El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-17

~ NE Of the most important mat
tiers to be considered by the
~ convention of the Music Teach
ers' National association which meets
in Boston during holiday week Is the
value or detriment of the automatic pl-
ano in the musical development or the
age. This subject will be introduced
by professor George c. Cow, head Oh
the music department of Vassar col
lege, who has lately given much at
tention to the question.
While from an artistic standpoint,
any mechanical adjunct seems dis
tinctIy Objectionable, it is generally
admitted than under certain conditions
the music from an automatic piano
has advantage for use in public schools
The improvement which has been maze
in these instruments has done much
to enhance their musical value, so that
now despite much opposition, the con-
census of opinion among music teach
ers from various parts of the country
seems to endorse the automatic 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.
Used In Training Orchestras.
There has been a great increase in
the number of school orchestras over
the country during the past year, and
they are accomplishing excellent
work In many cases these orchestras
begin their practice to the accompan1-
ment 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 sof the musical study of the
schools, the automatic piano is of ed
vocational value because Of the pleasure
it gives to children who have little
other means of hearing good music
AS these instruments are not in popular
favor with boards of education who
regad them in the light of luxuries
the schools are purchasisg them them
selves 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
to the self-playing piano fund.
The Importance of popularizing mu-
sic with the masses is recognized and
therefore the systematic musicl train
ing in the public schools Is each year
becoming more general During the
past year number of musical festi
walls held in various parts of the
country have demonstrated the value
of the high school orchestra and cho-
rus. Full operas of recognized stand
ing have been creditably produced
while the youthful students have
shown a proficiency in musical knowl-
edge highly creditable to a country
where less than generation ago mu
steal education was the exception
rather than the rule in public schoo
circles.
Earee in Music
Inventors are applying their mind:
to the utilization of electric force fol
production of music. During the pas
year some New York inventors have
applied some Of the principals of wire
less telegraphys TO the construction OF
a new musical instrument This re-
sembles a mighty pipe organ in ap-
pearance, excepting that wires are
used instead Of pipes. At a recent
demonstration, some difficult classi-
cal compositions were rendered witt
q harmony pronounced absolutely per
feet A number of smaller instruments
involving the principles of the party
line telephone wire are now being