The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-13
School Girls and Music Lessons.
By Margaret E. Sangster.


The plain truth is that TO study music
Is not the grind Il used TO be. Priscilla.
daughter of Phyllis, approaches the
piano by the scientific modern method.
and by easy gradations. Phyllis used
to be driven to her practicing, and it
was the bugbear of her life. With a
watch by her side, or an eye on the
clock, she sat on the backless music
stool, and pounded away. putting her
little foot on the loud pedal, that the
noise might be deeper, counting one,
Two, three, four, five, over and over,
Till she went on like an automaton,
fingers stunning, voice marking time,
and loathing it all the while Very
severe teachers thumped little hands if
they made mistakes. Very rigid moth
ers exacted the full tale of half hours
anu whole hours, and scolded the luck
less girl who fingered on the way from
school and was tardy in her duty to her
piano.
AS for the neighbors. they hated It.
too. Nothing was more torturing to
sensitive ears than the dreary repeti-
ton of five finger exercises, to the
right. to the left. for every house had
its piano, and every family with daugF-
ters had several Of them drilling at ono
and the same time.
II would rather study astronomy. "
u IflOIneT
told her that her music lessons were
to begin next Monday"
Astronomy" replied the mother lis
a mere amusement. Music is a neces-
sity in education"
Phyllis had no taste for it, but that
made no difference.
We have learned a better way as
well as adopted a better method, and
Priscilla of the golden braid is the
gamer. Her mother Phyllis, looks on
in pleased appreciation when she finds
that before ever she touches the key
board she is taught the value of diff
ferent notes, is trained 70 read at sight
and is introduced intelligently TO the
first principles of an exact science,
which was formerly to every begin
ner a chaos or a labyrinth without
meaning or clue.
Twenty lessons or thirty may be
given before the keys that answer to
the score are sounded by anyone ex-
cept the teacher. Eye. ear and brain
are trained before the training of wrist
and fingers is attempted. good deal
OF instruction is given about music
itself. and about the masters of music
the great creators and artists, who
were interpreters of the soul that
slumberS in the silent instrument and
awaist a musician to awaken it.
Priscilla's mother was expected to
play a piece by the end of the first
quarter. Any jingling tune would do,
but If the tune were not forthcoming
pap shook his head. His money was
being wasted. A girl who could not
play Home, Sweet Home" orr Mon
astery Bells with variations by the
end of the second quarter was pointed
out as a Ounce
Many girls had only a twelve-month's
lessons allowed them. After that they
were expected to go and play pieces
galore.
Priscilla will probably go on with her
lessons for eight or ten years, and. if
fortunate, may study at some great
musical center abroad. Stuttgart Nun
ich, Berlin or Vienna. She will not
only play, but viii know good playing
when she hears it, and will enjoy the
best music. A source of unfailing and
exquisite pleasure will be opened in
her lie.
She need never let her sense of en-