The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-31
TRAINING
 OPENED TO STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
Miss Ivy Scott Dramatic Soprano of the Robin Hood Com pany, States That Inability to Go to Europe Should
 Not Deter Ambitious Musical Students

If the aspirant for vocal honors is most careful in the selection of a teach. er," said Miss Ivy Scott, dramatic so.
 prano of the Robin Hood'' company which opens at the Jefferson tomorrow
 "a thoroughly good musical education is obtainable in both South and North Amer
 lea, and the North American boy or girl
 who believes that his or her voice war rants attempting to qualify for an oper- atic career need not stif1e ambition be- cause European teachers cannot be af- forded
 While the music teachers and schools Of Europe retain their prestige there are similar institutions in the states where one may get as thorough training as is possible to receive abroad. It is unde- niable that many of the instructors in our schools are foreigners; yet the meth- ods that obtain with these are somewhat different from those in vogue with their European conferees and are more in &C., cord with the temperaments of the new world public The difference between the American and European ways of instruc- tion, while not radically opposed are suf- ffcient to emphasize their distinction, and. incidentally, to prove that the finished products of the American institutions are capable of holding their own against the French, Italian or German rivals.
 Not Less Exacting
 still. it must not be imagined that because voice may be cultivated as thoroughly in New York as in Berlin or Paris, that the expense will be much less or the strain upon the mental or physical powers less exacting. The train- ing of a voice is the same the world over. It is an expensive and a more or less exhausting process. It calls for money and muscle, also infinite patience and genuine affection for hard work
 Singers must, likewise, remember that 1t takes public life to ripen their powers. Even the concert stage has no use for the contented. It is progress and again progress and once more progress or ob- lvion. All great singers are daily coached by their masters quite independent of their private practice. The minor stars of the musical Armament are likewise coached. In addition, the artist must do his or her utmost at each public appear ance All this tends to perfect them vo- cally and to round out their artistic career as whole.
 Self must not be spared ,or mediocrity if not worse, will surely be the result.
 An instantaneous and unlocked for success is almost unknown in the mu- sical world. There is no flashing into sudden prominence, as in the case of an actor or actress. Musical rewards only come after long experience with the pub lie. On the other hand. singers are more apt to retain their hold upon their audi l ences. than their contemporaries of the sock and buskin. This is because the world loves song for its own sweet sake and apart from the singer. Music is most difficult to woo, but once won is faith | full unto death to those to whom she gives herself. yet she demands in re- turn equal devotion.
 The Marvellous Magic of Song
 Tt is well-known fact that music has been known to move to higher and nobler | deeds many person who from some ] cause or other has allowed himself orl herself to become careless or might | say slip-shod, and of the I don't carel family l have noticed also, that many | singers. I mean those who have reached he pinacle of their art. so far as tech 1ique and training is concerned, have at | .imes, been able to move the auditor to | 10 almost that which he or she wanted Q do but did not seem to have eitherf he courage or inclination. On the other land l have seen many who. though their voices were well nigh perfection. lacked he necessary magnetism to move event he most willing.
 T can recall an instance when I was 'inging Madame Butterfly, of seeing an I