New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
BEGIN EARLY AT THE PIANO.
1T is HARD TO ACQUIRE EXCELLENCE
AFTER ONES MATURITY.
KATE S. cHiTrENpEN THINKS NATIVE TALENT
MORE NEEDED IN INSTRUMENTAL THAN
IN VOCAL MUSIC.

MORE NEEDED IN INSTRUMENTAL THAN
IN vocal Music.
The qualities essential for a good musician arc:
A sensitive temperament. an ear, and losi-
cal mind. The successful musician must possess
indomtable perseverance, indifference to adverse
criticism, and be able maintain steadfastly the
pursuit of distinct aim. While musical ear
can be cultivated 10 a certain extent. and taste
can be stimulated. yet one must have been born
with a natural aptitude for the to become a
good musician.
have been interested In hearing OF an expert.
ment tried upon little child. who. apparently born
with no talent, is being hypnotized once week.
with the idea OF developing a taste for music: and.
according to her teacher. this hypnotic influence
Is having the desired effect But In my opinion.
1t Is most dangerous thing to hypnotic child
for such purpose. because it may leave her .
prey to hypnotic Influences all her life
EARLY TRAINING ESSENTIAL.
In regard to the age when one should begin the
study Of instrumental music 4 may quote ths
great violinst. Joachim. who is reported to havc
said that TO become virtuoso It is necessary for
the child TO begin work at five years OF age In
order to train the nerves and muscles TO control
the instrument. Yet early training alone Will not
insure virtuosity. Ii is interesting read in 10
letters OF Mrs. Browning how her little Penini.
the now celebrated painter Robert Barrett Brown.
Ing. was taught the piano by his father. who sat
beside him two hours daily. and that when he
ten years old he able to play Beethovens
Sonata, opus Z. in Il nat Yet he remained .
musical amateur. On the other hand
| knows 10 how great an extent the training OF his
/ hands at the piano may have contributed to his
skill as artist
USEFULNESS OF THE PIANO.
One thing is certain however. the only means
by which compete control of both hands bo
gained is the piano The organ and harp each re-
quires the Of both handl and all ten fingers:
hut 49, ,ga,. ,f.f. at,f-
esnfal shades Of expression in sound which In
| dictate the psychological condition Of the player.
There is no such thing touch in organ playing.
because it is impossible to alter the tone quality
in organ whereas piano the trained per-
former registers every passing mood through his
finger tips.
Certainly. no one who expects excel
performer ought 10 begin later than ten years Of
As to the length of time requisite TO produce
a good player. do not advocate more than three
hours practice daily Provided there are force and
lucidity of mind In the teacher. and concentra-
ton Of purpose on the part OF the pupil. that
amount Of practice safely be set limit
although many students work from five to seven
hours day A great deal depends upon the
cost less than whose fees smaller. The ex-
perienced teacher makes cross cuts to results that
are never dreamed OF IN the philosophy OF inc
/ smaller members OF the profession. The best play
peeiaily with youns pupils; but for advanced
students there is nothing to take the place OF the
that artist may have retired from active service
| as performer.
LENGTH OF TRAINING
No one can become a finished musician in any
| less time than is required 10 become a fully
equipped physician. lawyer literary artist.
Each year the examining boards of all the great
professional schools raise the standard of work
I that is required for a diploma. and it is the con-
slant raising of the standard that is eliminating
the poor material from the ranks Of American pro-
feCSOnal
clans; what was considered a hne musical educa-
day. In fact not only concert players, but teach
ers, are compelled TO erow in artistic stature from
| season 10 season, or be content 10 be left behind
! in the march OF progress.
THE BEST METHODS.
AS far as methods of study and practice
! cerned | am committed to the teaching Of tho
synthetic method OF piano-playins. The cost OF
pianoforte education is governed by the length OF
ones purse. 1t is good plan for "A student OF
limited means to place herself in the hands of an
eminent teacher, who will appoint an Instructor
whose work can be supervised. The cost OF suca
a course need exceed 500 season, because
there are so many talented young teachers VINO
are only too glad TO avail themselves OF me op,
portunty of working under the adVee 81 ,neip own
teachers. Another plan Is Tor me student 70 }o, n
OF the CLASSES held by sqeh men as ha eacb
of whom is engaged more or less, IN CRITICAL e'asS
work ...... .,,,,.,,,s have ,eer known 70
attend the courses Of all three during the same
season. and the results from hearing me same sne
most inspiring This form OF work has grown IN
popularity during the last rev nrSS n an" teachers
give scholarships 70 talented pupils for ynS w ynKs
OF the artistic and Ten reDsent the Of the
successful performers upon school ana co, ,,n
programmes are those OF puphs "hose eu"0"''
Is given them gratuitously
WOMEN AS MUSIC TEACHERS
with regard 10 teaching. | believe that women
ara pre-eminently fitted for elementary work. be-
cause. as a rule they understand and can manage
cbidren better than men can. and are much more
patient Where woman stands Wby IN h me should not
DO exactly as good work with advanced pupls as
oo nan does out of the of teachers 10
sb n,n' IL has been my privilege to explain the
synthetic method the best all-round WORK thse s s
been displayed came from the pupils vi "o"""
am sometimes asked why 50 6 few TSme cha noS
%boir Directory" gives the number OF orsa ib q
in SewYork and BROOKLYN as SsS out OF %hicn ten
ire women Probably nine out OF evssry ,a .vn
organsts OF either sex are amateur , WU of
undertaken to more 9ay or less limited knowledge Of TIE
PIANO OF the women who hold or nave r nss
Tomnsnt PoiMiI Miss Harrie B. Judd Miss Joseph:
SsI Kate STELLA B sna M ins i HasSs
there were a N Whom have been able to hold their
hIgh places because of their tlOrousn ~ IN,
Parstvey ones with boy choirs have trained
musicians at the organ
ABOUT SALARIES
G. g.. az 7 know the salaries OF piano teachers
in boarding schools range from S"' " So
Wbera teachers residing in New-fork go out %
town 10 schools the fees are larger IN pfopo.,'o"
,a,ng from SO 10 S65 day. The smaiiess hta
haever heard OF vas $50, offered Dy iasn,om III
able NewYork school for season %, to
W. gIysr in each week, making an average Ul ~ ~
10 Cents an hour It was imposing , 70 sre "'
Good private lessons from cohscier ~ oNc,urYork
taking young teachers, can be nao ,ni W FOR less
20 Iitte az 81 an hour, occaslonal! LII ~
a and fees range all the way from that price ~
TO $l2.
MhIG4Aa,44.~