The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-08


question of having our children taught
elementary music in the public schools
that Virginia and the Southern States
generally are not abreast of the times.
for in many cities and towns north east
and west of us the system has been in
successful operation for years, until now
it is not an uncommon thing to find Il
whole school of children and II majority
of the adult population able to read mu-
sic with nearly the same ease aud rapid
ity as common print. In other respects
no doubt our city schools will compare
favorably with the best, Judging rs do
from the results attained by my own
children for three successive sessions,
and of my rather limited knowledge OF
methods and general results OF other good
schools in the State as compared with
our own.
OF the competency of the management
of our public schools and the efficient ser.
vices rendered, from the superintendent
and school board down to the janitors,
haven't word to say other than com
mandatory; "ut in view of my own per.
sonal interest and in behalf of other pa
irons with like interest. am free to say,
without tear OF successful contradiction,
the question under consideration has too
long been mes lected.
Perhaps the advantage and the vast
Importance OF rudimental knowledge of
music enabling one to read nuently any
ordinary composition has never been
thoughtfully considered by the school au-
thorities and the general public, nor OF
the benefits and blessings accrulnC to the
rising generation and through them TO
every religious and social Institution in
our Southland which would unquestiona.
bly, be the result of such universal knowl
pI,ra rhnrn ic only orr t,lnt,Si1,l,.
that can be urged against Il course in
music being incorpora ted into the public
schools of Roanoke, to which will again
make reference after pointing out some
of the advantages.
do MT think the manifest--neglect and
indifference nf our people upon this inn
portaut subject is because of an under.
valuation or a proper estimate of II must
cal education, but is due mainly to II few
prevalent ideas handed down to us from
the darksages. It's perfectly right. and
principle | would not dare to array my
self against; that only those things
deemed necessary in the daily pursuits
and common walks of life should be
taught at the expense of the public treas
ury; but it is equally as absurd and
wrong in saying II science the knowledge
OF which is so beneficial to the masses
and enters so largely into the material
advancement and prosperity of a people
is luxury. and only those of
SUN cicnt means may acquire the ahil-
ity to make use of IT.. y notion errone-
Gus and ridiculous predominates largely
throughout this section, that God in Law
ishing His gifts upon the childrcp OF men
saw lit in His infinite wisdom to bestow
music with sparing hand and only oc-
casionally is one SO fortunate rs to pos.
sess II musical brain, when just the OPP
poslte Is true and the hountiful Yiver has
endowed nearly every human Icing ana
many OF the lower creation with the ahil-
ity TO sing His praises, and made us all
capable III wonderful musical develop
lntnt.
sincerely believe after years of eXneri-
ence nn! observation 10 find il child any
where possessed with usual intelligence
/ Incapable of development in music and
not susceptible of musical influences IL
rare exception and not II rulc,as is gener.
ally supposed. On the other hand, as in
the case of Blind Tom, it often happens
that God bestows this musical faculty to
the exclusion OF every other endowment
Of the mind
The prime object of our free school sys-
TEN as ! comprehend it is to place within
easy reach of the masses proper facilities
for the acquiring of useful knowledge.
The question then 10 consider is whether
u primary knowledge i am not advocat-
ing an advanced Course in music-is
sufficiently useful. and the present meth
obs adequate by which the masses hnav
obtain IL to warrant the making of music
stu1y in the public schools.
If we stop and think just II moment
there will be no difficulty in settling the
first proposition. In vain do we ransack
our minds to think of n single institu-
ton, public or private, or an assemblage of
men and women for any purpose whatso.
ever in which music does not or should
not play conspicuous part, and oiten-
times absolutely Indispensable The
more we think of It the more uhorouehly
convinced is one that to he able to under.
stand and read music sufficiently to pnr.
ticlpate in the performance of it, is veIy
useful and necessary information, ard
that the absence of knowledge will res ult
in many Inconvenience and embarrass.
ments and places the individual at Il
great disadvantage not easily otherwise
overcome.