The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-26
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Replies to Dahm-Peterson

To the Editor of The Age-Herald: MT. Adolf Damn Petersen's communi- cation in The Age-Herald has been brought to my attention.
 Evidently this is another effort to re- vive the 'Fixed-Do," so-called for teach ing the reading of vocal music. For more than 40 years there have been spasmodic ei- .rts, always growing weaker, to in- troduce the use of the ''F1xed-Do'' in the public schools.
 This method has never been successful, occa sionally 1t has been tried only to be supplanted by the "Movable-Do," which has produced and is still producing won- derful results in music reading. One naturally wonders whether Mr. Dahm-P Petersen is cognizant of the tre-
 mendous strides made in the subject of music teaching during the past 20 years. l In many high schools advanced orches- tral and choral music Is given by the stu dents. Such works as the Messiah, Elijah. Creation, Stabat Mater the Crusaders, etc, are being produced by the chorus with adequate orchestra and soloists.
 Advanced courses in music appreciation, voice culture and harmony are offered. III d very large dHu cODSldHlly- SToWlIlS number of these schools, credit is allowed for outside study in music, the private teachers are in hearty symrAfhy with the school department because the pupils are taught the theory of music correctly and without sacrificing anything of mus ical culture. The Movable Do" Is the basis of the work in reading music but after reading by this method In the grammar grades the children are not de- pendent upon their ''Do-Re-Mi' as MT. Damn Petersen would have us believe. They are able to read at sight in four parts, with words, music of almost any degree of difficulty.
 However, music reading, involving as 1 it does thorough knowledge of all the fundamental theory of music Is not the only thing to be consdered-while it Is l essential, 1t is not more so than the training of the voice. the interpreta- I tion of the best music in vocal literature. | MT. Dahm-P -Petersens statement, which without question is born of ignorance of the work that is being done and of the conditions involved that 'the system is l a positive hindrance to the children in | their private lessons" Is not to be con- sidered for an instant. As a matter of
 record tho exact opposite is true In many places credit for outside music work, that is lessons from private teach | CTS, is allowed by the school authorities. l 1dle, 1dTNdTu, Stlltu anu OtHeT coi- leges under the jurisdiction of the col | lege examination board allow credit for | entrance for work done in music in the public schools These college courses In music are a continuation of the public school work. Would MT. Dahm-Petersen
 undertake to say that these courses are
 not "sensible?" They are all based upon
 the "Movable-Do' reading process. l As has already been suggested. MT. | Damn Petersen's criticism of small part
 of the process used in teaching children | to read music has been made without
 sufficient investigation. It has been my privilege to be connected with the educa- | tional music in the state of Massachusetts
 and contiguous territory for 15 years,
 and I do not know of a single school where the "Fixed-Do' is used. I will
 go farther: do not know of school in
 the country where the "Fixed-Do'' is in use.
 | MT. Dahm-Petersens criticisms regard
 ing: 1, the movable do; 2, voice training;
 8. that children are hindered in the out side work in music and have to unlearn
 what has been taught to them have no 1 foundation in fact Sincerely yours, 1 ALBERT EDMUND BROWN, l Director Department of Music, State l Normal and Practice Schools.
 l Lowell, Mass, September 23 1915.