The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-12-09
THE YAKIMA h1kAlD.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Q, 1905
.....- - ~,o>c@r@ 80 .as .4>
THE MUSICAL CORNER ;
CONDUCTED BY l.. A. THOMPSON, d,
Violin Maker aud Teacher.
Music as a Profession.

Music as a Profession.
How is one to know whether he has
talent enough to enter the musical pro-
fession? In my experience | have seen
many a favorite flower open and smile
and fade while now and then dull look
ing bud grew day by day until rare
blossom came forth. AS rule genius
of the highest order needs but little add
vice and the fact that one is in doubt is
an evidence of not being called to the
work of composing. Yet Goethe was so
much in doubt as to his life work that
he once tossed up knife to decide, while
Mendelssohn had serious thoughts of be-
ing painter. The friends of Chopin
intended him for teacher merely, and
his work as a composer was an amaze
ment to all
But as to the question of what is to
be the test of call to the work of play
ing and teaching, difficult as it is to
make an answer to suit particular
case, l shall present some thoughts that
may help in this matter.
First, the requirements for music now
are at least four times greater than
they were quarter of a century ago,
owing to the influx of musicians from
Europe and the vast army turned out
every year from Conservatives and col
leges. Therefore, those who learned
music in the seventies may be set down
as of but little value. No one, in my
opinion, ought to enter music as pro-
fession unless there is in the nnermost
heart and soul love and quenchless de-
votion to music, which is exactly on a
par with the enthusiasm of candidate
for the ministry. There are men who
over estimate their fitness and willing
ness for the labors and sacrifices of the
ministry of the gospel, and in like man.
ner there are many who over estimate
their fitness and willingness to bear the
trials incident to work for the art of
music. If you do really glow and weep
and laugh at the sound of music, as ev-
cry genuine musical person must and
will, it is not necessary that you show
these emotions, then you must cacu-
late your resources. y few hundred dol
lars will not insure you musical ed
ucation which will serve you in the
mighty battles of competition In our
times musical education that would
fit one for the profession even in mod
crate plane will cost some money. and
cannot be obtained otherwise, even for
the second or third rank, fitting you to
teach in second and third class cities.
and not less than three years for pre-
paratory work with close application,
and hard study. is sufficient: and that
under an efficient teacher.
! As to talent that is vague word.
and there are so many kinds of talent
and so infinitely many degrees that no
one can really tell. 1t is said that Bee
thoyen was tied by his father to the pi-
ano stool to make him practice. and his
first master said of him. he is rough
and stubborn fellow. who never will
come to anything in music. But YOU
may compare yourself to that of a good
sized class then if you fall below the
middle. You had better give it up.When
you are settled in your own mind that
you are not phenomenally stupid and
that You are very noticeably happier in
music. 50 that its drudgeres are like
those of a tender mother. then do not
allow discoura gements to have ANYTHING
to say to you. Read biographers and
You will see that they all. or all of the
great ones. had their bitter hours of
doubt and hopelessness verging upon de-
-pair. But finally do think of music as
the Spaniard of the sixteenth century
thought of America, as an FL Dorado.
for some found it so in music a. in law.
and politics. The prizes are few and the
aspIrants many. If You can live in mu-
SIC for her own sake. then take up the
service.