The Detroit times., 1910-12-19

attention TO the koSy{.xl
question. 80 g
While, from an
artistic standpoint, any mechanical
adjunct seems distinctly objection
able. IL is generally admitted that un-
der certain conditions the music from
an automatic piano has ADVANTAGE
for use in the public schools The
Improvement which has been made In
these instruments has done much TO
enhance their musical value, so that
now. despite much opposition, the
consensus OF opinion among music
teachers from various parts OF the
country seems to endorse the auto
matte piano, at least as all accom-
PIANIST 10 other Instruments. Ii is al
SO useful for the marches and other
music required for the physical cui
ture exercises for the schools.
There has been great Increase III
the number OF school orchestras over
the country during the past year. and
they are accomplishing excellent
work In many cases these orches-
tras begin their practice to the ac-
Cmpaniment OF the mechanical
piano This gives them a perfection
of time not always secured even from
skilled musician. Besides its util-
ity as a part OF the musical study OF
the schools, the automatic piano is OF
educational value because OF the
pleasure il gives 10 children who
| have little other means OF hearing
good music. AS these instruments
are not in popular fa:0 with boards
of education, who regard them In the
light of luxuries, the schools are pur-
chasing them themselves through the
efforts of the children. indianapolis
has eight OF these pianos purchased
in this way and in one school the
boys and girls Wed with each other
in selling papers and other articles
and giving the proceeds 10 the self
playing piano fund
The Importance OF populariZlng
music with the masses is recognized
and therefore the systematic musical
training in the public schools is each
year becoming more general. Dur
ing the past year number OF musi-
cal festivals held in various parts OF
the country have demonstrated the
value of the high school orchestra
and chorus. Full operas OF recogniZ
! ed standing have been creditably pro-
duced. while the youthful students
have shown proficiency in musical
knowledge highly creditable TO a
~..... where less than generation
ago musical education was the exCep-
tion rather than the rule in public
school circles.
Inventors are applying their minGs
TO the utilization of electric force for
the production OF music. During the
past year some New York inventors
have applied some of the principles
of wireless telegraphy to the CON
struction of new musical instru-
ment. This resembles a mighty pipe
organ in appearance. excepting that
wires are used instead OF pipes At
recent demonstration. some difficult
classical compositions were rendered
with harmony pronounced absolute
/ ly perfect. A number of smaller in
struments involving the principles OF
the party line telephone wire are now
being tested in several cities and
some great developments in electrical
music are promised soon.
One inventor has been at work for
years upon stringed instrument TO
be played by electricity. The result
of his completed efforts Is an instru-
ment resembling large violin which
is called a coracello. It's wire strings
are made TO vibrate by means of cleo
tro-magnetic force. II was introduc-
ed at recent music teachers con-
vention in Boston and surprised
everyone by the wonderful purity OF
it's tones and their many variations.
piano keyboard has recently been
do Nyi 10 eli asdo
number of distinguished pianists
have endorsed 1t after careful tests.
II has been claimed for some time
that an inclined keyboard would in
volve less strain upon the hands Of
the pianist than the fiat one now in
use. A German musician has been
experimenting for several years with
keys which slant downward. but
musicians who have tested both. pro
nounce the American invention more
practical and desirable.
Perhaps no more important use Of
modern invention in musical develop
ment promises SO much in real value
~ the use of the gramophone 10 re-
cord the human voice A distinguished
European teacher during the past
year has arranged a course of study
i'm music from the gramophone after
the same method which has been
found so successful Ia teaching Ian
guages. While ii will be some time
before this innovation is likely TO be-
come generally known, the gramo-
phone is recognized as having import
ant educational value In creating rec
ords which can be preserved for fu-
ture use. With the voice register of
Melba, Patti. or Farrar in actual dem
onstration the music student OF the
future will have excellent opportunities
for comparison. There is no doubt
that in the years to come the coliec-
ton OF gramophone records will be as
important TO the musical department
of the university or school as is the
reference library TO other depart
ments.
American musicians. after years OF
despondency. are now rejoicing over
the fact that the nation is beginning
To recognize that there have been, and
are. musical genluses in this country
Tbe recent death of Mcdowell is
largely responsible for this. Like
most great geniuses. Mcdowell labor
ed without reward and died in power
" II was not until after his death
that the Boston Symphony orchestra
was willing TO play his compositions.
When Lamia was produced by them,
however, some two years ago. the
musical world went wild over IL and