The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-04

Teacher-Is there any book puo-
lished which gives The names OF
pieces used i'm piano teaching arranged
in progressive order? I am frequently
at a loss to know what TO give pupil
next
Answer,-Thero are several books and
pamphlets of the kind YOU mention.
Among these / may mention the Grad
ed Course" by Alfred Turner, who was
for many years connected with the
New England Conservatory of Music,
Boston The Graded Course" by Carl
Faction. of Boston, is similar in its
plan. THE Musician" by Ridley Prem
tice, of England. is, like the others, di-
vided into six grades. and published in
six small volumes-one volume to
grade. A special point is made in Civ
ing the analysis of each piece as re-
CARDS it's form.
These books give not only a graded
course of pieces put also of Etudes as
well, and are valuable as helps in the
matter of suggesting pieces and studies
that are used by teachers of wide eX-
perienCe. Even with these suggestions
the teacher must use the utmost care
In culling from them the pieces best
adapted to each pupils needs. No one
pupil is expected to study all the
pieces indicated as there are many
pieces under each grade which belong
to the same degree of difficulty, diff
fering in their style and characteristics.
These are indicated as a convenience
to the teacher, but the necessity for
choice still remains
You will please pardon me when 1
add that harm is oftimes done in fol-
lowing book of this kind slavishly.
IL not infrequently happens that teach
ers settle upon q list of pieces which
they use with all Of their pupils en-
trely ignoring the fact that the per-
sonalities of students vary so greatly.
before giving a piece to a pupil the
teacher should deliberate carefully,
piece in hand, whether or no that par
ucular piece be best adapted to that
particular pupil. The best way to Sc
lect pieces or studies is to have
goodly number of them constantly on
hand, all of which have been care
fully divided into the different grades.
From these the teacher may select
from the particular grade to which the
pupil belongs the piece specially
The piece can at once be given into the
pupils hands, with special directions
as to how it is to be studied, and mis-
takes, which must arise if the teacher
relies upon his memory, or follows any
set course, are avoided.
Harmony--W text book on Har-
mony do you consider the best? | am
now studying Richter's. How does
1t rank? Please answer in Question
Box"
Answer.-I will answer the last part
OF your question first. / am well ac-
quaintcd with Richter's Harmony, hav-
ing used it in my own studies and
teaching, and 1 am happy to say thct
it has been superseded by text books
that are infinitely better in every way
1t is, at best an elementary textbook;
it is not very clear IN the original
German, and the English translation
has not in the least improved il. The
worst feature is that the exercises 70
be worked are without definite rhythm,
phrases, or periods and are, even when
correctly worked. unsatisfactory both
from a musical standpoint and as aids
to practical work. Decidedly the best
textbook on harmony, In the English
language, U have examined them alb
is, In my estimation, that by Prout
which has the merit of having been
originally written in English Git is puo-
lished by Augener, of London; the
exercises are rhythmical and are, when
properly written practical illustrations
of harmony, melody and musical form.
The student who has mastered this
work-Which can only be after long and
dlligent study-will have the praise
worthy consciousness that he actually
knows something.
/ have some unpleasant "reminiscences
connected with Richter's Harmony,
and one or two others of the same ilk,
which l have no objection to telling as
a warning to others. on going to
Paris several years ago to study, the
knowledge of harmony that took with
me had been gained from the aforesaid
textbooks under the guidance of a
prominent Boston musician. on reach
ing Paris / sought out the celebrated
theorist. Theodore Dubois, now director
of the Paris Conservatoire, with the eX-
pectation that he would give full sane
tion to all l had done. After taking
up the study of Reber's Harmony with
Dubois Additional exercises (two large
volumes in French, comprising the
most exhaustive treatise on harmony
ever written) ! found to my chagrn
that l knew very little about the study
after all,-that, in fact. I had scarcely
more than begun it. With this exper-
ience in mind it is not surprising that
it is my intention to wage relentless
war against methods which purport 20
be what they are not. have no OBJ
lection to the use of elementary text
| books on harmony with young pupils