THE TONIC SOL FA SYSTEM.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 867, 28 September 1871, Page 3

THE TONIC SOL FA SYSTEM.

Mr J. T. Smith of Stoke, recently gave a lecture in the Wesleyan Church, Richmond, on the above method of learning to read vocal music. He strongly advocates the extension of the system to public schools. He said :—To eradicate an evil, we are told, is to commence at the root; and to deal with the musical deficiences of the people we must begin with the children. And to accomplish this on a large scale it must be taught in public schools. It is quite as important as some branches of education that are no\y taught, tn my opinion music would exert a beneficial influence on the children attending schools. A few of the advantages may be enumerated here. It tends to promote physical health, a judicious use of the vocal organ tends to strengthen the lungs and chest. A physician said that "if there was more singing there would be less consumption." It is a civilising agent. Where the population is scattered and cannot be brought together often, the social feeling is necessarily weak; if children were taught to sing they would come together more frequently in after life, and music would exercise a wonderful influence on roughness of their manners. It helps the memory. If you wish to teach a child a life lesson write it in verse and set it to music. Music is a substantial part of education; it exercises the eye, the ear, the memory, and the voice. Singing, as a pleasure, moves the soul, and because of this it is philanthropic, patriotic, and worthy of our earnest endeavors to extend its influence as a moral agent in our schools, homes, and congregations. There is but one way to create a love for music in the people, and that is to teach, while boys and girls at school, to sing by note. There is a great difference in teaching a child to sing by ear and teaching him to sing by sight. Teach a child a piece by ear and he is able to appreciate that piece only, but teach him music, and you give him a blessing Tor life, a very well-spring from which he can draw relief and sing his grief to rest. Can this be done. It can, and in the short time allotted to elementary education. Some people are so matter-of fact, that because music will not patch a boot, or saw a plank, they would exclude it from schools altogether. Is not this a mistake P Will not the lad who sings while he patches, and sings something healthful, wotk all the bettfer ? 'I think so ; and his song will keep his thoughts from wandering into bad ways. Children will sing something, the musical faculty is a part of their nature, and unless they are supplied with good music, many of them perhaps, will go' to the alehouse and sing songs of ribaldry and obscenity, i | Mr Hickson says "that Germany has been changed from one of the most drunken to one of the most sober nations in Europe by the influence of . music in common schools." ■, /

I would urge the adoption of the Tonic Sol Fa system in public schools, because it is simple, and easily understood by the child., I have read of a child seven years old, and her father, both taking the elementary certificate at the same time. The teaching of Tonic Sal Fa is easy both for the teacher and the children. Persons can learn from the Tonic Sal Fa who cannot learn music from the old notation. Music of an inferior character is not printed in the Tonic Sol Fa notation, nor anything that any reasonable parent could object to, but, on the other hand-, the best oratorios, the best glees, anthems, and songs, are in the Tonic Sol Fa notation. A beautiful edition of songs and tunes expressly adapted to educational purposes is printed in this Singing in schools would not only give musical pleasure and training, but it would serve a great educational purpose, and be made a mighty moral agent for developing and elevating the feelings and of children.