Evening star., 1898-07-09
MUSIC EDUCATION.
An Interesting DfsquisitiOn on In
diyidual Singing.


Music in its relation to the education of
the young was considered al a well-attend-
ed meeting in the Gunton Temple Memorial
Church. The program was an interesting
one, including addresses on "Fads in Pub
lie School Music" E. w. Pearson, super
visor of music. Philadelphia, Pa, with a
discussion by n. Coe Stewart, supervisor
of music, Cleveland, Ohio What is Mu-
sic and How to Help Children to Become
Musical" by Miss Mari Ruef Hofer. Chi
csgo, ILL.,, with a discussion by Miss HELM
w. Trask, Minneapolis, Miau, ard lndi-
vidual Singing by c. ii. ConSdon, super
visor of music, st. Paul. Mimi.
The latter paper was particularly inter-
estng. Mr.. Congdon said the power to
initiate one of the most valuable
faculties with which the human mind Is
endowed This faculty is brightest during
childhood, and without it the young mind
could not develop. Children learn songs at
first by imitation, which is, of course, the
natural way.
The process of singing by note is decided
ly unnatural, and the ability to sing at
sight is difficult to acquire, but IL is
means to a greater end, and Is, therefore,
part of ones education. Because chlldren
can initiate so readily whatever they hear,
the process of recalling elementary con-
cepts that are not heard at the HoHeHt ls
exceedingly difficult
Calling words is a small part of the men
tai process of reading, and yet no reading
could be done without the abl1ty TO can
words The greatest value OF music IN the
schools lies in its salutary effect upon the
children-cultivating their emotions ana IN
fuencing them for good. The best results
are reached. however. when the chlloren
are taught to read music intelligently-
Without a correct conception of the rela
tive pitch of sounds. sight-snging is oct OF
the question, and ear-sinGlng must neces-
sarily predominate. Many teachers tflnK INN.
their work is satisfactory because a few
pupils with strong voices lead, ana the
rest follow. An examination often reVeals
the fact that a great majority Oh chloreh
sing by ear and would get along about as
well if they had nothing to look at but the
words When concert singing is done ex-
clusiveIy. only the natural leaders acquire
the ability to read A..
natural singers for oftentmes the INTEL
lect develops more rapidly than the emo
tions and while the natural leaders redu-
ily obtain mechanical results, the quallty
of voice and the expression are often sadly
neglected. On the other hand, many
natural singers have beautiful voices ana
a strong appreciation of the emotional slde
of music but overlook the mental effort
necessary to interpret the printed page
They depend entirely upon their nelghbors
for the melody.
Experience shows that 1t is possible to
reach the individual in the matter of tone
relation as well in number relation. We
should be on our guard, however, against
falling into mechanical habits, and remem-
ber at all times that the development OF
tone relation is only necessary means 10
a very desirable end viz: the intelligent
Interpretation of the printed page of music
and the proper rendition of the school song.
Discipline Necessary.
The first necessary condition for indi-
yidual singing is perfect discipline. Each
pupil should stand ready to respond in
stantly to the call of the teacher. He
should be willing to at least try to sound
the key note, and to do as much more as
possible. At first the pupils will laugh at
slight mistakes, but in short time this
will wear away and individual recitations
in music will be regarded as part of the
daily work.
The timid pupil should not be discouraged
at the outset with difficult problems. Give
him something that he can do, and he will
be ready for the next step. The great value
of this work is not SO much in the actual
drill, but in its reflex influence upon pupils.
1t is an Indictment to individual effort.
which is the true secret Of acquired ability.
The ''monotones' should not be required
to think sounds before they are able to
initiate them. As soon as 1t is found that
a pupil can sing short melodies by imita-
ton, he should then be expected to remem-
Der and recall some Of the typical forms OF
tone relation.
Through the practice of writing music
by dictation we have found a speedy way
of reaching the Individual. The value OF
written work as an aid to the memory
should not be overlooked. Children will
acquire more definite knowledge of the
staff notation by the practice of copying
music and writing it by dictation Scales,
signatures. intervals, etc, will thus become
indelibly fixed In the mind. The songs can
be preserved for future use. and the work
will thus serve a two-fold purpose
A plan must now be devised for individual
tone drill that will not exhaust the time al
our command, and thus leave no room for
the study of songs.
Advice to Teachers.
As far as possible, TEACHERS should make
the following observations ana keeY a care
full record Of them:
!. 40 what extent 10 the eo-existsnes Of