New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-09
CONTROL THROUGH MUSIC.
OpeH a ChHd's Unhappy Tendencies
by Singing and Sonatas.

If your child is sad and subdued in tempera-
rent you can make her happy by means Of
.-rsic II your child is too aggressive boy
bo enjoys lighting other boys. for instance you
AN cultivate a gentle. controlled nature in him
bv means Of music. a complete change can be
rraught in a child's character and temperament
by forming new emotional habits in him through
singing songs or playing on the piano"
These were only few Of the striking things
a the talk which Francis Sheppard gave at the
vothers' Club yesterday afternoon Starting out
,,o-n the general statement that music is not
solely or chiefly a medium of pleasure but
-sther q tremendously valuable instrument of
s5ucation. Mr.. Sheppard sketched picture OF
tbs possibilities of music in the home. operating
IS an active agency 10 develop or control, that
almost took away the women's breath for au-
dacity The climax was reached by an interest
ing exhibition Of piano playing by his little
daughter.
CCLTIFATING THE HEART,
Heart culture-that's the greatest need in
modern education,' said MI. Sheppard. but
pcw can the systematic and definite culture of
-be spirit he compassed? Reading about matha-
mates Will never make a child a good arith-
1nstican Telling him TO be good won't make
him good The arithmetic and the goodness
have got 10 work from within out to be the
exercise q some faculty, the expression of some
impulse within the boy.
IN the case of little children. singing will do
il # they are angry. singing will calm them.
Did you ever think that person can't sing and
he angry at the same time? He either has TO
keep his mouth shut or get good natured.
But how are these temporary suggestions Of
eentleness. etc, 10 be made permanent? Let me
explain Scientists say every motion of a muscle
breaks down a certain brain cell. Every time
the muscle goes through that motion the tend
ency is strengthened in the cell TO break down.
and thus is formed what we call habit.
By constant repetition music tends to form
emotional habits.
FROM RAGTIAIE To HYMNS.
7 know this can he done There is a man in Chi
cago who gathered together a lot Of slum children
and set them To singing. They started off with
Yankee Doodle then they progressed 10 March
ing through Georgia Afterward they got to
the point where they liked Home. Sweet Home
and al last they wanted to sing hymns. And
this improvement in musical taste was COinCl-
cent with Improvement in personal refinement
Then the lecturer turned TO the home. A song
n The heart Of the mother viii bring the little
one into the world with sunny heart. he told
the mothers.
The cradle song sows the seeds Of the musical
harvest. A fine voice is not necessary in the
mother. but mothers love is. Singing converse
tons with child is one Of the surest ways Of
cultvatng happy disposition in it."
Here Nr. Sheppard stopped talking and began
10 MARBLE I'm Glad You Came, I'm Glad You
Came"
There You can always get a smile out of a
child i you do that" he remarked. Singing
each others names in octave is another charm
ing exercise. And don't be worried over the
child with 10 apparent talent for music. In
nineteen out of twenty cases he can be made to
sing fairly we'll
ally singing is as eficacious as daily
PRAYER"