The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-02-15
Why, When. Where Study Music9

Believing that no one should engage
in any thiug without being able to give a
good reason for SO doing, let Us consider
the first question.
The principal purpose OF an education
is to enable it's possessor to better enjoy
life and to be a greater blessing to the
world, and certainly the cause OF music
will not suffer by a careful consideration
OF its real worth as compared with other
things in education.
An education, like everything else in
life, is valuable only in so far as it is
useful. 1t is not question OF how
much money or labor is involved in ac-
curing it which fixes the value of any
thing, but whether or not it is useful.
That is the great question, especially in
education.
lodge, the club, the church, the social or
the home and find people discussing the
subject of physiology, botany or any
other subject which involves very much
OF these or many other things which are
taught in our high school, except such
gatherings be those of scientists. Be
cause of this statement, we do not wish
it understood that We are opposed to
these things. Far from it. But the
question is: Why do so many spend
years and years in studying these things,
which, because of disuse, are almost en-
tirely forgotten by nine out of every ten
people in such a brief time after they
leave the school room, while they grow
up entirely ignorant of the great subject
of music, which makes up nearly half
the program of life. Go where you will,
you will find that almost any program
is considered very incomplete unless a
large part of it is musical, and in many
homes, il you dispense with the music,
you rob them OF much of their cheerful
ness. The auditors are many times ask
ed and expected to take part in the mu-
sic, and when they are not, they would
enjoy it much more by possessing a
knowledge of it. Therefore, compare
lively speaking. it is of more value than
the majority of studies, because more
useful.
Again, the character of every indivi-
dual is largely a matter of education,
and most great educators acknowledge
that there is nothing in education that
l., - ,ta IA
upon character.
About the only excuse for some studies
is that they are developers OF thought.
In this line we feel that the cause of
music will not suffer by comparison. 1t
is stated by good authority that at the
tempo at which Paderewski plays some
of his concert selections it requires over
5000 mental calculations per minute.
What study requires greater mental act
ivity?
Study music, then, because it is a
great developer. Study it, because of
its refining influence upon the life.
Study it, because it is very useful, and
not useless.
Some people offer as an excuse for not
studying music the fact that 10 all prob
ability they will never become great mu-
sicians. How many Of those who study
mathematics ever become great math-
ematicians, or of those who study his
tory how many ever become great his
torians? Apply that same reasoning to
all other branches, and how would you
stand Intellectually.
Some contend that music is luxury,
and that they must be content with the
necessities, but can everything be called
luxury except that which has to do with
transactions Of business life? If so, we
must conclude that most branches
taught in our schools are Injuries.
Again, some tell US that music is a
lifelong study and is very expensive.
Like many other branches, that may or
may not be true, Music yields as much
for the time spent as most other things,
and the art of reading vocal music Is
very simple and inexpensive.
Musical interests in the United States
have received a severe setback in the
great calamity which has befallen Ed
ward Mcdowell, who has lapsed into a
demented condition from which there
seems to he no hope of recovery. He is
American born. After studying in this
country, he graduated from two Euro
pean schools of music. At the time of
his misfortune, he was teaching in the
Columbia school of music He was a
good pianist and fine teacher and was
generally conceded to be the greatest
American composer. He had designed
to leave his New Hampshire home as a
home for poor and retired musicians
and since his terrible misfortune many
musicians and musical societies are Civ
ing aid to the completion OF his plans
Great fortunes are soon gone, and the
ones who accumulated them soon for
gotten after they pass away. Realizing
| this. Paderewski has cancelled his an.