Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-11
SIGHT READING CLASS.
Instant Success of the Choral So
ciety's New Enterprise.

The first meeting of the Choral Societys
class in sight singing, which was organized
last Monday evening at Carroll Institute
Hall, has been looked forward to with much
interest in musical circles. The success Of
Mr. Frank Damrosch and his methods in
New York city has been phenomenal
that many have wondered TO what extent
the movement would find favor here in
Washington. If any one could have seen
the tbrong of eager and interested students
of music that poured into Carroll Hall last
Monday evening and filed the auditorium
back almost to the doors, any doubts as to
the success of the movement here would
have DIT once disappeared.
AS the society had not anticipated any
thing like such an attendance, there was
scarcity of instruction books and some de-
lay in selling the tickets of instruction,
which will not occur again. That the move
ment is destined to have a deep and very
beneficial influence upon the best interests
of music in the national capital cannot be
doubted The movement here Will proceed
upon lines somewhat modified from those
followed by Mr. Damrosch in New York.
As is the case there, ii will be here also, a
popular movement, and all will be welcome
10 the classes, the only requirements being
a Slight knowledge of the rudiments only.
AS in New York, the fee will be nominal.
The object of the society in establishing
these classes is to foster the study of sight
reading. il being fact that true sight read
ing of music is comparatively rare-much
more so than would be supposed-as most
of our singers. especially in church choirs,
read by a system of sight guessing rather
than sight reading, and depend more on a
good leader of their particular parts, whom
they follow by ear far more than they them
selves have any idea.
Naturally these classes will in time be-
come feeders to the active membership of
the Choral Society, and thereby the stand
ard of excellence for which this society
has SO long been noted WILL of course, be
raised. But the opportunity thus afforded
to amateurs, pupils, choir members and
others to obtain a thorough drill in sight
singing at a nominal expense and at hours
that will not interfere with other engage
ments cannot but tend to greatly benefit
both directly and indirectly all the musical
organizations of the city and to help the
instructors in voice culture as well. The
hour for the class, to :40 O'Clock each
Monday evening. leaves the balance of the
evening free for all ordinary engagements.
Regular assignments of home work win be
made each week. Mr. H. II. Freeman the
choirmaster of st. Johns Church. who con-
ducts the class, gave a preliminary talk
last Monday on the principles upon which
the Danrosch method is founded and took
the class through some preliminary exer-
cises. illustrating the various points on the
blackboard: but the serious work of the
class will really commence next Monday
night. as much time was necessarily occu-
pied at the first meeting in matters per-
tanning to organization.
The Frank Damrosch instruction book
which costs 80 cents, is used, and besides
this the only other expense connected with
the class is the nominal fee of 10 cents per
lesson, charged to confine the attendance
to those only who are really interested in
the work and do not come from motives of
curiosity merely. A monthly ticket is sold
at reduced rates.
On the whole, the Choral Society is to be
congratulated on the very successful in
auguration of this new enterprise under
the direct auspices of Mr. Frank Damrosch
who so kindly sent on his principal assist
ant, MIR. Alfred Haiiain, to confer with Mr.
Freeman and to address the society on this
subject. and they desire it to be known that
the movement is popular one and that all
are welcome to the classes, including even
those whose knowledge of the rudiments is
very slight.