The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-12
MUSIC WEEK REVEALS
 VALUE OF RECITAL

Contributed by Mrs. Jacob BIoom.)
 It has often been said that the AV-
 craze person takss more time and deliberation to select house, q horse CT 8 bonnet than a mate for life. In
 c measure the same Is frequently true in the choice of instructor and in-
 struction in music, and while every
 one realizes the large expenditure in the course of years, the untold hours spent in the often misguided course and ultimate perversion of tho object sought, yet unbelievably many times selection in this important matter Ia merely accidental, without proper in- yestigation, and as lightly decided as the purchase at the corner grocery.
 How can I. who have no knowledge of music, be guided" is & question nat ural to arise from many in this un- fortunate yet very responsible posi- tion. Wei, what do you do when you plan any other investmentf If an article of wearing apparel. you
 will look about st reliable stores, compare quality and values before you decide to purohass. A reputation for hcnosty, established by results, is q dependable guide. The same proce- 6ure holds for the teacher, and tho recital offers the public the oppor- Tuntty 10 hear what the teacher iH able to accomplish and who it is to che interest of the public to attend many such hearings before reaching an ultimate decision. Thus they are enabled to compare style, finish and tone. che time used to get such re- Buita. and the acuts interest of the teacher in the progress of the indl- VI Au fHHfrfArAn4 AN aNr toward the efforts of tho student in disccura gtng 10 ambitions, and often most deserving performances. per heps thwarting a fulfillment of great promise A oity should be as we'll in formed on the talent AM the money making facilities within its gates. Can we not understand why the gre&kor proportion of brilliant must cal Nprodig1es arc foreigners, pPedom- tnantfy Russianf Their earliest ef- forta. hong before they arrive at won pubfao eager to hear and encourage thstr development. Which recalls to nay mind an auditor of several days at ths Brussels (Belgium) conssrvA toire, a national school of music, whom the program consisted of nothing but selections of just passages and ca- deunas, the same repeated by avery performer before the judges and large audience. The final sitting out of these competitors to play in re- portoire attracted such an enormous attendance to a pupil recital 1t me- cessitated police at the doors 10 pre- vent more entering than could be ac- oommodated. Can one wonder that art and its students taken 80 seriously lead to the artist rank7 We cannot judge tho pupil recital by the artist standard, but by encouraging attend ance stimulate earnest efforts and in- oidentaIly develop better judgment in | It's criticism. The value to the stu dent is evident. Increased applica
 ton, preparation urged by the expec- tation of public appearance, the con seouent improvement and the desir- able acquisition of the laude.ble habit | of industry. Poise Is cultivated. and power for self expression ia quick ened by the recital. And now we come to one of the serious obstacles1 for our nation, when all is said and