Year: 1872

At the concert given 10y Prof. Knabes


music class on the evening of the I'd inst,


Prof. Butler delivered the following ad-
dress:


Music is q science and an art. 1t is not
a mere accomplishment for the social cir
Gle, an ornamental requirement for the


ladies only, but one of the most useful and
practical of arts, one that is or should be
interviewer into our daily domestic as well
as social life. Happy will it be for our land
when every family and school shall find
daily a little time to sing or to listen to
some well-played instrument of music,
when the happiness that music brings
shall gladden. alike the cottage of
the lOwly and the mansion of
the wealthy But it is not my
purpose in the few remarks / now offer, to
speak of music, instrumental or vocal, as
having "charms to soothe the savage
breast" or power to cheer and animate
pupils in their ordinary routine of lesson
learning and reciting, or as q profitable
and pleasant diversion in the family and
in society from the eXhausting and corro-
ding cares and tolls of life.


1t is true, that as an agent i'll calling
forth the kindly feelings and sympathies
of the human heart-even from the hard
ened and vicious-it bears the impress
of its divine Author, calming bOisterOus
and turbulent spirits, and rOusing to ac-
ton the better feelings that lay dormant;
that it is one of the most effective means
of inculcalating those lessons of piety and
patriotism, filial and social duty, without
which education is useless that in short
it is most powerful agency in all moral
and asthetic culture. But of these reasons
for the culture of instrumental and vocal
music, weighty as they are, l do not here
and now speak; but what [ do say is, that
as an exact and difficult science to be
taught, as a study to be pursued with
incest care and discrimination, and an art
to be practiced with the most fixed and alb
sorbed attention, it becomes one of the
most effectiue means for that high intel
lectuBl and moral culture and discipline,
which is the highest end of all right edu-
cation; for, to emhhasize this thought, the
principle object of educOtiOn is to discip-
line the mind, to train it to habits of pa
tient thought, close attention, scrutinizing
investigation and exact expression in
fine, to make it an active think
ing mind. Therefore, any branch not
in in itself Objectionable that will
tend to fix the thoughts, and lead to cor
rectness and preciseness of action may be
pursued with advantage, and, if mistake
not, instruction in instrumental and vocal
music, properly and scientifically impart-
ed, is most admirably adapted to the ac-
complishment Of these ends in an attract
i've and pleasing manner.


1t is only of late, while witnessing Prof.
Knabe's instruction in instrumental and
vocal music in the Institute, and the
effect of the same upon the mebers
of his classes, that | have been
led to put this high, and [ am confident,
lust estimate upon music as branch of
education. It should stand on the same
footing with reading, mathematics and
language.


1t is the object of Professor Knabe, in
teaching vocal music, to make indepen-
dent singers, that is, singers that can sing
all ordinary music at sight. and whose
singing shall be something more than
measured noise, minus melody; shall have
real music in it and, in teaching piano,
to make the pupil so master the instrument
and the art as to play not only
the pieces she has taken from
her teacher, but also at sight all music
suited to her age and attainments; and
these objects he is, in my Judgment, ac-
complishing with a thOroughness, certain
ty and rapidity rarely found in any lnsti-
tuition or community. In conducting the
department of music he has been of signal
service to us in establishing a standard of
'thoroughness, accuracy and finish in all
that we do. 1t is to hoped, therefore, for
the sake of the culture and development of
this important art in our Female Institute
and in our community, that higher faclll-
ties than he now possesses for prosecuting
his work may be furnished more speedily
than they can be by the proceeds OF such
entertainments as are offered you, ladies
ana gentlemen, on this occasion.