The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-29
Berlin Leads
Now in Music
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
BOSTON, Mass, March $3.50
many American girls are preparing
| just now for going abroad to study
music that it seemed to me an article
! on the facilities offered in the present
German musical centers by one who
has had practical experience in teach
ing there would be timely if not in
teresting.
While many Americans study in
London now on account of social pref
erences and plans it would be ridicu-
ious to suppose that for advanced mu-
sic teaching its facilities approach
those of the great German cities.
Paris also is selected by some, but
there one who is skilled in such mat.
tiers goes only for vocal training, for
which purpose Paris may perhaps be
preferable.
For piano and violin training Ger
many certainly, on a general scale, ex-
cells, although MosZkOwski is now IN
Paris and Leschetizky in Vienna, two
of the greatest piano teachers Of the
world, whilst Ysaye is in Brussels
one OF the greatest masters Of the Yio-
lin.
American parents, like those Of Eng
land, are usually more particular about
the conVentionalities than some others
hence they prefer Germany to France
or rather, Paris, where an undesira BILE
amount Of Bohemianism prevails.
Germany offers another ADVANTAGE
in Its many schools for young girls
where the languages and music are
carefully attended to and a chaperon
is provided for lectures, concerts and
the opera Girls under twenty-five or
twenty three are not compelled to live
alone in q pension or go to public
oil
could do so and her parents could be
reasonably sure that her conduct would
be correct. The standard Of correct
behavior is very high in all first-class
pensions and strictly maintained,
whether the haUsfrau be a German,
hardened to the business and caring
little for her pensioners individually. or.
as it may often happen, the widow of
an English, American or Russian gen
tleman who has seen better days"
as the pathetic phrase runs.
The idea that living is so cheap in
Germany, which induces a few people
to prefer it whose means may be
cramped, must not be encouraged. In
deed, it has proved a fatal one in the
case Of many delicate girls.
a student who expects to do good work
must have nouriShing food must be
Warmly housed and warmly clad in the
cold German winters, must pay for ex-
penSlVe lessons, must have money for
concerts, the opera, the hire of a piano
and the buying of music. girl NAV be
talented enough to arouse very great en-
thuslasTn among a large circle of her
friends in England and much interest from
her teacher in Germany; she may COM
bine with her talent an Industry to win
approval from the severest of teachers.
but neither her talent nor her industry
can be depended upon to obtain her les
sons free, as many pupils think 1t does.
indeed, sometimes happen that a teacher
gives reduced rate to gifted and de-
serving students but these arpellatfons
mean much more in Germany among gift
ed and deserving students from every part =
OF the world than in q small town in Eng
land or even In London.
Another point to be considered by tho
parents in the way Of expense is that as
1ar as concerts are concerned students Go
not always get free tickets, as seems to
be generally imagined.
Or course, some students do get tickets
Tree when they bring letters from their
instructors or musical agents at home to
tne managers of the concert bureaus but
the privilege seems to be growing more
ana more curtailed, and is one In which
the German teachers take little interest.
ne musical centers of GERMANY arc
Berlin, Leipsic Dresden and Munich; each
mas Its famous teachers, its peculiar
charm to the music-ioyer and its mission
TO proclaim to the world that 1t offers nd
Vantages far greater than any of the 9TH
ers. But the true musical center Is un-
doubtedly Berlin. although Leipsic en-
goyed that distinction until recently and
Lelpsic residents still assert ir energetic