The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-26
MUSIC AS PART OF
CHILD'S EDUCATION
Musical Education Should Begin in Cradle Bv7
Child. If Talented, Should Study Good
Teacher Considers Mental, Physical
and Psychic Qualities Of Pupils
FRANK DAMROsCH.
Director Institute of Musical Art. New York city.

on the other hand. he shows a kssn A.
sire to play some instrument. It IS rr,,
that he should be given an oppor.un".
to show what aptitude he has far
Everything now depends On o..
teacher. Most teachers mink on'y ..,
tho mechanics Of their instrument A..
quickly XIII all interest in their Nun,
by placing that side foremost ~.
good teacher begins nv s'uivire b..
pupil and by adapting hls tas'rlc,,o.
to the particular mental, physical an
psychic qualities he finds. Tho music.
side, the Imaginative element. shovs
always predominant The interest," Cd,
the music. the desire 10 express h,rn,..
In 1t. must first be aroused n tho child
and then the technical means hy whit,
this Is accomplished will DO rraduary
acquired with tho hearty Caopera,,o,
Of the pupil. Every lesson should b.
looked forward TO as a treat. and prac.
tice time should be pleasure. II N,
Is not the case the fault Hes either W.T.
tho pupil or tho teacher. II tho pun
in spite OF such teaching as ind,oa,ed
above detests practising and diAhs,
his music lessons It would be bst,sr 10
give them UP. at least for a time Mira
frequently 1t "a tho teachers faun. IN
which case tho remedy Is obvious
While the child attends school h,
cannot and should not devote more -naB
from one to two hours q day 20 prac.
tee. This will suffice. ~ properly done
to enable ltm TO make reasonable prog.
press and develop him into good an
teur by the time he leaves high ,,chool
The question arises. noweve-. in a..
case of unusually talented children vNo
are destined to become professional M.
sicans how 20 get enough prss,sn.
without neglcCt.ng their general educa
ton. In my opinion no concession IN
the general education should no mad.
until high school IL reached Then
may betNme necessary to ro-1uca 'ta
I'VE bour school session TO three hour,
with an extension of tho high s-ho5'
counSe 10 five years instead Of four
rms would enable the pupil 20 devo,,
-FOUR hours daily to musical stud!e.
necessary minimum at this age FOR pgf.
poses Of high attdinmcnts as a po,.
former
An artlst-musician needs n good gen
- education as much as he needs
good musical equipment. and parer..
can make n worse mistake than
take their children from school heFu-
finishing the H.ph school course Taan
by Itself is nothing. II can only ser,
an artistic purpose when used to ,.,.
press the highest qualities of charac,...
mentality ana aesthetic feeling. OH.
not permit any student to take the a..
course at the Institute Of Musical Ar,
who has not completed at least tv
years of high school or its eouiva,en.
and who does not continue in schuH
TIL the hirh school course Is comp'.'.'
That music should form a part ~ ~.
general education of every boy and CIR
Is not Yet sufficiently recognized by o.,
educators. our public schools make
provision for II and, wherever II .-
proporlv applied. socur" excellent p.
suits. But in the secondary schools aro
colleges very little Is done as ru.r
though there arc som" notable cvccr.
tons. The majority OF private school.
leave music entirely ONT Of tho curr.r'.
lum 20 tho great dissatisfaction - par
ents whose children have been hrour
up in an atmosphere Of refinement ard
culture While - ia true that an ch
dron arc no' musical q e.. also t'.-
TINT "Ncrv well educated man ar1
woman should learn - arpro-'a'a
music, ~ know the great compose
and some Of their works aud IN cu''
vat" taste for what "a hoau''ul %
music as In everything o'se. our ,.
leges should stimulate an in'pres' .r
Continued On rleuerth Pog,