The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC.
THE NEW SCHOOL OF MUSICAL
ARTS.

The most important piece Of musical
news that has been published In this city
since the announcement Of tho change OF
management at the Metropolitan Opera
House Is the publication Of the plan for q
new music school, So vast and far reach
ing will be the influence Of this new move
ment that its true significance has entirely
escaped the perception Of all persons not
thoroughly acquainted with music study
In America. Few who had heard Of the
Betty Loeb Foundation had any idea that
Il was such large amount as half million
dollars. Fewer still bad received a hint
that It might be de voted TO the establish
ment Of a conservatory on the highest
plane.
Those concerned in the scheme wisely
kept their counsel until they we're ready to
launch their project before the world.
About 500 900 in all will he the endowment
Of the School Of Musical Arts, as it Is to be
called. With this sum much indeed may
be accomplished, provided wisdom guides
the operations Of the founders. The head
OF the new institution will be Frank Dam
rosch. His occupancy Of the leadership is
sufficient TO guarantee that high ideals and
earnest aims will reign in the school. 1t
Also will guarantee incessant hard work in
getting the institution under way and keep
ing it going after it has started.
The names Of al four members Of tho
Kneisel Quartet have been published as
those of instructors. and these gentlemen
will come here to live. This is a guarantee
Of the high CHARACTER which the faculty is
20 have. Those interested in the plan are
eealdng in every direction for the most
accomplished teachers OF singing, theory,
harmony and other branches. There will
be money enough 10 pay the best teachers.
This school will in the main not he for
dilettant nor for mere amateurs. II will
be a place Of instruction for professionals.
There will hO no nonsense about H. Those
who enter the school will have to make up
their minds TO be musicians. The course
will be one Of required studies. II student
wishes to learn piano playing. we'll and
good, but he will have to DO a musician also,
He will I've compelled TO take the courses
In harmony. countcrpoint, &c Singers
will have to learn sight reading, whether
they wish to OF not In other words, this
Is to he a real music school, with standard
precisely the same as that set up in the Paris
schools Of music.
. With such a school, supplied with the
best teachers to be found in the United
States, the necessity for crossing the At
lantio in search Of a musical education
will be reduced TO minimum. The plea
for going abroad usually includes assertions
that there il no great music school here
In which one sinks down into a sea Of music,
and that the atmosphere Of a wholly musical
life, such as one finds in most German
oties, Is absent.
With such a school "a this new one this
plea will lose a great deal Of its force, for
the school will disseminate atmosphere and
the growing musical activities of the town
will supply the necessary opportunities for
the observation OF professional perform
ance. There will be a course for those
who merely wish 10 learn how to listen
10 music.
But after all the best feature Of the school |
wfl be its thoroughness. The extant |
local conservatories, 80 far as this writer |
bps been able TO ascertain, offer good 1
courses in harmony. theory. sight reading,
history Of music and other |
but students are not compelled |
rate partly, optional.
This is all wrong. The elective system 1
cannot be pursued in a college Of music. |
There are certain things which man must
know in order TO be a musician. These
things he must be compelled to study In
his music school. It may do well enough
for young women who are learning TO
play the piano TO entertain their friends
In the drawing room 20 neglect the study
Of harmony and form, but il will not do for
the professional.
The world is already too much occupied
by singers who are utterly ignorant OF
music, A school which will not only teach
people 10 sing but also what they are sing
ing. will be blessing TO the art Of music
10 this city
There lie altogether too much 60 as you
please about the typical New York music
school. An institution in which the student
Will be taken in hand by a body Of COM
petent professionals and put through a
course Of training similar TO that which
they themselves had will all a large and
active want.
p The influence Of such a school on the
general musical thought Of the city will
% Dy no uedub lnhppIBClbDle' hedluJs
will OF course, be small at first. Musicians
are not made in day, and the best products
Of such a school will be those entirely its
own, not those which It merely finishes
It will be several years before the School
Of Musical Arts can graduate pupils who
have taken their whole course within its
walls. But when IL can do this we shall
have an opportunity to judge how valuable
& is.
In this matter Of music schools New York
IL thus far much behind the rest Of the ooun-
try. It has never had an institution such
as the Oberlin School OF Music, or the New
England Conservatory OF the Peabody
Conservatory in Baltimore. Il has had
and still has several music schools In which
good instruction may be obtained, In which
much patient and honest effort on the part
Of teachers is given, and from which some
excellent results have come forth But |
o great representative institution on a
Substantial foundation il has lacked.
Behind this new project there are power
ful influences. Persons Of wealth and in.
telhgence are interested in It and Il will not
lack for friends Il will undoubtedly gain
public support. and certainly will meet
with encouragement from those who have