Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-11

ers of vocal music in our schools have la
bored to accomplish, and they have accom-
plished. very much in this very line of
vocal training, We have had many an
opportunity to know and see.
So skillful have the schools become in
former days that, without foreign aid,
and have so pleased the public that the
peoples patronage amounted to about SJ0,-
600, which furnished the means for paving
for pianos and school libraries. These con-
certs successfully demonstrated the fact
that the pupils, under the ''old SYSTEM"
but now demolished 20, could represent the
most delicate and tender sentiment by their
well-modulated tones Surely, We have
heard their mature songs" of birds, fiow-
erS, animals, employments, and even of the
lannon's roar, and of the funeral dirge. In
this respect 1 am sure that our present
schools can claim nothing new.
Until within the last ten years special at
tention was Systematically and successfully
given to scale or interval voice training,
and to time. This fact can be attestcd by
thousands of living witnesses. But 1t has
been evident to every careful observer that
for number of years past there has been
less attention given to musical training
than heretofore, and it is not owing TO lack
of training in former years that time and
tune have been neglected.
Miss Scammell may have shown, there
fore. highly commendable zeal and skill
in reviving and in returning to an ''old sys-
tem," and to old methods of musical Ii aim
ing. which had been neglected.
termed while it is not necessary part of
musical training, was introduced into our
schools over twenty-five years ago by Prof.
Mason of Boston. Even the numerals and
the seven letters, used to represent the
sounds of the scale, have been successfully
used, answering the same purpose as the
hand symbols"
Thirty years ago, and more, we saw ex-
hibitions of interval training and OF sight
reading" quite as remarkable as any that
can be shown now. And very much of this
work was done then by Prof. Daniel, who
has been employed in teaching vocal music
in our schools constantly for the last forty
years, but who does not now receive sim
gle word of notice in this nat,erin ,.escrip-
ton of a musical renascencc.
Speaking of Prof Daniel I reminded
of an incident which occurred some thirty
years ago, when this veteran music teacher
called together some 10000 of the pupils he
had trained in our public schools TO greet
the Grand Army Of the Republic" with
songs of various characteristics, from seats
prepared for them on the side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Their music was SO beauti-
fully executed and characterized that the
whole multitude stopped TO applaud this
youthful choir with loud and continued
demonstrations.
The article on music teaching in our
schools informs the public that two great
musical concerts are to be given in June
next, to demonstrate what has been done,
or accomplished during the past five years"
One concert is to be given by 800 selected
voices from about 1900 pupils and the
other by 900 pupils selected from about
5000 pupils in our High Schools. Yet, as
We understand, these are not the pupils
who have been specially trained under this
wonderfully reformed system OF training,
for Miss Scammelrs training has been con-
fined mostly to the three lower grades, and
entirely to the five lower grades.
1t is a little singular that in the last re-
port of the superintendent not a word is
said by him, by the trustees, about
music, about this wonderful trans
formation of vocal music training, which is
said to have been going on for the last five
years. of which the public is now informed
for the first time
But In relation to the proposed concerts
cannot help inquiring how it happens
that, in view of the alleged facts, that our
schools are now enjoying the advantages
of the best musical talent and of the best
musical instruction which our country at
fords not even excepting Boston, 1t has
been found necessary to call for the SER
vices of foreigner (Mr. Tomlins), formerly
director of music in Chicago schools, and
the choral director of the worlds fair
music, to come here at the expense of our
city, to spend a fortnight in drilling these
grand selected choruses2
Has this been necessary in order to pro-
claim to the world the excellency of this
new system of musical instruction, which
has really been in use here for more Than
twenty-five years? TAXPAYER No. l.
Revenue Marine Promotions.
The President has made the following
promo tions in the revenue marine service:
William H. Hand, captain: Howard NJ /
Broadbent. first lieutenant