Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Music and Musical Notes

He was not being merely stubborn. He
was putting his knowledge and experience
in military affairs against the inexperience
and untried theories Of the unmilitary men
at Washington. He was not going to have
his energy misdirected. That statement OF
his has often been used TO support a plea
for perslsteney, and as an example Of APP
p~lication 10 a fixed purpose. but underneath
all that there is the far greater lesson,
found in the steadfast purpose Of a man, a
big man, to refuse to allow those who did
not know. TO misdirect his energies.
II would be a good thing for many
students Of all branches Of music TO
examine their work and It's results, and to
see whether their energy this season is
being directed, undirected, or misdlrected.
Now thore is another word in the
dictionary wherein was found the word
energy, and it's meaning Of internal or in
herent power.
And that word is efficiency.
1t is a better looking word than energy.
II has a more finished sound to It. There
ia a whole mountain Of difference between
the two words. The definition which the
dictionary gives for efficiency is this:
THE ratio Of useful work to energy ex-
pended"
There is the whole point.
How much really useful work is one
accomplishing in proportion to the energy
expended?
Oh, II only the misdirectcd energy in
the musical world Of Omaha could be
collected and sent in the proper direction,
what a musical city Omaha would very
soon become.
Have you thought much before on the
difference between being energetic and
being efficient" It came 10 the writer
out of the sky on Friday last; perhaps it
was borne down from the great white
throne Of knowledge and wisdom on the
pure wing Of an unsullicd snowflake, such
as were falling at that time.
But he would fain leave It with those Of
his readers who care to think, and let them
expand 1t and consider 1t from all sides,
and see what II will develop into for them.
Think of the hundreds. yea, verify, hun
dreds OF American students in Europe at
this time pursuing musical studies under
shameless teachers (some with big names
enough who take all the money they can
get, and who fill the students head with
such senseless drivel as this; "You are
getting along wonderfully, but when you
go home you must not sing for anyone; IL
would not do; zee b%ee-autiful sweet voice
eet would not do to strain It at all, now
would It," Smooth teacher Yes, indeed,
some good friend might be kind enough
to tell the girl that she was improving
backwards.
is a big one, and constantly increasing
American silly pianistic students, who
would not study under Godowsky in Chi.
cago, but will go clear to Berlin to study
with his second or third assistant, in al
probability an American. n the mis-,
weep. Not one among 800 or 1000 comes
back efficient. Those teachers to whom
this article refers are not working for
efficiency. They are more interested ir
currency.
1t does no good whatever to go abroad
pound away at singing or piano play
ing or violin playing if one is merely
learning energy. II one would learn eff,
ficiency he must work with his head anc
his heart. with intelligence, with keenness
OF judgment and constantly with his ear
The older one grows the more he realizes
the absolute Importance of the hearing ear
and the understanding heart.
Efficiency is a jewel. Energy is merely
a mineral.