The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-18
Alice H. Graham, Pianist and Singer, a Relative of
 Francis Scott Key, Makes Birmingham Her Home and
 Chats Interestingly About Her Work and Studies

John Anderson, my Jo John, we clamh
 the hill together
 And many a canty day, John, we've had
 wi one another;
 Now we maun totter down, John, but
 hand in hand we'll go
 And sleep thegither at the foot, John
 Anderson, My Jo.'
 The verse added by Francis Scott Key is this:
 John Anderson, My Jo Johnl From that
 sleep again wen wake
 And another morn's fair light on our
 < open'd eyes shall break;
 And we'll rise in youth and beauty td
 that brighter land to go
 Where life and love shall last for aye
 John Anderson, My Jo!"
 The air of romace and pretty sentiment exhaied from the yellowed pages of the old album find a modernized expression in the person of Miss Graham, who has inherited from her distinguished relative much of the grace and charm that assem- ble about the artistic things of life.
 Miss Graham, who is now a resident of Birmingham, has achieved great deal of success in her musical ambitions and her superior advantages fit her admirably td carry out her life work, which is, as she expresses it, essentially teaching"
 T say essentially teaching" she ob- served as she spoke of her work, ''be. cause I trained for that purpose. I've never had any ambition to be a concert singer, an opera star, or anything but just a teacher, and I have enjoyed my work in the various schools and semi4 naries I have taught in and the advan4 tages have had has been a great pleas ure to me.
 During the time I studied, my work has been largely with New York and Cincinnati artists and institutions" Miss Graham said, Miss Clara Baur of the Cincinnati conservatory being one of my teachers and also Ralph Leech Sternes of the New York School of Music and Arts, both of whom are among the most dis. tinguished teachers in this country.
 q have been a contributor frequently to The Etude which is, as you know, one of the most popular musical publications in America" said Miss Graham, and whenever can find the opportunity td do literary work of this kind, I have ready sale for 1t, so you see that I am very busy person, for I've always had large classes"
 What in your opinion is the greatest asset a teacher can possess-I mean the greatest attribute toward being a sue. cessful teacher?" I asked. He Is good doctor who is able promptly and correctly, to diagnose his patients case and apply the remedy. Shd is the good teacher who is able to discern the needs of the pupil and give the right studies for his advancement" Miss Grat ham answered. "A correct diagnosis oi the pupils individuality by the teacher is of prime importance, for unless thu right work is prescribed the pupil will rarely survive, but will drop the study of music or become a discouraged and me- diocre performer. It is much the samt as with the doctor. If he gives the wrong medicine and the patient dies-well, ths doctors intentions were good. However the patient is dead, and that is the end of it all''
 Before any real progress can be made the nature of the pupil must be studied carefully Miss Graham said. The pe' culiarities of the hand should be cares fully considered. If the hand has long tapering fingers widely separated, it will need quite different treatment from thai of the pupil with short compact mus. cular hand If the pupil is frail and deli. cate physically surely the teacher will not think of prescribing the same work sht would prescribe for a robust, energetic pupil But not only do pupils differ phys. ically, they are very unlike in mind and soul or temperament. Each new pupil presents problem to the teacher and only experience can enable her to diag' ] nose each ones needs readily. All bril- liant young musicians are not teachers They may delight large audiences with their playing and charm their listeners but frequently they fail to make gooe teachers"