Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-06

with IL, through the agency Of the mechan-
ical singing-machine.
The writer enjoys the personal acquaint-
ance OF many a business man and profess
sional man who takes deep and abiding
interest in the best things in music, or at
least in some Of the best things, because
he has his mechanical musician at his
home, where he can enjoy really astonish-
ing reproductions Of singing and playing,
any time he wants them, and as often as
he wants them without intervention of
manager, or forbiddance OF throat-special-
ist for these machines do not easily catch
cold: nor are they the victims Of imperious
managers. or belligsrent primae-donnae
The only danger to these people is the
possibility Of falling 70 hear the originals
when they come on concert tours: but the
ones who are wise will hear the originals
all the more gladly, because they are
equipped better, and prepared more thor
oughly TO enjoy the living voice, or the
actual touch Of the artist to which is added
the inspiration OF his presence.
There is however one great danger and
that Is relative TO younger singers more
particularly: those who have studied
enough TO be able to sing fairly decently
in public! OF course the public owes It to
any young singers who have made few
successful appearances or who have at
tanned TO the dignity and emoluments of
church position" to Immediately spoil
them by unwise and unmerited excess OF
appreciation. Result, the singer, If she be
a soprano, Immediately studies on the
photograph the scales and trills and high
notes of Melba, or a Tetrazzini or a Far
rar; II he be a tenor, he tries to initiate the
utterances OF Caruso-on- the heights Re-
suit the beginning of danger, and the de-
velopment of disaster.
Would that some kindly spirit could let
these well-meaning students hear their
own efforts at the imitation of the mechani-
cal singing!
But alasl There is no such possibility.
And so. they proceed under the false de-
fusion, that by hearing the machine, and
by trying 70 initiate that, they will be able
to sing much better.
They forget, unfortunately, that Il is not
hearing a record" that will help them.
but hearing themselves" 1t IL not an
ear for Sembrich, or Melba or Tetrazzni,
or CarusO, or Schumann- Heink, or Scott,
or BisphRm, that will help them: no. no;
| It lie an ear for their own work, in COM
parison.
Just last week, the writer was informed
OF a young woman who was accomplishing
wonderful results by Studying with a
photograph" Wonderful Marvelousl Mi
raculous But, here is the vital point, does
the photograph tell her when she is right
in her supposed imitation, and when she
Is not right2 There's the rubr'
1t IL all very we'll to try to learn what
one can from the singing-machine or play
ing-maehine, but Just let the student see
TO It, that he or she has also recorder
and ''reproducer' to see just how near the
supposed correct imitation Of the great
singer or player sounds like the original
The Bee wishes to announce 20 the music
teachers Of Omaha and vicinity that in
connection with this column will be a de-
partment headed Notes From the Studios II
This department will be open TO the teach.
ers OF music, for announcements or reports
Of recitals given at the various studios OF
| audience-rOoms, which will be writer
briefly and sent to the paper in care Of
Musical Critic, not any later than Friday
morning OF each week. Teachers will
kindly accept this announcement and act
! upon Il. THOMAS ]. KELLY: