The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-02
THE TEACHING OF MUSIC.
A Dissertation OH the Subject from
the Teachers Point Of View.
Some Obstacles.

The following communication has
been received from a prominent and
highly respected teacher In our city
schools, whose signature is withheld by
request:
Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: So much publicity has been given la'cly
to one side OF every tale concerning tcachus
and their work-or lack Of work-that IL seems
as II the old saying, "There arc always two
sides TO a story" must have sunk into oblivion.
so far as this particular class Of much maligned
individuals is concerned.
Whether this Is so because VIC have become
so accustomed to being the scapegoats for all
the sins Of omission and commission In the
mental, disciplinary and ethical lire. that we
have lost even the spunk Of the proverbial worm.
whether we are afraid of the "powcrs that be-
or whether II is because our opinions arc so
seldom sought, I cannot say, but one thing L.
certain, we are accused in startling headlines.
OF many crimes from the unforgvablc one oi
being old maids who object to being slowly
irozen, to that of stealing-ard no one litts a
protesting voice.
Now, last but not least. tlc public Is IL.
formed that instead OF turning out musical
prodigiee, the teachers are again relnisS, are
shiIking their duties. and are not teaching
music ''as It ought 10 be taught" There ar2
many people who have devoted the best years
OF their lives to the study of that particular
art, who would, no doubt, confess that teach
ing music as IL "ought to be Taught is rather
q difficult thing even for a professional.
II an individual without musical training or
education, and with 10 voice TO speak OF, alter
taking six lessons from an Indifferent teacher,
should start out 10 acquire name and fame
by teaching children TO sing by note, two. three
and Tour part songs, he would, st least he Ic-
garded with dark suspicion,
Nevertheless, such is the unboundel confirncr
rcposed in the public school teacher, that shc is
oxpected-nay. commdnled-with no h;ticv
equipment than that, to do successfully what SHE
would be laughed at for even attempting any
where else.
True, We are summoned TO gather from the
four points of the compass TO take lessons @ in
rusic, during which we learn to sing tile scale
blow q pitch pipe and to watch q ball swine
while we repeat in time ihe cabalistic syllable
"ta, Ia, to, to-" 4 few misguided ones, pos.
stssed with mad desire not TO lose one atom
of this valuable information. have dared to dis.
miss their pupils a few moments earlier 10 en-.
able them 10 arrive in due season, and forthwith.
We are all openly accused of stealing time,
while not one word is sdid about The hours
and hours of work out of school for which we
are neither paid nor thanked
wish the gentlemen, vino aIc So dissatisfied
with tho progress ia music in our schools,
would carefully cXimine the second music chart
used in the grammar grades, and rot par'icu.
larly tao syllables used in teaching time only. I
wish they would then try repeating in unison
those same syllabes, in time 10 the swinging Of
ball. When this tongue twisting icat is mas.
tered respectfully suggest that they try teach.
ing the same TO class Of forty or htv chill.
dren. My humble opinion is, that after a trial
or two they will conclude that, considering
the difficulties in the way, the short time since
music was introduced into the schools. and the
fact that the entire system is new TO teachers
as well as to pupils, praise and hearty com.
mcndation tor what has already been accom-.
plished should be ourS instead OF blame aud
sweeping condemnation