The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-06-02
BEST Way IN
PIANO PLAYING

Mr.. and Mrsl A. K. Virgil, who
passed through Honolulu some months
ago on their way to Australia, and
who then presented to a gathering al
Mrs. Henry Bicknell's studio. some of
the principles of musical instruction of
which they are exponents. presented
these last night to a much larger audi
ence and in fuller and more compre-
hensive way.
Lecture and Technical and Musical
Recital'' was the somewhat awkward
title given to Mr.. Virgins presentation
of his theories and their decidedly in
teresting and instructive illustration
and demonstration by Mrs. Virgil at
the Alexander Young ballroom last
night. There was an attendance at
once complimentary to the visitors and
fiattering to the musical interest of
Honolulu. It was not a mere musical
recital nor simply a rendition of music.
1t was intended as a discussion, pri-
marily of the right principles of teach
ing music, particularly of teaching
pianoforte playing.
Mr. Virgil as a music teacher has
sought 10 develop the principles of
pedagogy as applied to musical in
struction. and to formulate them in
such way that they may become the
permanent possession of the profes-
sion. raising the standard of the pro-
fession. and establishing a standard
by which to judge both teachers and
instruction.
The fundamental basis of Mr.. Virgirs
theory of musical execution and sys-
tenn of pedagogy is that there is
best way to produce every desired
musical effect. There is some principle
of coordination of the elements and
factors necessary to every musical
effect. The first duty of the teacher
is therefore to discover these. and hav-
ing discovered them to make them
available to his pupils.
The great musicians, the great art
lists, have in some way learned these
or many of them. They have seldom
formulated them and may in fact be
unconscious that they use means not
common to all who practise their art.
But having discovered them, and US
ing them they have become artists.
Others cannot become artists except
by the use of the same means. Be-
cause the means have not been form
ulated so as to constitute a body of
principles the property of those pro-
Tossing the art, they are taught only
as individual teachers learn of them
by accident or individual investigation,
and hence the highest possibilities of
.so
ed 1t is not. Mr.. Virgil insists, that
right instruction will make a finished
musician out Of every one, but that
whatever possibilities there are in the
individual can only be brought ou' by
correct use of means, and this, except
in the rare case of geniuses, can only
occur where there is right instruction.
The program last night began with
some selections rendered by Mrs. Vir-
gil illustrative of some of the prinei
piles of correct technic. Mr.. Virgil
then gave lecture on Education in
the theme of which was that
effective playing and intelligent list
ening are the direct result OF right
schooling" In this, while presenting
some of the principles that must guide
both the player and the listener, he
urged a higher ethical standard for
teachers. This lecture was followed |
by technical illustrations by Mrs. Vir-
gil on clavier and piano, showing how
given effects are produced. Some of I
these illustrations consisted of scale |
playing, and to this usually monoto- |
nous and dreary exercise Mrs. Virgil |
gave life and a character that, while 1
1t could not make them music, could |
make interesting. Besides scale studies |
Mrs. Virgil gave chord studies illus |
trating the movements required in 1
legato and staccato chords. /
Following these were studies from
Czerny. Schumann, and Weber in
which the principles shown in detail |
IN the scale and chord studies were
shown in their musical effects The
second part of the program included
Illustrations in octave scale playing
and exercises for the study of different
grades of power and qualities of touch
n chord playing. concluding with
selections from Kullak, Mokrejs and
Liszt.
Mr. and Mrs. Virgil expect to leave
'y the Alameda next Wednesday.