Evening star., 1897-03-13
IN MUSICAL CIRCLES
Mr.. Jerome Hopkins Talks on Instructing
Children in Music.
Entertainments That Have Taken
Place and Those That Are
In Contemplation.

| Mr. Jerome Hopkins is making progress
| with his children'ss opera, and 1t is proba-
| Die mat performance will be given during
Easter week. The title Is 'Taffy and Old
| Munch, the words and music both being
| the work Of Mr.. Hopkins, and the story
| and action, as well as the music, are such
as to be well within the comprehension of
children 1t will interest the little ones,
and already those who are under Mr.. Hop
kins training manifest the greatest indus
! try In their work Mr. Hopkins. in speak
l1g on the subject, said: Children are
taught to talk before they are taught to
read, and in music 1 think they should be
taught to sing, to form the proper tones.
when their lungs are pliable and their
throats In good condition, before they
taught the musical notation A child can
easily be taught to sing properly. to take
Its breath in the right way, and to utter
true, full, round tones musically, just as
1t can be taught to speak clearly and dis
tlnctly. Then you teach the child to
read music just the same as you teach it to
read / know that isn't the method now
employed In teaching music in the schools,
| but l don't think the present system is
right My experience both in this country
and iii Europe convinces me of the correct
ness of my theory, and have always pro-
dGced good results from it. l think this
will be demonstrated when my operetta is
produced. 1t is educational work. and
you will find that the blending of adult So
loists with children for the chorus will
make very happy effect
Mr.. Hopkins has taken hold of this work
with his characteristic energy, and hopes
TO make the coming festival but the begin
ming of series that will excite great pub
lie interest.
Miss Gisbern entertained members of the
Sunday Night Music Club at her residence.
1872 18th street, where they played a mis-
cellaneouS program made up of the COM
DOSitiOnS Of HAYDN MnSZknUSki and (Sil1ef
all for four hands piano and quintet of
strings. in addition to which Miss Elsa
Clke played two solo piano numbers.
A concert will be given at the Union
Methodist Episcopal Church. Goth street
near Pennsylvania avenue northwest next
Tuesday evening at I:3o o'clock. Eminent
local talent has been secured. Mrs. Thos.
c. Noyes, the Cecelian Quartet, MIR. Ber-
nard Ryan, Mr.. Will Mooney, Miss Sallie
Nicholson. Mr. Bouic Clarke, and others
will assist The proceeds will go to the
benefit of the church Improvement fund.
One of the most promising of the young
est Gmateur musical organizations of the
city is the Capital Musical Club of East
Washington. This club was organized last
April with only three charter members
Since hen 1t has increased to a member
thip of from twenty to twenty-five. COM
posed of young men whose ages range from
fifteen to twenty-one years. Regular re-
hearsals are held each Wednesday evening
at the homes of the various members.
To give an idea of the clubs work, and
the cass of music performed, the program
Of last weeks rehearsal included selections
from Faust" 'Tannhauser," Poet and
Peasant and 'Erminie," and Sousas lei
Captain and directorate" marches 1t
also included The aOrdway Rifles March,
by Paul r. Hallam of Capitol Hill, which
bids fair to become quite popular.
The following are the officers and men,
bers: Herbert A. Church. president; Leroy
M. Law. secretary and treasurer: director,
VIM. r. Pierson. jr.: librarian, Harry STRAIT
ton; Jos. 0. Harrison, assistant director
Violirs, II. A. ChuEch Jos. o. Harrison, j.
d. Steele, Clarence A. Bateman, H. w.
Hoake. Walter kimbal Fred De Moll and
w. T. Brewer; cello. James A. Brearley;
corEets, IL. W. Austin Leroy NJ. Law and
Gustav Schuldt; .clarionet Clarence
Church: trombone. Professor Vogel; plan
ist, Harry StrattonI g-r,t
Miss Eva Whitford has been an ac-
knowledged light in amateur performances
for several seasons, having scored re-
peated success in comic OPERA. her most
pronounced hit being Lady Jane In Gill
bert and Sullivan's Patience" recently
produced under the direction of Profs H.
E. SALESMAN and VIM de Ford. Miss
Whtford is a Washington girl and pos
sesses histronic ability and is an un-
tiring student. Prof. VIM. de Ford, under
whose instruction she has been coached,
predicts for her success in the professional
ranks. which she expects to enter before
the season closes.