The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-01-13
Child Predigy's
Career Started By
Fair To Hold
Phillipa Schuyler
Day, June 19
by Russ J. cowans

bt hN~- ~ 'NNNH~
After eight year.Ohf Phillip
Duke Schuyler had completed hel
piano recital at Bethel AME Nv,
weeks aeo. more than three hun
drcd children. who had attended
the recital as guests Of the spun.
sors. warmed around the pulpit
clamoring for autographs.
nid this little girl who has been
wnning medals not only FOR her
PLAYING hut for her compositions
since she was Tour years old
stalk from the platform as pri-
ma donnag She did not
Iabors t0urageonSly
Instead phillpa. her face radi
ant with happiness made Wall.
am effort 90 autograph every pro.
traM showed over The rail by me
tiny hands She laborcd courage.
ouslv for almost an our. and on.
Is ,he urging ~ her mother caus.
ed her TO drop the pen and wave
q sorrowful goodbye 10 her little
friends.
phlipa. destitute OF aitec,a'ion
IL q pattern OF simplicity. This
was clearly manifested IN the ami.
mated conversation that followed
Immediately after the autograph
ing session The conversation CEN
tered around her trip 10 Detioit
and Chinese checkers, game
which according - her account, Is
absorbing much Of her time.
81 didn't sleep well on he train
last night Phillipa said They
should pi some more oil on The
Wheels ~ those cars.
Two Hours In School
There was that healthy. cheer.
fumes and good sIsit sprinrinp
from phillipa as she explained
briefly about her recreaiions whef
she's NOT composing compositions
or Studying in her class room as
sicnmenis And, hy ihe-.way Phil
lipa nuiy spends tWo hd~lrs 90 each
day Ia the fifih grade class room
Bat this little girl whose intel.
leciual capacity and development
had been SO beautifully expressed
a short time before. was rushed
upsiai,s by her mother Mrs JOS.
ephne schuyler, TO rest after The
recital
Mrs SCHUYLER. a writer ~ note
In her own right. then toll the
story OF how SHE and her husband
George SCHUYLER columns had
discovered Philippe precocious.
ness While her literary ability
was demonstrated al Two years oi
age. it was not until she was tire,
that tho musical qualities spranl
into Observations
Photographer Starts II
II occurred when photographer,
visited The Schuyler home In New
York 20 take some pictures 81
rHillipa on her ihird birthday
One camera man wanting q picture
just little different than those
Of His contemporaries. asked Phil
lipa 70 pose al the piano
Although she had never heen on
couraged her small fingers rippl-
cd over the KEYS with such ease
and grace that the photographed
wanted 10 know n She could play.
When told that She coud not. he
said: well II She doesn't, it won't
be- long before she VIII.
Shortly after this phillipa was
receiving Instructions on the pia-
no from we'll known teacher,
and. after six weeks " insirIc-
tions. had composed 10 nursery
rhymes. Then came a radio broad
east. followed by the acclaim OF
the National Piano Teachers
Guild ~ 2 genius
To study Symphonies
phillipa is now receiving piano
instructions from William lIarmes.
assistant ~ Josef Hoffman. AZ The
Curtis Institute. Philadelphia Mr.
Harness makes three trips each
week to New York to give phillipi
lessons
After This month she will be-
come student of Miss Antonio
Buco. famous symphony comduc-
tor. On Feb. she Will play a
group OF her compositions for
children az Mcdowell club New
York, and 9O-piece orchestra Will
play her dance Of Forty
Til, browning acclaim 10 this
remarkable little girl who caused
the children. az we'll as adults, 10
listen with manifest delight,
comes June 10. whom Phillipa
Duke Schuvler Day Will be ohserv-
II "A 81. ~ N,rf, tN,vf1 t.4ft