Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-17

One il the most important matters 10 De
considered by the convention OF the MUSIC
Teachers National Association, which
meets in Boston during holiday week, Is
the value or detriment of the automatic
piano in the musical development of the
age. This s>sbject will be introduced by
Prof. George c. Cow. head Of the music
department of Vassar College. who has
lately given much attention to the Ques-
ton.
While, from an artistic standpoint, any
mechanical adjunct seems distinctly OBJ
jectionable, it is generally admitted that
under certain conditions the music from
an automatic piano has advantage for
use in the public schools. The improve
ment which has been made in these IN
struments 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 indorse the auto
matte piano, at least as an accompanist
to other instruments. 1t Is also useful for
the marches and other music required for
the physical culture exercises for the
schools.
There has been a great increase in the
number of school orchestras over the
country during the past
School year, and they are ac
complishing excellent
VAVneS'AoS' work. In many cases
these orchestras begin their practice to
the accompaniment of the mechanical
piano. This gives them a perfection of
time not always secured even from a
skilled musician. Besides its utility as a
part of the musical study of the schools,
the automatic piano is OF educational
value because Of the pleasure it gives to
children who have little ether means of
hearing good music. AS these instruments
are not in popular favor with boards Of
education, who regard them III the light
of luxuries. the schools are purchasing
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 We'd with
one an other in selling papers and other
articles and giving the proceeds to the
self-playin piano fund.
The importance Of popularizing music
with the masses is recognized and there
fore the systematic musical training In
the public schools is each year becoming
more general. During the past year d
number of musical festivals held in va
rious parts OF the country have demon
strated the value of the high school Or
chestra and chorus. Full operas of recog-
nized standing have been creditably pro-
duced. while the youthful students have
shown a proficiency in musical knowl-
edge highly creditable to country
where less than a generation ago musical
education was the exception rather than
the rule in public school circles.
X
Inventors are applying their minds to
the utilization Of electric force for the
production of music.
Electricity During the past year
and Music. ven.or. N1m ioA ,n,
some Of the principles of wireless teleg-
raphy to the construction of q new mu-
steal instrument. This resembles a
mighty pipe organ in appearance, except
ing that wires are used instead of pipes.
At recent demonstration some dimcult
classical compositions were rendered with
harmony pronounced absolutely perfect
number OF smaller instruments involv-
ing the PRINCIPLES of the party line sele-