The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-11

out of curiosity or because they read
in some fashion magazine that it was
the thing to do. Many people would
stay away because they would not
know what it was; they had never
been educated up to good music.
American music is quite q joke in
Europe. The masters over there
laugh at US, and say the American
music is rag time;" that Americans
do not know good music, never hear
it, and do not understand it. We,
who think we understand it, get
little angry at this assertion. Never
theless, it is true, and we ought to
do all in our power to remedy it. 1t
is q known fact that the rough ele
ment, the immigrants who come to
our country, know more good music
than we do. A gentleman in New
York, who was out getting statistics
on this subject, tells this incident; 81
was in a New York school looking
into the music system there just
about recess time. Seeing group of
boys talking together, joined them
and began talking to them. There
were four different types of people
represented there-Jew, Russian,
Italian and American. As they talked,
a 'hurdy gurdy' came by, and the
boys rushed out to hear it. follow
ed. When the piece was finished the
American boys called for when You
Wore Tulip"
Italian boy stood by very quietly
listening, but on his face was a queer
expression, like q sheer or sarcastic
smile. When the "hurdy gurdy'
stopped, the Italian boy said, 81 no
like" Then, in Italian, he made re-
quest of the organ grinder. The old
mans face lighted up, he nodded, and
began playing the 'Sextet' from
Lucia l watched in wonder, noted
the amazed expression on the other
boys faces, and watched them leave,
one by one, to play football. The
Italian was spellbound. Our boys do
not know enough good music to ap-
preciate one of the best known OPP
cratic gems"
The same man says that as he goes
/ through factories that employ for
+! eign men 1t is no uncommon occur
renee to hear whistled, as these men
! work, themes from different classics.
However, he says, he never hears an
American whistle anything but pop
ular hits"
Is that because the American has
] not the depth of feeling for the
beautiful No. He is too busy to
take the time to care about it. Or is
it the lack of training? We know
he has the feeling, although he is
busy, but that feeling has never been
aroused and awakened. Our Ameri
can needs a musical education, and
it is for the public school to give it.
In many of the large towns and
cities complete and perfect system
has been worked out for the study
of music in the public schools. There
is an instructor who plans, the lessons
teaches one lesson, and in general
supervises the work, while her as
sistants, the grade tescners, carry il
on between her visits as she plans
The children, by the time they finish
high school, are taught the funda.
mentals of rhythm, sight singing, cal
} training, and the rudiments which en-.
able them to have thorough knowl
edge and appreciation of good music
This training gained, not only help.
them with the understanding of mu-
! sic, but also helps them in a hygieni,
way. By the deep breathing exer.
} cises they are made to breathe cor,
rectly, hold themselves properly, ant
gain a poise and self-control tina
could never be gained outside of /:
private department class.
! When one thinks of public schoo
music, one hardly connects it with
successful business man or woman
yet it certainly leaves its stamp. Tn,
man or woman Is more bread minded
more sympathetic, has better pois
] and more ability to do and be, be
cause Of his or her training
1t has been noted that whereve
4 music is taught in the public school
it tends to raise the standard o
everything in the town, from the me
thod of sweeping the streets to tn
running of the highest courts. l
tends to make cultured place; PEG
| pie long for beautiful things in ar
and literature; better class of play
are brought there; better music
heard IN church and at public enter
tainments; music clubs are formed
beause the older people are ashame
to let their children see that they d
not know enough, If anything, abou
the subject their children are study
ing. It tends to lift the morals an
better 3 town or city hundred folC
: 1t has been noted that where Their
is music in the public schools the al
tendance at Sunday school and churc
services Is much increased. Some sa
it just happens SO; others, who thinl