New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-13

pupils who come to me, for which reason nave
trained up some pupil-teachers. among "hlch
are two OF your felow-countrywomen MISS
Grace Gregory and Miss Anderson both OF New
York, and third Miss Meyer. of London You
might them Or ! will refer you 10 one OF
my advanced male pupils.
preferred the latter. Mr. Percy Jackson
he went on. is an American from California
AS ne is already attracting some attention and
is to sing the Noel Of Adam in the midnight
mass on Christmas Eve. at the church of the
Passionst Fathers. you may do best TO see him.
This is his address"
The same afternoon hunted up this Western
singer, who is oublebGrrelled basso, and be-
ginning with him gently soon obtained his con-
hdence. rs il true that You are to sing the
Noer in the Christmas midnight mass at the
Avenue Hoche?" win it be your first appear
ance in public?" do you not feel wonderfully
complimented that your master allows you 10
sing?" Questions like these are very fatternS
and soon wear away the greatest reserve. When
he was told that wanted a short and plain ac-
count OF a students daily routine. he gave 1t TO
me readily enough.
A BUSY DAYS ROUTINE.
"My breakfast comes at 100 a. M 1t may
seem a curious kind of breakfast being com
posed of a pint of cream and noggin Of
planned. because it sounds we'll The quantity
of rum is really only two good tablesroonfuls
With this there is one small roll and little
butter This is my breakfast. 1t comes but
do not eat it, 1t stands on my table while / DO
nv first forty minutes of singing. Marvin. my
cousin who is with me. goes to the piano at "
a. M this being the earliest hour we are allowed
to practise in this hotel de famille where we
live. My cousin accompanying me. sing Bouhy
own exercises. compiled for his pupils. and con-
tinue this work forty minutes by the clock.
They are exercises have studied over mentally
the night before. and which | must be perfect
in at Bouhy's lesson. Forty minutes is long
time singing empty stomach.
And after that you take this extraordinary
breakfast" l asked. wondering. for it is tall
and lusty youth who would not look OUT oi
place lassong steers.
Yes Ii is the best kind of morning practice
"Then | suppose you so in for rest or recre-
alton like some of the young ladies Of my ac-
quaintance?"
mo for | have an extra course OF study.
want TO be able to sing French the French
stage and it is only with the greatest difficulty
that we foreigners make ourselves accept
able. 1t her accent that hurt MISS van
Zandt. Miss Sanderson escaped the dlihculty
by living practically most of her life In france
Noting this CRYING need on the part of foreign
ers especially Americans. two French girls some
time ago began to make themselves specialists
of what they call phonetics.' They are the
well-known Yersin Sisters and have been 80
successful that they can charge absurdly hlsh
prices am going for lesson now Would you
like to come along and see what it is ike
/ walked with them to the studio or the pho-
retc sisters The lesson began Immediately. 1t
French
vowel sounds all of which as difficult to
catch in singing as In conversation The lady
goes to her piano. The pupil stands beside her.
She strikes a note-the scales "Ba-a-a-a-a'
Ba-a-a-a-a." The great bass voice sobs. Ia
a-a-a-a." They go through the consonants, Mt
ting each to a vowel. ascending always one note
at a time. This lesson. which lasts but haf an
hour-though it seemed longer-is as monotonous
as it is important. When the fee. Fl. 70. fun ex-
ercises are over the teacher goes over the words
OF such song as the pupil has been committing
TO memory to assure the habitual proper pro-
nunciation Of each word in singing. AS Tor ex-
ample "My-stere pro-fond.' would be worked
on something like this. "Mee-mee-mee stair-alr-
air. Mee-mee- stair air. air" until the temp
tation of the mere unmuscal layman TO take to
the stair in order to get out into the air Is IT.
resistible And when one reflects that these
half hours Of storm and stress cost ten francs
or 81 each.
AT THE OPERA CLASS.
When I next saw the future basso profundo'
he was eating his lunch like any other. told
him that | should like to go to the opera class
THAT will be for tomorrow" he answered.
This afternoon at 80 my French teacher ar
riyes and works with me an hour. After that
| am free till o'clock, when one OF TWO thihts
happens Either l go TO Bouhy FOR my private
Gle Tic q II
class comes to me for an extra coachihs lcsS"'i
on his own subjects. In the same way ny
mornings are alternated. on MondaSs AM, anu
Thursdays the opera class takes up me t'i"e
which on other days | give to the lersIns.
Exactly FASTENED to remind him i nave
seen and heard one Of those lessons,
Il cannot take you to Bouhy, ne went o'l,
because he is peculiar man and will not allow
third persons TO be present during HIS eSso'''
What are they like?
II take three lessons a week from bouhy HIM
self. each one lasting hall
And cOsting?' 90
IT don't mind telling you. He takes 81 les
son like the most OF them This Is when you are
going through a regular three-years course
with three lessons week lie asks as hsh as
So apiece for occasional lessons. during the lrst
three years the three lessons week are obiiga-
tory After that two lessons week are deemed
enough -, ,
standing that this opera singing Is an expensive
education The student Of painting has scarcely
more than his board and lodging TO thinK OF.
From So to $13 month Is all he need give to ms
masters and at the pinch II Is not difficult to
get three or fou- years credit for coors. brushes
and canvases.
THE STRICT II. BOUHY.
while cannot take you to one OF Bouhys les
sons" Mr. Jackson was saying as woke UP from
this dream OF dollars Il can tell you exactly what
one is like. I am supposed to arrive always ten
minutes beforehand Whether this Is to rest the
lungs from climbing four pairs of stairs. or mere
" for the purposes of meditation, have never
heen able to learn But II Is insisted on By the
master and it has its due effect on us. 1t gives
an impression of sanctty and reverence to the
half hour lesson which even the remembrance of