Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04
JOHN GEORGE HARRIS.
The Study Of Music.

To the man who hath no music II
his soul" there is no need 10 speak Of
music study. hut Of this class. fortu
nately. there are few. The most Of
people have at some tim. felt the de
sire TO sing or play. There are those
Of pronounced talent who may be
justified In expecting that degree 81
proficiency which means an incom"
from music. though much greater :,
that class who pursue the study =:
music as 4 social accomplish mcnt
And az TO tbs latter class, can on.
name an accomplishment which VIII
gain as much for It's posscssor as the
ability - sing or play pessahly vel"
II there We're no reason other than
desire 10 maxi acquaintances, the
study Of music would be amply JUST
fed /; IS to this class as well -
the individually talented that a tew
remarks may pro;I'ably be ADDRESSED
with the approach OF the fall sea
son. and m the remaining weeks Of
summer. it may BE- worth while TO co.-
slider some Of the various aspects
music study, tho choice Of teaChe-
the OBJECT to be Kept IN mind ana other
relative matters This may be pred
!cated At the outset however, that .:
familiarity with some standard musi-
cnl instrument or the ability TO sing
a soH2 reasonably We'll Viii carry one
farther socially than any asset eXceJt
:
military. naval or college athlete
achievement Doors VIII open TO the
musician o. at.ilts though his at
tuiumenis he II mediocre character.
There s then. .um,ieut Incentive for
q 80 TIC uraa.f-s.- talented TO study.
rEr i,a-h,r o.. music is frequently
~ ,n-.. asia because he
a.el' -.:l OF indifferent
III O.. ..., accused Of mis-
ay i.i.. .uI az unfa!rncss IL,
.Is l-- ,u'Uvm money. Will:
.nu. te tyu,. IL the teacher mis-
.---ut, 10 IN. lupu the quality and
~poct; OF the pupils natural
li,,s, ana promises him more than
as teacher can deliver; on the othe-
atNd, there are many instances o!
.ya..Cicntious, hard working students
who nave been discouraged by thtic
teachers from trying 10 succeed IL
music by reason OF that which appears
TO the teacher 10 be indifferent ability
After an. success lies with the punI
ANA not with the teacher The music
student, as much as Everyman. is IN"
architect Of his own fortune. II has
always been matter of conjecture
in the mind of the writer just what tn.
teacher really does for the pupil any
way: he can only suggest his views
and prescribe certain course OF work.
exercises to be practiced. and oojec-
lives 10 be attained The pupil may
disregard any OF the teachers advice,
or ali OF it; he may work on lines
radically different from those laid down
by the teacher, and stil! make progress.
Moreover. the average pupil with cool
sense frequently recognizes erroneous
dicta given him by his teacher and
declining 10 follow all. adopts only
that which his judgment tells him i
good advice. In principle. this
wrong. since the pupil should. as ii
rule. select his teacher with discrjr1-
nation. hear him with undivided az
,ention and follow his suggestions with
unquestioning faith. When there is
doubt in the pupils mind as TO II:
ability of his teacher. he would do well
10 change teachers at once; otherwise.
he spends his money in vain: likewise.
the pupil who doubts. argues with his
teacher and. by imposing his judE-
ment against that OF the latter. reaches
standstill.
AS to the choice of teacher, dit
iculties arise which are as hard 10
settle in New York or any other mus
cal center as in Richmond; there are,
however, well-defned rules which may
govern the prospective student, and
discussion OF some of these Will fol-
low in a later issue of Music in kicE-