Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-02
MARCHESI METHODS.
HOW THE GREAT TEACHER TERROR
 lzEs HER SCHOLARS.

Instructions In Singing From Her Not
 Altogether an Agreeable ordesI-But
 She eonscientiously Labors Always For
 Her Pupils Benefit.
 h the musical world of Europe no teacher stands higher than Mime. Mar chesi, and yet first interview with her 1 is an ordeal to be dreaded. She may tell you with almost brutal frankness that your cherished vocal projects are thin as air bubbles and that you had better turn your attention to cooking. Or, with one unusual gleam of her gray eyes and one sudden indrawn breath, making her thin lips still thinner, she may tell you that you are destined to lift the heart of the world in immortal song and wear the laurels of a great lyric career. Again, she may tell you with the same blunt severity that you 1 have no looks at all for the stage, and after you have been accepted as 3 pupil 1 you are still subjected 10 her merciless severity.
 To be taught by Mme. Marchesi is not to have the iuxury of an individual lesson, an hours good, cozy, comfort able time all to yourself. By no means That is not her plan. You are taught ill class. You are thus introduced at once to an audience. You thus have an opportunity of eonquering stage fright. You are thus submitted to the criticism of others. Not only your voice, but 1 your manners, your gait, your way of holding your hands are studied. From head to foot you are scrutinized
 A small platform is in the center of Marohesi salon, where the pupil stands and recites Cor sings) her lesson. The class sit around the room and critieise. l The pupil has to face not only the class, l but the audience includes often the first musicians of the world. How does a sensitive woman bear the gun fire of Mme. Marehesi's criticism, her ridicule, her sareszn1 and severity? One day one of the class was having her l 3 minutes of lesson before crowded room. Mar chesi was i'll a sardonic humor that morning. Her remarks were brilliant, but more cutting than a Damascus l blade. The audience felt that climax was coming. It came. The girls lip began to tremble as Marehesi's com mentary sparkled and cut and sparkled l again. Her lip trembled more and more. The agitation gained upon her 1 whole body, till she shook like willow l ill the wind. Poor dear, the other pu- 1 pills held their breath. The room was silent as tomb. You could hear Mar ehesi's watch tick ill her pocket. Still the pupil strove to bring out the tone that those severe lips of Marchesi had commanded At last the voice rolled out. The tone gained upon the roem The voice stopped.
 "You sing like fool!'' literally hissed Marchesi, and the storm broke.
 The girl burst into tears. Her sobs, coming apon the silence, were most painful. Not one of the pupils dared to rush forward with comfort or handlSer- chief. The girl threw tie sheet of mu- sic on the floor and covered her face with her hands Then, dashing the tears away from her face, she stopped down, gathered up the scattered music, tore it into shreds, tossed it to every part of the room, and rushed from the platform stage. All felt it was over with her forever, so far as lessons with Marchesi were concerned. and more than one heart ached for her
 .'Ha, hal" laughed Marehesi, rising delightedly from the piano. rubbing her hands together and walking or rather stalking, majestically through the room and up and down and again seating herself at the piano. Ha, hal That girl will sing She has the grand fire. 1 She is dramatic. She has the fine pas sion of the devil. , And the girl came back the next day and won Marchesi's braves and hand elapping
 Upon another occasion Marchesi sat ill judgment upon pupils hands as she stood upon the platform.
 Now, don't put up your lip like a i baby" she says, if I tell you that l never saw such booby. You re as awk ward as a country clown. Look at your hands! Just look at them dangling l down at your sides like a jumping jack waiting to twitch on pole. Mais vol 1 Ia, she continued, softening little, if l do not tell you, ma chere, of thest 1 things now while you are ill my salon. l do you know who will tell you of them later on when you stand for the first time before one of the great audiences of Europe? The reporters will fay you alive and deseryedly. Will they not note down every awkward gesture, every 1 gaucherie? Will they not say, She has a divine voice, but she held her hands like clown?' And when you read 1t in all the papers the next morning. ah, how you will exelaim, Why did not Marchesi correct me, tell me, reprove me, no matter how severely?' Now, hold your hands easily, one palm crossed upon the other, the right hand across the left, the forefnger and middle fin ger of the right hand between the thumb and forefnger of the left hand. Bon Now, see what ease of position, what repose it gives to your whole figure as l xvo., ctapd fhprp ''