The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-27
THE FLETCHER MUSIC METHOD.

The FLETCHER Music Method, WnicH ~
creating so much interest among educat-
ors In the large cities of this country and
Canada was originated by, "a bright young
Toronto lady, Miss Evelyn Ashton
Fletcher. Miss Fletcher has had the
benefit of five years study, under some OF
the best masters Of Europe. in compost
ton. planoforte and violin playing, sing
ing and languages. Whsn she commences
toaching among her pupils was class
of young beginners, in teaching whom
she encountered the difficulty that con-
fronts every teacher Of children, namely,
how to interest them in the beginnings OF
music. She found that there was no
method Of teaching these beginners other
than that employed for the older pupils
and that seemed SO beyond their oompre-
hension. Loving music as she did 1T
hurt her thateis Should be made the most
unpleasant of tasks to the little ones and
she set to work to devise way that
should turn disagreeable task into an
agreeable pastime. 1t seemed to her tina
it would be just as sensible to give the
childTen algebraic equations to work out,
before they had learned simple numbers
or to sat them to reading books of five
syllable words, before they had mastered
the alphabet as to give them just the
same kind of piano teaching that was
given to their elders. 1t took three years
to develop this method in its entirety.
The object of the method is to give a
| fundamental and logical musical seduca-
ton in way which pleases children by
appealing to their imagination. love Of
symbolism and the picturesque, SO promi
nent in childhood-and thus make it
possible to envelope the child physically
and mentally.
The principal aims of the method are,
Ito train the ear.
2-To make pupils familiar with time
and musical signs and develope rhythm.
3-To teach them to read music rapid
ly.
4-To give them thorough knowledge
of the key. board of the pianoforte.
| 5-Io Geach them how to build the
major and minor scales
6-To make the fingers and wrists dex
ible.
Ito create interest in the great mas
ters of the past and present.
After completing the course the pupil is
ready to go to the piano, reads music
rapidly, knows where to find every note
on the key board, knows how to use his
hands, feels the rhythm and understands
| it mentally, recognizes the key in which
| ., nd no oh ri
None of tie natural love of music has
been forced out of the child's heart in
the gaining of this knowledge, for it is
pleasure instead of dru1gery. The
knowledge gained is as useful for other in
struments or for the voice as for tie
piano. This method is applicable for
pupils of any age over five years and
actual use and public demonstr alton have
proved that all that is claimed for it Is
accomplished Miss Fletcher has recently
completed course of instruction. in the
method at the New England Conservatory
to o large class of teachers from all points
Of the country. Miss Florence E. Wood
ury of Daering street who has proved
successful piano teacher was fortunate
enough to be the only teacher from Port
land, and indeed, from Maine, who was
in attendance. She took the entire course
and has returned fully equipped to teach
the system, having brought back with her
complete set CT the materials used in
teaching the method. These materials
are protected BY patents and only students
under Miss Fletcher Ore entitled to use
them in teaching. Miss Woodbu rvs Ger
tihcnte may be seen In the window OF
Cressey, jones and Alien.
In this new system pupils are taught IN
classes-from seven to ten in class.
The system Goes not displace any well es-
tablished method like the Virgil Clav1er
Method. but is really preparatory to 1T
making pleasant pastime of what has
often been to beginners meaningless
drudgery.
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