The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-24

its Introduction three years ago there
| has been constant growth in attend
ance and interest The success with
pupils of all ages, even down to six
| year-old children. has been amazing.
The Faelten System Is Logical.
In the Faelten System music study is
| for the first time attacked from thor
| oughly logical and pedagogical stand
point. It is the application of the same
| common sense methods to the study of
music that prevails everywhere in the
study of arithmetic. No teacher In the
public schools would think for one mo-
| ment of giving a problem in partial
payments or compound interest to a
student who had mastered the multi
plication table only as far as As: or of
demanding miscellaneous problems
without first requiring an absolute
mastery of the fundamental principles
of mathematics. The instruction neces-
sary to this mastery would properly
be called Fundamental Training"
Music is an equally complex study.
It's whole structure is founded upon
fundamental elements which may be
compared to addition, subtraction, di-
vision and the multiplication table of
arithmetic. The practice which gen.
orally prevails in the so-called old
methods" of teaching is to give the
student smattering of a few of these
fundamental elements with an abso-
lutte mastery of none. The result Is the
loss of precious time, fruitless strum-
ming and inevitable failure.
What the Faelten System Does.
1t Is the mastery of these fundament-
al elements, the laying of solid rock
foundation, which the Faelten System
brings about in manner at once inter-
esting ana rapid. 1t teaches an abso-
lutte and practical knowledge of the
keyboard, time and rhythm; all of the
thirty major and minor scales and
transposition into all keys; intervals,
and their application in rapid reading
the student for the quick perception
and the instant application to the study
of pieces of all the elements which
make up their structure.
This kind of study Is continued side
by side with the study of technique and
pieces under the name of General
Training" This includes sight read
ing, the staff reader, keyboard har-
mony, the transposition reader and ad-
vanced harmony.
Technical Training.
A student can no more learn to play
the piano without well developed
technique, or finger deXterity, than can
a train go Ia New York without rails.
Beginning with "hand culture" the
student must learn to play with smooth
ness, and later with great rapidity, all
of the fundamental technical forms, like
scales, broken chords, arpeggos, oct
aves, etc, with legato and staccato, in
similar and contrary motion, etc. Care
full attention is given to a musical
touch, and thorough study of the
damper pedal.
The Study of Pieces.
Simultaneous with the study of gem
eral training and technique the stu
dent applies his knowledge in the use
of studies and pieces The literature
for the planoforte is larger than for
any other instrument, and ranges from
the entertaining and wholesome selec-
tions for young players to the master
works of the great composers, which
demand the highest technical musical
powers.
From the beginner to thes graduate |
there Is no part of the Conservatory's !
training which will permit of other |
than specially trained teachers. This !