The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-06-18
Meeting OF THE TEACHERS
SOCIETY GROWS I'M INT ERES1

larly to the Prelude in B Minor by
the Scherzo Symphonlque, TIE last one
on the program.
Prelude III Minor. $3.50. i. 9 b oh
Scherzo Symphonique .......
Georges Debat Ponson
AT the close of the organ recital the
meeting adjourned to the smaller lee
ture room where an informal Public
School Round Table was enjoyed. Pres
ident Fairclough presided and intro
duced Miss Caroline V. Smith of Wi
mona as chairman. Miss Smith made
Il few remarks stating that it was
in her opinion necessary that the grade
teacher should be in closer touch with
the studio teacher and that the solu-
ton of any existing troubles would
be in looking up instead of down. Mrs.
w. o. Fryberger was then introduced
and gave most instructive and inter
esting paper on Factors i'm the En-
ioyment of Music" especially from
the standpoint of the laity. Mrs. Fry
berger felt that "the public must be
educated to appreciate good music;
the barrier must be removed between
the musician and the public At pres
ent the public is very busy about its
own affairs. but it must be educated,
in order to know how to comprehend
music.
One of the evidences of the lack
of interest in music is the small au-
diences that are present at the con-
certs. The public can appreciate good
music but turn away from classical
program to buy tickets for vaudeville.
The lack of public patronage is pitiful
1t is possible to fit ourselves to enjoy
almost everything and musical taste
is no exception if people will only lis
ten intelligently. The public is look
ing for something in music that is not
there and the profession must enlighten
them. Point out the difference be-
tween hearing and listening. Close at
tention is rare" ''Who," Mrs Fry
berger asked, SIS to enlighten the
laity!" ut must be done by the must
clan. Explanations of songs and in
strumental pieces before the musician
begins, that the listener may look for
the special characteristics as the work
is portrayed by the artist. The audi
ence should be made to understand
what is being sung or played. AL
though aware of the opposition, Mrs.
Fryberger~ did not approve .of singing
in a foreign language unless it was
first explained. Explanations are not
| inartistic or undignified. Regarding the
teacher and her special work much was
| to be said.
Teachers should encourage the pu-
| pills to talk about their musical eff
| forts; they should understand the com
poser and his meaning. The forming
of musical library should be encour
| aged and a better class of pieces Sc
| lected for the pupil to learn. Often
a good composer is chosen but not
his best pieces. 1t is surprising the
number of teachers who do not pro-
gress after they are established; many
still belong to the Anticipated class. An
| intelligent patronage is the crying need
in music today and to educate the
public to be music lovers.
Musical people should not allow
themselves to be so vastly different
from other people. They should en-
| terrain once in a while in way that
is not wholly musical, and encourage
fad or two on the side. They could
attract the public better if they were
a little broader. The musical profess
sion should persist with the public un-
| til it assents, and also strive to recon
| cile the differences between the public
and the musician.
Mrs. Fryberger was given most
| hearty applause and was followed by
Miss Harriet Hale of st. Paul, who
| read an instructive paper on 'The
Studio Teacher and Her Relation to
| School and community" in which she
urged the necessity of cooperation be-
tween the two as being the greatest
, factor.
Following the papers a very animated
discussion took place in which Mr..
| Patten spoke, also Mrs. H. 7. Parry
and Miss Fink of the normal school
| in this city. Stuart Maclean of the
Minneapolis Journal was also called
upon, also G. A. Thornton and Mr..
Berquist entered into the discussion
A short business meeting brought
the morning session to close.
|