Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04
MUSIC AND ART
Two New Singers Added to St.
Luke's Fine Choir.
Music Mt Ocean Wow Tho Norfolk Con-
scr,ntory of Music Orchestra Class :
Aportrait of Captain F'risak professor
womcrsicy's Work in Music.

NOmCrslCy'S WORK IN MUSIC<
There never was n time when vocal
music was moro universally recognized
than ii is to-day, and our leading edu-
Gators and prominent thinkers arc
realizing more and moro that there is
Il phase OF the child nature. that can
be developed better by vocal music
than by any other study
The realization of this fact has caus-
ed some prominent educators to say
essential to a child's proper develop
ment. BE that rs it may, the fact re-
mains, that the influence of music on
the heart and its affections is Very
great, and the soothing and ennoblns
effects are Very apparent.
There has been great advance in
the methods OF teaching music. with
in the past few years.
Music in the public school to-day IS
not considered as y separate, or extra
study, beDeiitinG only II few. and OF
10 practical use to the average boy or
girl, far otherwise, it has proved and
always will prove. when properly
taught, that it is of untold value 10 all
scholars who study ii, whether they are
slpic 10 SlllS or no
The teaching Of n child to sing is
| the smallest part OF the education, but
! 1t Is through this avenue that that
phase OF. the child nature. heretofore
mentioned is reached and developed.
All those noble aspirations of the child
are iwallened--h love of the beautiful,
IL right appreciation of the good and
true, Il blending together of affections
and right motives all OF which go to-
ward making upright men and women
trnc citizens, who can be trusted to
| take their places i'll the ruling and
governing of this, our beloved Republic,
and which will go far towards making
this THE nation of the world.
| Music is taught in the public schools
to-day from u different basis than it
! was twenty or thirty years ago To-
day it is taught by all progressive
teachers from the childs standpoint on
! pedagogic principles.
The question may arise as TO how
soon should thccultivation of the childs
voice commence. We answer, in the
cradle, in infancy. The baby very soon
distinguishes between fathers and
| mothers voice. j also soon learns TO
| know when it is sung TO. The singing
of the lullaby is an old time custom Of
putting baby To sleep, and the baby
| soothed by the singing is lullcd to sleep.
| And we venture the remark that the
| child thus learns intutively the rela-
| ton of one tone TO another in early
| infancy, ana these sounds are retained
more or less, in the mind of the child,
and lis idea, its conception of music is
| based in no small degree upon these
| carly impressions.
Therefore. IL is Very important that
mothers and nurses should sing correct
! ly TO the children.
| 1t is also important that they sing
softly, ana at all times speak softly, in
| order that the timpan of the ear, so
| delicate in the little child be not in
| jured in anyway. We believe that the
harsh. stridant and metallic tones so
prevalent among children are caused
largely by harsh tones heard by them
during early childhood
In order that we may better explain
our method of teaching. let us look
briefly mt the instrument on which we
have to play. When the child first
comes to school. at years OF age. he
possesses only % limited range, or num-
Der OF tones from 10 c the average.
ana in order that the voice might be
properly trained ana developed it is
necessary that We work with what
tones the child has and gradually de-
Vclop more.
the child is taught to speak the vowcls,
properly in Il smooth, quiet tone. The
consonants are then prciiSed and later
on suiixed. the child being trained 10
open the mouth properly.
The tone is then prolonged into the
singing tone. When the tone is sat
isfactory, q second tone. one degree
higher is added when the child be-
comes proficient in those. another tone
is added ana SO on mp the scale Tie
teacher being satiiicd only with a pure
sweet. quiet tone. Loud singing is not
tolerated in the schools, as being hurt
fub to Voice ana is very apt to ruin ii
beyond repair.
Right here. permit me to speak
word in all kindness, to supcrintcnd-
EMS of Sunday Schools. and all others
who train children TO sing for concerts
&c, do not urge, nor even allow the
children to sing loud. All leading voice
trainers Of the country agree that
voices are ruined in childhood. by loud
singing, which robs the voice of its
sweetness beyond restoration.
breathing exercises are given every
day, which strengthen the dorsal and
intereostal muscles. and forms the
habit of deep breathing, thus strength
eninS the lungs, NlayinS the foundation
for good health and good singing, Civ
ing the child a straight figure and n
good carriage.
The songs that are used are adapted
10 each grade throughout the school.
both in words ana compass Of tones
and if the system is faithfully taught
The child passing through from the FIRST
year TO the High school Will sradliatc
with as thorough knowledge OF music
as he possesses OF any other subject.
II. WOMERSLEY.
The choir at ST. Lakes Il. Il. Church
will to-day be reinforced by two fine
soprano voices in the persons of Miss
Meade, of Monumental r t. Choir,