Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-07-06
GELD TRAINING AT HOME
Singing in the Home
BY Elise U, Eaten

Those who were fortunate enough
to see the all-star performance of
Hartley Manners Out There which
was given for the benefit of the Red
Cross during the war, will never for
get the effect produced upon the audi
enee in the hospital scene when 'auA
ed Annie" (Lsurette Taylor sang
Rock a bye baby to a few wound
ed soldiers, until one by ne, they ceas-
ed tossing and turning and fell as
leep.
There ie a human sympathy and a
spiritual uplift induced by the sing
ing Of beautiful melodies, and the crzv-
ing for music is part Of the heritage
OF every Normal person. Why Is it then
that present day parents are so ne
Slectfui Of this educztive force, 50 care
less of the necessity for laying the
foundations Of artistic appreciation
in the iFnpressionable years. Why do so
few mothers and fathers nowadays sing
either to or with their children the
songs which combine fine sentiment
and really good music to Offset current
atrocities which masquerade as melo-
| dy? What has become of the parents
! who used to sing the nusery songs
for their babies, and follow them with
| wider range of music as the child
rem grew older and needed it? Where
are the grandR1others who knew all
| the fine old hymns and ballads and
were not afraid to let their voices he
heard by admirfng youth? Where, oh.
| where are the modern children who
| are brought up on anything but rag
| time and Jazz?
AS a nation we are losing cur power
| OF expressing ourselves in song. and
the younger generation is losing an
the JOY and cultural value of being
/ brought up in households where music
Is az much a daily habit as speech.
ana father, mother and children sing
| separately OF en- masse as regularly
as they eat or sleep.
| Nothing can take the place to the
cnlld OF the living human voice as a
musical medium. In no other wav than
Dy hsterlng and trying to CODY can he
SO easily be taught to sing himself.
/ mere Is no fund Of memories in later
years which will yield him rich trea :
sure as those connected with the mn
| sic OF his childhood, provided it has
Deen made by mother, father and the
rest Of the family,
Whatever the reason for the disap-
pearance Of singing in the home. be If
lack OF time, fancied lack of ability.
the prevalence of the record" or the
FAMILY exodus to the movie every
| evening the songless condition oof the
modern household is a national men
ace and should be remedied without
delay if We want to do what we can
to bring back to the world some of
the old grace and charm and peace of
the days that are gone
Ii every mother and father vouId
resolve to spend ten minutes a day
singing with the children prefera bly
the Songs OF their own Childhood.
venture to predict that in few wears
there would be a marked change in
the too often insolent, modern attitude
OF many children towards their elders
and that we should hear so much A,
we now do Of the had manners of youns
people, music still has its charms. ane
mothers music is a charm which
: ought to surround a child's life whe,
in bAbyhood. be a delightful and Twin.
: memory In later years and an inspira,
ton to do likewise when the tim
comes, for the new generation.
Parents will find the following book
! helpful: Songs for the Little Child. b,
: Clara Belle Baker and Caroline Kohl
saat; Little Songs Of Long Ago, har
r1onised by MoffAtt; Folk Songs an,
Other Songs for Children, edited by {
B. Radcliffe Whitehead; Songs IN
Whole World Sings. selected by A. z
Wier; Ballads the Whole World sings
> selected by A. E. Wier; The Child
! own Music Book, selected by A. z
. Wfer.