The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-24


 week to the Margaret Allen school to en- joy the spectacle of scores of little girls engaged in ensemble work under the di- rection of Mrs. Flournoy Rivers, l was more than pleased for 1 had heard of some really talented children who are making fine progress in their music and 1 was anxious to see personally just what these children were accomplishing and to talk with Mrs. Rivers about the work
 As 8 rule l am rather skeptical on the subject of infant prodigies' and all that sort of thing-usually the creations of fond mothers and over-anxious teach ers but the benefit of the doubt is an instinctive principle with me and in this case turned out most satisfactorily.
 It was an interesting sight to see the many bright, intelligent faces of the children who are engaged in the work beamng with happiness as they followed the instruction so ably and cleverly given by Mrs. Rivers, whose new system of class instruction has proven such a sue cess and is verifying fully the prediction that New York artists made of it when they declared that it would be heard of from Dan to Beersheba.''
 Perhaps of all the youthful composers of whom Birmingham is proud, little Miss Elizabeth Jordan, the beautiful daughter of Dr. and Mrs William M. Jordan Is the most ambitious, since only a few days ago her first composition, fresh from the New York publishing house of Sehir- mer was with her compliments, sent to her many friends. The composition Fairy Dream Waltz" dedicated to Baby Margaret Estill Shook, shows decided originality. a clear understanding of con- struction and a rhythmic, melodic swing that is quite remarkable for one of her years, which happens to be only 10.
 Little Miss Jordan has become the ideal of all the other children since she is a real composer and her talent has been the incentive for the best efforts of all the rest since they have seen her music so attractively gotten up and each wants to publish his or her own compost tons and as Mrs. Rivers said:
 "I've actually been deluged with com positions since Elizabeth's piece has ap- peared."
 A wonderfully talented child Is little Tot Wilson, who not only plays beau tifully, but has done several real lit- te gems in the line of composition, her Roller Skating March" being we'll writ ten and attractively presented. She Is a genius pure and simple and the amaz- ing facility of both tiny hands and brain is a source of pleasure to all who know and hear her
 Another very talented little girl in this promising musical rose bud set is Miss Mary Byron Frazier, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Frazier. She has shown remarkable cleverness in her work, and three of her compositions have won much musical distinction for her in school cir cles, as well as the appreciation of her teacher. The trio of little walters "The Merry Waltz" "The Charlie Waltz" and "The Triad Waltz" the last mentioned having been written one day after les son on ''Triads," are tuneful and very harmonious
 "A Merry Song Waltz" from the pen of little Miss Mary Adah Tarrant, is bright, sparkling little waltz, which would do credit to many veteran musician and that she will one day make her mark as composer is predicted both by her in- structor and her friends
 After I had heard these little girls talk in their modest, childish way about their work I reverted to Mrs. Rivers who is the power behind the throne in all this development of talent and said
 HOW did you ever manage to get these children to compose? I have always thought it was the hardest thing in music. and ain't they wonderful?"
 She listened in amused silence as l. loosed my budget of questions and then replied:
 q know of nothing more fascinating than to awaken the listening faculty in young children. You see some things are inherent In music. The scale of e." and It's tonic chord, for instance are mental habits. Every musician thinks them (sub- consciously to be sure) and a child recog- nizes with some pleasure and much awe that certain musical verities are in it's ears by Instinct, written there on f1eshv tablets Of the heart. And no sooner than he or she gets into the new world that real listening is the gateway to. b,1t a strong desire to try its hand on the magic seven tones springs to life"
 'All that is very beautiful. but how do you make children understand what you are striving for?" I queried Now if thev were grown-ups, it would be different"
 Not at all," replied Mrs. Rivers en- Enthusiastically. 'I really prefer children whose minds are uniformed and whose Ideas are undeveloped. To them can present logically what the tones say and as you know. they really have their natural tendencies, their likes and dis likes Gas people have) and they are not bit mealy-mouthed about proclaiming them either. In such work music itself Is the only teacher"
 And what a pretty sight it is to see all these children clustered around you at the piano, listening to what the tones are telling and too much inter- ested for diffidence or self-consciousness l observed, looking at the sea of axious little faces so deeply interested in the work.
 'It. is very fascinating" said Mrs. Rivers, to follow the impressions made upon the children's minds. TO start q melody-to hear it seeking it's rest to learn the tendencies of the strong rast,