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MAY
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
15, 1920
61
Encouraging Summer Music Teaching
Written for The Music Trade Review by JOHN L. BRATTON
Not more than a decade ago it was the fashion among
music dealers substantially to reduce their forces during
June, July and August because of the then customary sum-
mer business depression. Matters have improved somewhat
in recent years, but summer business : s not what it might
be. Imitating other businesses, it seems up to the music
business to create its own summer markets. One of the
best markets that may be created lies in the encouragement
of the already established summer music teachers and the
setting up of others. The article that follows is a brief
but comprehensive modus operandi for the average music
teacher to follow in entering summer teaching. It is sug-
gested that the trade boost summer teaching among their
teaching clientele, posting themselves and picking up fresh
ideas from what is here presented.—EDITOR.
or picnics to some secluded and cool spot. A
folding blackboard is easily carried, and a friend-
ly tree will form the easel. The class may
group itself conveniently on the grass or any
other part of the surroundings adaptable. Re-
freshments are easily served in parties of this
nature.
Other recreations for the Special
Course that have proven successful in a num-
ber of instances are informal vocal and instru-
mental recitals and concerts presented under
novel circumstances, musical debates and im-
promptu discussions of musical history and
divers phases of the art. Summing up, the
Summer to music teachers is a season which
teacher should try to blend the useful with the
presents numerous perplexities. Not the least
of these is the recent tendency on the part of
social without sacrificing too much of personal
pupils to shorten the study period of the usual
comfort. This does not necessarily imply that
teaching season. Formerly, teachers began their
the teaching should be "spotty" or inefficient or,
classes at the close of August and continued
at least, below one's regular standard. The
until the latter part of the following June. But
thought to be kept in mind is that the time is
now many pupils, usually those not especially
summer, and that the work must be lighter
ambitious, demand their season to be from Oc-
without losing its worth.
tober until early June, with a generous vacation
The Resort Studio is for those teachers able
during the holidays. This loss of income during
and willing to invest money in their enterprise.
the remaining four months of the year entails a
The lesson place may be in a rented cottage or
very telling financial strain on teachers. The
bungalow, an ordinary studio building—plenti-
teachers must also condense a year's effort and
ful at modern resorts—or in the teacher's apart-
strenuousness into eight or nine months in or-
ments. This kind of Summer School appeals
der to get moderate results with pupils. This
mainly to people of means and, usually, to
condition has become so pertinent that many
adults only. For example, teachers of the large
prominent instructors have openly rebelled
Eastern cities make Atlantic City their summer
against it and sought remedies for its correc-
teaching place. The studies followed are any-
tion. Of these, the most generally accepted as
thing from the elemental to virtuosity.
possessing permanent value is the Summer
Customarily, well-known or eminent teachers
School.
conduct normal classes for young teachers at
This institution, for it has become an institu-
their resort studios, apparently with much
tion, is known under this and synonymous titles.
profit and success. Here, as in the simpler
But, irrespective of title or variance of procedure,
kind of school, the teacher must exercise good
its objective is the same, viz.: the study of music
judgment and modify the work in order to se-
under the most pleasant conditions during the
cure sufficient personal recreation.
hot and enervating months.
The third class, the Boarding School, is the
The Summer School permits the earnest and
most complicated of the various Summer School
ambitious student to continue his studies unin-
ideas. At the same time it contains the greatest
terruptedly and, therefore, beneficially, instead
possibilities for pleasure and profit. A few years
of losing valuable time in enforced idleness.
ago a clear-headed teacher, well known in a
Through it, the teacher is saved the financial loss
moderate-size Eastern city, rented a small farm
of a term's teaching, and is thus better equipped
in a secluded portion of the New Hampshire
with prosperity for improved efforts during the
hills. After furnishing the roomy house with
regular teaching season. And, finally, by it,
almost "simple life," but entirely adequate arti-
many otherwise indifferent students have been
cles, he installed a housekeeper built on com-
reclaimed musically.
mon-sense lines. Then he circulated a printed
Of course, music teachers ought to take some
pamphlet containing a cut and a brief descrip-
vacation during the summer. No profession is
tion of the farm and its healthful surroundings
All summer lessons should be shorter than among pupils, friends and acquaintances. This
more nerve-racking or debilitating. A straight,
all-the-year-around course without a refreshing those of the regular season, and be given dur- pamphlet merely invited a few select students to
respite of some kind would be unendurable to ing the cool of the morning and the late after- spend a period in the country, and the board
any teacher unless possessed of the constitu- noon, if possible. The classes in harmony and charged, it was explained, covered the cost of a
tion of the mythical perfect man. But no com- other theory require special planning to make comprehensive summer course in various
petent teacher need idly waste time during the them successful, happily done by the adoption branches of pianoforte study. The first season
summer period. A business man, when business of numerous social features in conjunction with this instructor cleared about forty dollars above
slackens, or for some reasons stops temporarily, study. A charming idea is to organize jaunts his expenses. But the second year was much
better, and the next year his receipts exceeded
the amount of his normal winter income for the
same length of time. Another teacher patched
Discovered and
up a dilapidated bungalow in an almost inacces-
Endorsed
sible part of the Catskill Mountains, rented
three pianos and a few articles of furniture, and
by
advertised for pupils among her city friends
IS A CLEAR-CUT SUCCESS
and the farmers in the neighborhood of her
bungalow. Her success, also, was very satis-
Concert Singers will find in this
factory.
GREAT AMERICAN BALLAD
Lack of space forbids the mention of numer-
a story and a melody unique—
ous other successful ones who have followed
the Boarding School plan or some modification
POSITIVELY A NEW "LOVE'S OLD SWEET SONG"
of it. But the two instances cited will suffice
to suggest many ideas to ambitious and earnest
Buy it NOW at Introductory Rate
teachers who have confidence in themselves.
The studies for the Boarding School may be
any kind of musical work. Frequently harmony,
THE HOUSE OF SONG FAME
theory, composition and a normal course are
9 EAST .17th STREET, NEW YORK
RYRIE BUILDING, TORONTO
tlie chief features of the curriculum. Boating,
(Continued on page 62)
devises advertising schemes and other business-
getting innovations to restore the normal flow
of receipts without delay. Along such lines
should the music teacher regulate the "vacation"
season.
Unless he or she be an exceptionally fortunate
individual, two problems confront every music
teacher at the close of the regular teaching sea-
son: The necessity of refreshing rest and re-
laxation, and enforced stoppage of steady in-
come. These problems are antonymous, be-
cause rest means a suspension of activities—the
source of income. The Summer School or class,
rightly conducted, reconciles both phases of the
matter, because it supplies both rest and money.
When it furnishes one to the detriment of the
other the method followed has been faulty.
There are three kinds of Summer Schools or
Courses in common vogue. The Special Course
in the teacher's regular locality; the Resort
Studio at a seaside or watering place not too
distant from the home town; and the Boarding
School in either an adjacent or far district.
Material for the Special Course may be
gleaned from the regular winter class, vacation
transients home from schools, city connections,
etc., and others whose winter vocations are too
onerous to permit of music study. The studies
and duties given to the first named of this va-
riety of pupils must be'different from that of the
regular season, unless the regular work be re-
quested. Pupils whose studies have been mainly
technical should be instructed in phrasing, mel-
ody-playing, etc., instilled in the form of a
repertoire of bright, attractive pieces. If their
fancy or desires turn to theoretic or technical
study, pleasant and attractively contrived
courses in harmony, theory, pedal study, em-
bellishments, octaves, or any particular branch
may be given. The "transients" may simply de-
sire a "brushing up," or some new selections,
or the correction of some "weakness." The
third class entail the hardest task. These stu-
dents may request a full course "by the end of
summer," or want instruction "just for their own
amusement;" or be more reasonable and be con-
tented with ordinary teaching. In any con-
tingency, the summer teacher, if rest be desired,
should accept only a strictly limited number of
these latter pupils, as they require the most
strenuous brand of tuition for even respectable
achievements to be noticeable.
"THE BAREFOOT
TRAIL"
John
McCormack
BOOSEY & CO.