, 1921-09-24
Declares America Occupies
Lowest Rung of Musical
Ladder in Way of Pop
ular Songs = Places the
Blame for Condition on
Mothers of Country

"HIS generation is being brought
up on trashy music and degrad-
Il Ing words. according to Mrs. Aar-
riet A. Seymour. of New York. who
says America is on the lowest rung
OF the ladder in popular songs Mrs.
Seymour lays the blame for this con
dition at the door OF American moth
ers. who. she asserts. arc not equip.
ped to supply wholesome music in
the home md thus prevent their
children from picking up the un-
wholesome in the streets.
The originator OF the Seymour
system" by which music Is taught
from the inside out. instead of from
the outside in. is launching a move
ment to max American wives and
mothers realize that music Is rs
much a part OF heir home-making
equipment as cooking and sewing,
working upon the principle First.
listening. then thinking and then
acting.
Look over the titles OF the popu-
ar music on any counter and com
pare them with folk music. which
IS always about tho simple joys of
home and human relationships said
Mrs. Seymour. because we always
get a wrong thing where no right
thing is. every mother should be able
10 play simple songs for her children.
III a mother understands the value
Of music and has the right equipment
she can be a tremendous factor for
simple happiness and unity in the
home. And she doesn't have to be
musically talented to do his. Any
-frI lxr foo-1fn. -...nf, &c.. 49, a.,
tide out. could e simple songs. folk
music and ballads in a year or two.
She could pick out n tune given
by h children n harmonic It and
put any soag line Into another key.
why do people desert the home
always looking for some place to go.
Because there IS nothing TO keep
them there. A tired husband comes
home from business. having made up
his mind to go to his ciub that night.
He stretches out upon the couch
to rest a few moments. Now. IL his
wife. instead OF beating out a rhap-
sody would begin to play a soft and
soothing ballad or some gay folk
dances, the chances arc that he
would. without re-fzing II. become
interested. his nerves would become
auieted and he would most likely de
tide to spend a rcstful evening at
home.
A mother who is equipped can
meet every inharmony with music.
,ither by playing herself. or by MAX
ing singing of the natural activi-
ties OF the home. She will in that
way not only add to her own chill
dren's health and happiness, but will
fraw in the neighbors' children and
4 state of harmony will be establish
ID without effort. In what better
way can we all BRING harmony into
our lives than through music. the
language that everyone loves?
Mrs. Seymour was asked how those
who have learned music in the old
way may conform to her system.
They must go back and change
their process by starting with listen.
ing rather than playing" she an.
swered, although they do o lose
n thing they have gained in the old
way. or course. when my term re
sdpcatlon' is applied to those who
iIave had no hausical education at all.
it simply n higher approach TO
life and n different attitude about
music, using music for d~evelopmnt
instead Of purely for performance.
AS o as music from within be-
comes an established fact In America
we VIII have a better output of popu-
lar songs. because the public will de
mand it"