP
preciating and giving expression to
musical sounds Is well-nigh a universal
gift to mankind; the voice ofmusic bursts
forth spontaneously from the young, and
Its cultivation In them Is as much our
duty as Is that of any other of those
faculties with which heaven has endowed
us.
The careful study OF vocal music has
many beneficial results In the develop
ment of children 1t trains the ear; 1t
strengthens the lungs and throat; 1t gives
control of the vocal chords and aids in
an erect and graceful carriage OF the
body. TT mentally cultivates keen and
sustained attention and fine discrimina-
tion. 1t awakens and develops the
aesthetic side Of child nature and has a
refining and enobling influence. 1t opens
up the good and beautiful to children
in a most attractive form, and leads to |
home associations of the young with each
other in intellectual and moral entertain
nfent. For these reasons Its cultivation |
appeals strongly for encouragement to
the head of every family.
In the eastern portion of our country, |
among the old, wealthy and populous
cities, more attention Is paid to this sub |
ject than formerly. The old methods |
have been cast aside; persons of the |
highest capacity and skill have been en-
ployed and the latest improvements In |
methods of training have been adopted, |
and instruction not only impaired in |
these new methods to the children, but |
also to the teachers of the several lower
gradec
The old methods were radically wrong. |
We have seen the children forced to |
sing at their loudest without any respect |
for clearness and sweetness Of tone. We |
have witnessed the almost cruel strain |
ing of their vocal chords in being obliged |
to sing beyond their compass. We have |
had placed before them music much be- |
yond their capacity, which meant nothing |
to them and made no appeal to their |
youthful feelings. We have seen them |
taught altogether by rote, without the |
attempt to instruct them how to read |
at sight. Loudness seemed to be the OBJ |
ject, not naturalness. In the opinion OF |
the writer these old methods have ruined |
many a voice In childhood which might |
have developed II properly guarded and |
cherished, into public delight.
In teaching vocal music to children, |
the cultivation Of pure tone Is the first |
step-the quality Of the tone depending |
upon the position and freedom Of the |
trunk, throat and mouth. O. The child's |
register Is to be found and care taken |
to permit 1t to sing only In Its COM
pass. 3. The scale may then be intro |
duced, the steps in which should be grad
ual, practicing only between the lines |
Of the staff suitable to the compass OF |
aI.ft1 nla 1aW. -
fore the position of the scale is Illus
trated on the blackboard 4. The study |
of intervals should then come-with the |
use of hand and finger signs before the |
youngest children are shown the black
board 5. Time or rhythm. 8. Sight |
work. T. Two-part singing, ETC. At the |
same time that the lessons are going on |
the children should have the pleasure of |
singing by being taught rote songs Of an |
interesting and Joyous character-simple |
airs, suited to their capacity and care
fully selected. There is a large field Of |
melody from which to select, to be found |
In the foak-songs of Europe-songs Of the |
people and Of nature. The singing books |
usually found In our public schools seem |
70 be gotten up with a view to the profits |
OF native authors and nine-tenths Of their |
contents are Of the most commonplace |
character
In the Introduction OF such compre-
hensive method into the public schools |
Of Astoria, too much must not be ex- |
peeted in the first year and the value of |
the plan wiA not fully unfold Itself be-
fore the fourth or fifth year. For those |
schools, a schedule of work." for each |
year, In detail, should be adopted, set
ting forth clearly the work to be studied |
in each term, the appliances to be used, |
and the degrees Of development which |
should be arrived at by the end Of the |
year In each grade.
It win no doubt be found to be one !