Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-20


However, the real thing which urges
the new student to master the difficulties
which beset him and which causes the
older worker TO go on year after year
spraoticing. working and studying. is the
underlying ideal in the mind Of each one.
These ideals naturally differ with in
Sividuals, and are the standards Of desire.
The ultimate object or aim for which each
enc is striving Emmanuel Kant speak
ing Of them, says: while the idea rules,
the ideal serves as the archetype for the
permanent determination Of the copy; and
we have no other rule for our actions but
the conduct Of that divine man within us.
with which we compare ourselves, though
We never can reach H. These ideals,
though they cannot claim objective
t1eality. are not. therefore. to be considered
as chimerss. but supply reason with an
indispensable standard, because II re-
ouires the concept OF that which is per-
feet OF its kind, in order to estimate and
measure by It the degree and number Of
lahe defects in the imperfect"
-
When one begins the study of music
ms a rule a general ideal is held. the ideal
OF being a fine singer or player or COM
lposer. As soon as one Is fairly launched
more minute ideals are formed. The ideal
/ OF perfect technic for the selections TO
he performed. and the ideal Of perfect
interpretation for them also Usually
! these are not so difficult but that with
work the student can soon attain TO them.
but what has happened In the meantime7
The ideal has changed. gone forward
OF satisfaction he knew he should feel
when he had mastered the work In ques-
ton. It is just as though one had trav-
eled TO a mountainous region. Right be-
fore you is a high mountain. Your ideal
is TO reach its summit, 20 you climb and
climb. often looking up to It's peak and
seeing only the deep blue sky above IT,
The climbing is hard you are out OF
breath. and you pause. wondering II you
will ever reach the top. You feel II you
do that you will be at the top of the
world In very truth.
Finally you pull yourself up the last
steep incline and there you are right on
the summit But what do you discover
Why your mountain was not a mountain
at ali. but only foothill. There, beyond,
A. real mountain, vastly higher, but
which was obscured from your view
when you were ia the valley. Doesn't II
look beautiful on the top. almost as n
u were parked that way7 Wouldn't It
be great TO climb It and see what you
could sect VIII you proceed or turn
hackward7 But before you 90 on, pause
and see what a nice view you can get
behind you. OF fertile fields. pretty farm
shouses. and the village where you are
,Htaying. II Il worth while even TO climb
~ foothilL When you reach the top you
4 pave broader point Of view and the
adeal you had has changed for another
,even more difficult TO gain And when
syou had reached the summit OF the
ssnountain beyond. what would YOU seer
Perhaps a stili higher one snowcapped
just little farther over. But look back
Gsain and see what a different view YOU
have OF the valley The houses which
Hooked large then are mere specks now.
Rnd there is an outlook so much broader
than before.
SO the student finds that as he goes On.
his point OF view is larger, he has a big
ser mental conception and his ideals
change
What seemed TO him like large oh
stacles are now but mere specks In the
distance. Many a mountain climber con-
Htantly looking up will become disheart
ened. but II he looks back occasionally
ana sees how far beyond many others
pc has come and the outlook which gets
Broader as he progresses he will soon re-
new courage. II Is we'll 10 not ALWAYS
feel how much more about music Others
may know than you. once in a while IL
is good thing 10 look about YOU and ace
bow much more you may know than
some Others However, the ideals Of Ali
music students are not always ideal
With many the ideal does not mean
Recognized perfection. but merely the
ultimate aim or desire. which, Interpreted
would mean ''the knowledge OF how "a
play or sing certain numbers after a sort
OF a fashion" Many will modestly under.
rate their own powers by saying IT could
never do that the way / feel Il ought &c
60" when perhaps they could n the,
would go 10 work with the determinatioy
81 working Il out The hopeless ones ar,
those who do not even feel the way A
ought to go.
With many the ideal is low not be
cause the ideal OF accomplishment 1,
poor. but because they do not know wha
music really is. Music is an art. and ar
deals with the expression OF elevate
thought. An art work Is said TO posses
value In portion TO the importance OF tn
thought involved and the degree OF sue
cess with which this thought Is presented
The trouble with these students Is tina
they consider certain compositions must
which under that definition would no
classify. and they cannot progress be
cause they are In the wrong pasture.
The difference in ideals has a marke
effect upon the work Of students. Som
revise their ideals upward after doin
considerable work. some revise the ide,
downward. Some who when they begi
wish 20 know music solely as an accom-
plishment. later become so interested I
Il that they continue, ana are able TO US
u professionally II they choose. Som
who IN the beginning desire 20 becom
celebrated artists when they get an ide
OF the work ahead OF them. decide the
win use what knowledge they have "a
an accomplishment and so into som
other line OF activity. But every studen
has an ideal Of music for himself. a