New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
THE NEW MUSIC SUPERVISOR
FRANK DAMROsCH AND HIS METHODS
OF TEACHING SINGING.
A GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC STUDY IN
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ExPECTED-A SKETCH
OF HIS LIFE AND WORK.

A GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC STUDY IN
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ExPEcTED-A SKETCH
OF HIS LIFE AND WORK.
The appointment Of Frank Damrosch as super
visor OF music In the public schools or New-fork
means that a great stimulus will be given 10 the
cultivation OF music by the children OF the CITY,
erd that the meth DDS pursued In the public SCHOOLS
in teaching this subject will be such as TO arouse
much greater interest In It than has ever pelore
been shown The value OF music teaching when
properly carried on. as a branch OF the puonc
school education. has long been recognized. anu
has been concusively shown; but IL Is un1ortu'
natelv true that the instruction In New-York
schools has never been so systematic or OF such
character to produce results OF any signincahce
at ALL The teaching has hitherto been utterly
fragmentary and unscientnc. without wcli-denned
or well-consdered plans. The result mas been tna'
the time and money spent upon 1t have been prac-
,IcalIv wasted The assertion Is made by teachers
who have made the subject speciality that ten
minutes a day IN the public schools devoted 10
teaching OF the right Sort kept up for the eight
years that constitute the public school course OF
this city, would turn out pupils who cou'o reaa
and sing Mt sight the most difficult scores OF vocal
music Such a course OF instruction would be a
source of constant pleasure and intellectual stimu-
us 10 all the pupils. and would put them many
In possession of Of the finest agencies OF curt
ure and spiritual uplifting. 1t would give them
something that would he n resource anu NIB"
and noble pleasure all the rest of their lives IL
would have an apprecable influence IN RAISING the
standard of musical cultivation Of the whole OF
Greater New-York, for It would spread leaVeh
among the great mass OF the people that does not
now exist. and that must necessarily have per-
manent and continually increasing effect
WHAT THE PEOPLES CLASSES HAVE DONE
The experience that Mr.. Damrosch has had In
teaching music to the young working men ana
women Of this city far to show that this Is not
an exaggerated picture OF what may result What
this experience Is has been shown within a week
IN the concerts given by the Peoples Singing
Classes and the Peoples Choral Union at Carnegie
Hall There the latter organization gave superb
performance Of 1.-THE Messiah" and the classes
sang part songs OF various degrees OF difficulty;
but all with results that were most gratifying 10
the critical listener. The Peoples Choral Union
consists OF people who began the study Of music
four years ago. They entered upon the course OF
instruction under Mr. Damrosch at the Cooper
Union practically In ignorance OF reading music
from the printed page Of any Of the higher re-
ouirements Of the art They had lessons every Sun
day afternoon for about six months In each year.
The work has been such to secure and retain
the interest OF the great majority OF the students.
and classes OF from 500 to 200 have been MAIN
tanned. with recruits each year to begin the
work The fact that within this period OF time
they have advanced sufficiently TO sing The Mes
sah" in a way that is seldom heard Is most
striking confirmation OF what Is claimed for proper
instruction in music.
There may have been surprises In store for Mr..
Damrosch and his assistants In the quickness and
readiness with which their instruction was under
stood and assimilated. but there was no magic In