River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-31
CONDEMN PIANO PLAYING.
some Medical Scientists Set Up .
Claim That 1t Is "a Iterve
Destroyer.

Piano playing tends to shorten life
is the latest theory put forward by the
alarmist section of the medical profess
sion to set vibrating the pulse of the
pianist. Their claim is that the act Of
playing the instrument sets up certain
nervous disorders which have an ex-
ceedingly prejudicial effect upon oues
life. Thus Go they account for the &C.
centric habits of the average pianist
says a Chicago exchange.
One batch of the new theorists con-
dennis the instrument entirely, but has
saving word for the organ and certain
string and wind instruments; while
another school of doctors, though sec
onding the opinion Of their more adj
vanced colleagues, believe that If the
piano be not taught to persons under 1s
years of age little harm can be done to
the fine nervous system most humans
are endowed with.
Now, it is trite to say that the vast
majority of musicians, especially pian-
lists and organists, are persons with
singularity of manner which borders on
the eccentric. Some people have gone so
far as to say that musicians are half
mad. Anyhow, musicians belong to
pronounced order with a style of per-
sonal mannerism which is peculiarly its
own.
Perhaps, though, teaching of the piano
to extremely young children Should be
condemned; but that the instrument is
harmful to the young player Is surely
not right.
There is Sir Julian Benedict, one OF
the greatest pianists, who lived to the
age of nearly 90. Cramer was over 80
when he died. Clement, Herr, and some
oilers died octogenarians. Halle was
nearly 80; so, too, were List, Heller.
Potter, and Schumann when they passed
away. Thalberg was 70 when he died,
and Rubinstein over go. Brahms, Blu
low, Kalkbrenner, and Kullak were OF
the same age. Bach had seen so; and
Field, Hummel, and Willmere had seen
almost so ere they played their last note
on their favorite instrument.
Those are the names of only some of
those great pianists of yesterday who
had played the piano all their lives, and
yet each lived fairly long life.
OF living pianists there is Arabe1la
Goddard, who is close on 20; Kate Loder,
over 70; Walter MacferTen, II; Ernest
Pauer, II; Saint-Saens, CT; and Vein
iawski sc. Paderewsld is young man
in his forties, and so does not count; but
the ages of all the others point con-
clusively to the fact that the new theory
put forward by an alarmist section of
the medical profession has no founda-
ton in fact.
Certainly a considerable amount OF
mental strain has to be endured by the
expert player, as by the beginner, and
should persons constitution be not Of
the robust order, breakdown may be
expected; but that the piano itself
serves to shorten life, as the new medical
theory expounds it, is libel on the in
strument.
Happily, medical opinion Is divided on
the question-another case of doctors
disagreeing. One specialist declares
that the piano is really a sedative, and
that playing 1t serves to tune up the
nervous system. 'When you are de-
pressed" says he, ego to the piano and
thump a tune out Of it."
Viewed from the calisthenic point Of
view the piano is good ard wholesome
thing, for playing strengthens the fin
gers and gives tone to the muscles Of
the arms, and trains the eye to be alert
and SharD