The art of music, Vol. 04 (of 14) : $b Music in America
History
The art of music, Vol. 04 (of 14) : $b Music in America
Music -- History and criticism; Musicians
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was founded by Clara Bauer,
who still is active in its management, having charge of the home for
the female pupils. This was the first conservatory in the country
to establish a residence department--indeed, its group of buildings
and park-like grounds give the conservatory a truly academic aspect
possessed by few institutions of its kind that are situated in
cities. Miss Bauer, however, recognized from the beginning that the
all-important element of a conservatory was its teaching force. She
secured representative talent in the various branches of music from the
various European musical centres, thereby securing warm approbation of
the institution from foreign musical artists and critics. The faculty
now numbers sixty members; it contains artists notable for excellence
in every branch of musical arts and pedagogy. General cultural studies,
such as dramatic art, literature, and modern languages, are conducted
with special application to their relation to music.
The Cincinnati Conservatory was the first to conduct a summer music
school. The sessions have been uninterrupted since 1867. Attended
largely by music teachers, they have greatly advanced the cause of
musical education in the territory tributary to the city.
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, at Oberlin, presents so many object
lessons of musical pedagogy that it demands rather extended treatment
here.
In the first place, the institution had a natural origin: it was
formed to teach psalmody to a religious community and, in growing
beyond this limited field by adding one musical feature after another
as the developing taste of the people demanded, it typifies the history
of music in the nation. Secondly, the conservatory has a proper
environment. It was planted in a soil already enriched by culture,
Oberlin being the seat of a college distinguished for progressive ideas
and high ideals, the reaction of which upon musical work is always
inspiring--indeed, is essential to the highest achievement. Thirdly,
the Oberlin Conservatory has a proper organization. It is a social
democracy and thereby calculated to produce that free and fraternal
spirit which is the soul of art. Young men and women meet on equal
terms and there are no distinctions among them based on wealth or
nationality or even race, Oberlin having been the first college to
include negroes among its students. Lastly, the conservatory has a
sound program and is living up to this as well as could be expected in
view of the pressure exerted on all 'schools of the people,' to supply
immediate demands. It believes in constructive work, in learning by
doing. Thus it regards a practical knowledge of the science of musical
composition as necessary to an intelligent appreciation of musical
masterpieces, and to this end has established a course in theory and
composition which requires four years of hard study and assiduous
practice. The class system of instruction is the one adopted as the
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