The Washington herald., 1918-03-19
By LEOPOLD GoDowsKY.


Most people marry.
Most people who marry have chill
dren.
Most people who have children want
to advance and develop them in
order that the children may live a
higher life than the parents lived.
Most people who wish thus TO put
their children ahead realize that mu-
sic is a great uplifting and educa-
tional force-perhaps the greatest.
Now. my problem is this:
What can I do in these few words
to start these millions OF admirable
families on the right track and map
out a course for their guidance7 For
the musical advancement OF this
country is now the work nearest my
heart
Let US first realize that all the great
system we have built up TO care for
our physical needs-our railroads.
factories. mines. cities, our houses.
skyscrapers and paved streets-has
been built up to care for our bodily
existence for only one reason. name
ly: that in those bodies our minds
and spiritual natures may grow and
be refined.
And II this physical welI-being does
not result in this mental and spir-
itual growth, then all the works OF
man which you see about you are
wasted. and might as well be swept
into the sea.
In the second place let US realize
that music is at least the most d.
rect and forceful-if indeed it is not
in all respects the greatest-means
whereby one mans mind and soul
communicates with his fellows.
To understand the message of mu-
sic a man does not need to have a
trained mind. as he does to appreci-
ate the finest poetry. nor a trained
observation. as he does to get the
most out OF wonderful paintings. nor
a trained reason. as he does TO un-
derstand science-but only an ear
Any human being that can hear can
be thrilled and developed by music.
It speaks direct from soul to soul
without any Intervening machinery
should BE Music in Homes.
So much for inner development as
the first aim in life, and so murch for
music as the first medium of inner de-
velopment This is music's great
place and privilege. and this is why
there should be music in every home
To keep your boys and girls at home,
and to rear them properly, music will
| be your greatest aid.
To the parents whose children arc
reaching the school age I would say
! this:
No set rule governing all children
may be put down, for children difTer.
! but on the average a boy or girl OF
usual intelligence can profltably begin
the study of the piano between the
ages OF six and eight years. Prodigios
being earlier. Some more phlegmatic
children would begin later. And what
have to say about piano instruction,
my own field. will hold good in a gen.
eral way of all other branches OF in
strumental music.
To you parents who have these
ideals. and who have children of this
age, the first care is the choice OF the
best obtainable teacher. That teacher
| should be one who combines knowl-
| edge and aesthetics. BY that 1 mean
the teacher should love and under
| stand music. and should also know the
mechanical means of transmitting to
| the pupil that understanding and a
| proficiency IN expressing IT,
The teacher should not be one who
| will think only of teaching the child
by dry-as-dust exercises Just how
high to lift the finger and how to let
1t fall. Neither should the teacher be
| one who. though a true musician, is
so careless technically that he will
content himself with assigning pieces
TO the pupil and hearing the pupil
play them over perfunctorily.
The teacher must combine the spirit
and the body of music, the under
standing and the technic. in one har-
monious whole.
(Continued Tomorrow