The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-22
Let Student
Choose Path,
Says Pianist
BY JULIA BLANSHARD
NEA Service Writer

NEW YORK, Jan. a. "All chill
dren naturally like music. 1t usually
is the parents or the teachers
fault If a child doesn't enjoy learn
ing to play some musical instru-
ment."
This is the broadside issued by
Isidor Corn, eminent pianist, who
has had phenomenal success with
his pupils.
Amy child who never has had
any unpleasant association with
music willingly will learn to play
something or other" Corn insists.
The child who gives up his cor
net, piano or violin usually could
lay the blame right at the feet of
3 c.:her his parents or teacher"
Too long stretches of practice,
too much driving, too severe criti-
cism for mistakes, punishment for
failure to practice-these are four
OF the cardinal sins of adults who
do not really understand children
and music.
Child Finds Own Mistakes
1T is how child practices, and
not how long, that counts" Mr..
Corn insists. 1.-THE mistakes he
makes are nothing compared to
whether or not he has learned to
listen to himself play. Therefore.
never stress the mistakes. They
will correct themselves when the
child listens and hears that some
thing is wrong"
Just how Corn gets his pupils to
practice is interesting.
Each child presents an individ-
ual problem" he said. But there
are three underlying principles that
always work.
First, establish strong relation
ship between teacher and pupil,
personal relationship No child can
or will learn from a teacher he
fears or does not like.
Encourage Competition
Second, encourage competition.
I will illustrate this point by an
l1-year-old millionairess I once
taught. She was spoiled, had a
bad temper and simply wouldn't
practice.
I found that she loved golf. So
l worked out the application of golf
rules to her exercises. Her eighteen
times to practice were the eighteen
holes. The scheme caught her i'm
agination and she played the game
valiantly, trying to lessen her score
Of errors each one of the eighteen
rounds. She soon became an en-
thusiastic practicer.
Third, set special time for
practicing. Few children under IL
can do straight hour at time
without fatigue. I suggest a half
hour before school and half hour
after it.
Some children have to have
quarter hour periods. 1t all depends
on their power of endurance and
their nervous condition"
Began at Age of 4
Corn began playing at f. Some
NAAAAAACAAy AAC DCAACbCoB COLlQ
a few exercises at the age of 2.
No child should be set down and
told to learn the piano. He should
be allowed to pick his own instru-
ment.
Gorn's brother never would touch
the piano, though given every OPP
portunity. At ii he suddenly asked
for a cornet. Now he's an expert.
The ideal home, according to
Corn, would be the one where a
child heard the best music, where
the tradition encouraged every
body to have some musical express
sion and then lett each youngster
alone to pick his own instrument.
No adult ever should impress
upon a child the Importance Of be-
coming professional musician.
If the child learns to play for his
own enjoyment. even if he never
becomes a world-wonder, he will
have most valuable outlet for his
emotions and his artistic tempera-
ment.
Music should be learned for mu-
sizes sake, not to realize family
ambition.