The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-31
EPY0UR CHILDREN
ey Olive Roberts bsvton
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If he plays the gramophone tor any length of time, his eyes have a wild shiny look and the days that ho plays lot he does not eat well.
 Music seems to be an all.ab. sorbing passion With him. Should 1t be encouraged Ur left alone Would 1t be possible for him to break his health by having q free hand? He wants to take plano les. sons this summer. Would 1t be wise?"
 Thus writes "his" mother. "Hc'' Is seven years old. From baby. hood he has been fond if music.
 When 1 answer c question about child 1 always say to myself: What should l do If he were my
 And the first thing would weigh would be the very matter this mother speaks of--hiB health, Can he stand it? Is he of tho Bonsl. tive, high-strung disposition, over- emotional and wearing himself out with m ecstasy that Is not con duotlve to robust health? 1t Is . matter for serious thought.
 The Musical Nature
 Yet 1 feel that any other course may be Just aB uncertain. Whom n chIld'B whole llfo is wrapped around one lovo he may just nB possibly react unfavorably to Bup- preBsIon and denial.
 Not only that but there iB somo. thing about the musical nature that thrives on It's own consuming fire,
 It goes to such extremes that life itself sometimes seems to Do dependent on harmony and full diet of music. If actors pine and js run aB artists, it is even more true of tho real musician.
 My friend says that whom she asks this little fellow to do Q task latter he has finished beloved reeord) he goes and does it cboor- fully, quickly and well. A most valuable asset to tho musician who wants to succeed. For n mu- slenl cnroer iB not all q PentoooBt mot all inspired fire from honv. en, Like any artistic caroer to Buo- coed it must have behind it an ability to work, and to carry on tho tasks of study and practice,
 1 nm one who believes that rehl muEicjans are born and not made. The world is full of technical mu. siolnns, Iottor perfect, but lacking the touch that only genius can give, IL proves tho saying that, ''Tho letter kiiloth, but tho spirit
 Keep Out Prodigy Idea
 Most of tho masters of music began whon they were little, very little in most cases, to have Tn. Htr,Iction fin their musical enroorB, Patti wns four. Yehudi Monuhin was n little older. The list ig al. most endless Tn B0me enBoB, it " true, tho child was carly "oondi' tloned" in n musical atmoBphore' When q child breaks out in a rnBh of music with nothing but q "grnmophone'-the Indy ls cana. dInn--tioro must Do something moro than ordinary there.
 My answer iB "Yes. Lot him 70 on, But with his music thoro must Do plenty of rough and rohdy plhy, Ills body must koep time to his mind, And bettor not drhmhtlso his ability, if he domonstrhtes lt, ng think he will to tho extont that ho may lcnrn Co look on nm. self nB n wonder. Hc may DO, but inc prodigy iden must Do kept out flo must look on himself hB n nor' mnl wholesome boy" ,
 And he should not have 70 feol, either. that his health worries hin mother, She may worry put U need not be evident, Her job, ana | do not envy hor, iB to stand Dy ana sec that no gets rest, Heop, air and play, but to keep ms eyoh off himself. .
 it may take years or un'h'hs' Tbere is no desperate hurry