Evening star., 1897-01-23

take a snort walk before lunch. In the af-
ternoon devote as much time as possible
to repertoire. preparing my programs. The
night, think, should be the time to devote
to composition. Chaminade does all her
composing at night Paderewski does most
OF his study at night. Students. as a rule
do not devote .nough time to the practice
or staccato and to wrist practice. The
wrist. especially. needs great deaf of at
tenuon. As l once heard a great pianist
say.'There lies the secret of piano play
ing. All finger passages l practice forte
to gain strength
DO you use one of those mute keyboards
for the sake of the neighbors?"
Never! I believe them to be a snare for
two reasons. First. You must hear your
own notes. Secondly. their action is so
light that you cannot get sufficient finger
ana wrist development from them. Leave
them Alone
Value of Common Sense.
Il should like to have a suggestion as to
method"
People want to hear so much nowadays
about method! If students will use their
common sense they will make more prog
ress, technically. than by chasing after
various methods. After all, there is only
one method. and l am sure every pianist
Knows it But, unhappily, pupils nova
days are so content to remain pupils in
stead of becoming students. They are too
good. too modest, too believing. hanging
On the words of pretentious, self-consti-
tuted diScoverers of methods. They would
40 better to look about them calmly and
think for themselves. They surely must
know. when they practice, what part of
their work is most beneficial what is un-
necessary ard what they can do away
with One should not become absorbed in
technical work. but simply give it its prop
er amount of time each day.
am to say all that?'
yes. Say to the student In America
not to be narrow minded in the selection
OF MS teacher. One should not go to a
great teacher simply on his reputation
Nor should he continue trustfully on faith
the. evidence of things unseen-when 1t
becomes apparent that the famous teacher
rs rs DONG little for him. 1. is only in Amer
that If they continue long enough with a
gwen celebrity it will be all right with
tnen In the end. You must improve! Get
an the ideas you can from your teacher
ana lhen change. Change often enough to
DC cchtinually getting fresh ideas; then
when the time comes, give up teachers and
study alone. There comes a time when a
man must develop his own individuality
continual copy is not going to make an
artlst. Why, that is what makes ones
playing attractive! People are not to be
deceived; they can detect copying. On the
other land, ought to say it, this individ-
uality cah,not be well developed by the iso-
lated student without tant opportuni-
tles OF nearing great music and comparing
hln:Sef with others. Such one might
reaGlly acquire no end of personal freaks
And this is why say that Germany is the
land for the study of our art"
Ihen you are for foreign study?'
Indeed l am. When one intends to fol-
low the piano as a career, the sooner ne
makes for Germany the better for himl
How l should like to make all students un-
aerstand that the teacher is not every
tnn&-wlthout pushing them into the
worse error that they themselves are ev-
erythihg the truth is that the artist is
the summing up of his surroundings. add
ed OF course, to his personal bent and ca
frSt Y,Ina h;
ton in the second. OF course the teacher
counts for great deal at the beginning
otten 1ar too much. as l am convinced. In
the students middle course the teacher
should he helper: it is not necessary for
him to be brute:
The best teachers are always those who
nave been great panists. Why? Because
they have been through the hard work
themselves, they know best how to meet
technical difficulties they do not distress
the already worried student with impa-
tience over passages which one of these
theoretical martinetS might not be able to
pass through with credit on his own ac-
count. Teachers who have studied theory,
however deeply, but have never been great
performers, must work purely mechan-
ical lines. Avoid such people.'
Study In America.
But ought not one study at home as
far as it is possible to go?"
'As far as it Is possible to go? What do
you mean by that? We have the most
capable teachers in America. Take Mr.
William H. Sherwood, now in Chicago 1
believe he did more for me than any one
else. That man has had great advantages;
he was pupil of both Liszt and Kullak;
and, profiting by his study reducing
the different methods, he has come upon a
method surpassed by none at home or
abroad. If a teacher could make pianist
1t would rot be necessary to go beyond
such a man. But that is not it. Whereas it
Is not waste of time to study at home
you will gain more in five months of Ger
many than In five years in America-simply
because of the musical surroundings on
which 1 have insisted much"
Then the program is to be born in
America, study in Germany and come out
in France?"
Il suppose that Is 1t. There is plenty of
talent at home
And American hair will grow as long as
anyr'
DO not blaspheme the pianists hair! 1t
is not, as you think, all for publiciteI We
are nervous sensitive lot; you know the
qufckness and complication of the brain
and nerve movements in piano playing
from the page to the eye, from the eye to
the fingers-are the most wonderful the
human organization is capable of. Sam
sons strength was in his hair-that is an
allegory. But who knows but what the
psychologist will be able. some day, to ex-
plain the truthfulness of what / and others
already Know empirfcally, that these long
locks py their weight, their heat, their
electric or magnetic properties, or other
hidden virtues, may effect a precious pro-
lection to these excruciatingly sensitive
nerves? Why does my dog howl when 1
play? They say it is because it causes ac-
tual pain in his ears PianiSts do not wear
their hair en- bandeauX, hiding their ears,
like Merode at the Opera, it is true; but
ought not their consensus in the practice
speak for .itself%'
STERLING HELLO.