The Washington times., 1895-04-07
Music for a Liu6lih0Od

New York. April 6.-New York is the
art center OF America Thither yearly
flock Iegions OF young men and women am
bilious to pursue study under the best con-
ditions.
The majority OF musical students are
women and a large number are OF limited
means They come trusting to wholly OF
partly defray the cost of tuition by finding
a rennunerative market for the skill local
praise has led them to believe they already
possess Musical bureaus and agencies are
besieged with such applicants.
Not until the stranger realizes that local
reputation is OF no value in New York Is
she naturaiized-
without prestige and influence a girl,
unless she has the voice OF 4 Patti, the art
OF a Malibran, the divine spark of a Pader-
ewski, has no possible chance OF arresting
the attention OF New York, whose verdict
makes or mars.
But natural talent given a thorough musi-
cal education is worth the struggle. It
pays, pays handsomely-as the incomes Of
thousands OF American women as teachers,
choir, oratOrio, concert, and opera singers
and performers attest Demand for the
best musical instruction and entertainment
is rapidly growing
Reputation achieved in New York is na-
tional Facility for study, opportunity to
listen to the best music, possibility OF ulti-
mately finding a hearing are here unsur-
passed.
CONSERVATORY OR PRIVATE IN
sTRUCTION?
Since the esta abIishment OF the National
Conservatory of Music on art for ''art's
sake" under the direction OF DR.. AntOnin
Dvorah, the greatest living composer, and
the humblest may secure unbiased Judg-
ment as 10 her natural gift. No money viii
admit a student to the National Conserva-
tory who fails TO meet the approval Of the
examining board
Its a mooted question whether cOnSeTva-
tory or private instruction is preferable 1t
depends largely upon temperament and OBJ
jectiye end. Conservatory tuition is
cheaper 1t has the environment that slim
ulates. The best private teachers ask from
five to ten dollars for q half-hour lesson.
The conservatories average from one to
two hundred dollars for the scholastic year.
Advanced pupils of the best known private
teachers have little difficulty in finding
paying positions. Ali institutions secure
students comfortable living quarters at
nominal rates, often as low as four dollars
n.
and oratorios are also secured at reduced
rates These are great advantages ~ the
strangers Few desirable boarding -houseS
will accept musical students. The prac-
ticing essential TO them is objecUi3nabl bic
to the masses.
CHANCES FOR CHOIR SINGING
The church choir directory Of New York
numbers between four and five hundred
pages. Many churches here and in neigh
boring towns depend largely upon Cne
bureau. The manager, an accomplished
musician and veteran choir singer, is IN
personal touch with all choir lofts.
He personally examines all applicants for
enrolment on his books. She may sing
scale, ballad, or anything she chooses to re-
veal the quality and scope OF her voice.
Questions as to ability to read musie follow,
but the test is left to the organist or cI OR
master before whom she may be sum-
moned. Satisfied with the applicants
ability, her name, on the receipt of i've dol
lars, is enrolled on the book for one year.
When churches apply or the manager
learns of vacancies he looks over his books
and sends the material he thinks viii be
most likely to meet the requirements.
A most trying ordeal is the comp stitive
tests before the organist, choir master and
the church musical committee The con-
teStant rarely does herself justice. Out of
fifty perhaps three will be chosen FOR the
final selection.
Women in the arts, as in the trades,
are prone to lower the rates OF compen-
sation. Fearing failure in the final con-
test of merit alone, they frequently do
not hesitate to undersell a rival. The
musical committees OF most churches are
generally business men. The lowest-priced
singer, other things being about equal,
stands O good chance OF winning. Deep
contralto voices are most difficult to find.
MezZo-soprano takes this place in most
choir work. Comparatively few singers
OF good natural voices read music readily.
To be able to read at sight and trans
pose compensates in the Judgment uf
the organists and choir masters for many
vocal defects. A reliable reader of in
ferior voice is more likely to get good
salaried position than an unreliable reader
of superior voice.
RATE OF SALARIES.
One hundred and fifty dollars is the
lowest salary paid solo singer, 81 800
the highest, except at DIR. Paxton's church,
where Clement de We're receives s., 800.