E-text prepared by David Newman, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project

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MUSIC TALKS WITH CHILDREN

by

THOMAS TAPPER

Philadelphia
Theodore Presser

1898

  "Dear child! dear girl! that walkest with me here,
  If thou appear untouched by solemn thought,
  Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
       * * * * *
  "God being with thee when we know it not."

—WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

TO THE CHILDREN AT HOME

  "Teach me to live! No idler let me be,
  But in Thy service hand and heart employ."

—BAYARD TAYLOR.

PREFACE

A book of this kind, though addressed to children, must necessarilyreach them through an older person. The purpose is to suggest a few ofthe many aspects which music may have even to the mind of a child. Ifthese chapters, or whatever may be logically suggested by them, beactually used as the basis of simple Talks with children, music maybecome to them more than drill and study. They should know it as anart, full of beauty and of dignity; full of pure thought and aboundingin joy. Music with these characteristics is the true music of theheart. Unless music gives true pleasure to the young it may be doubtedif it is wisely studied.

Our failure to present music to the young in a manner that interestsand holds them is due not so much to the fact that music is toodifficult for children, but because the children themselves are toodifficult for us. In our ignorance we often withhold the rightfulinheritance. We must not forget that the slower adult mind often meetsa class of difficulties which are not recognized by the unprejudicedchild. It is not infrequent that with the old fears in us we persistin recreating difficulties.

There should be ever present with the teacher the thought that musicmust be led out of the individuality, not driven into it.

The teacher's knowledge is not a hammer, it is a light.

While it is suggested that these chapters be used as thesubject-matter for talks with the children, they may read verbatim ifdesired. All foot-note references and suggestions are addressed to theolder person—the mother or the teacher. There is much in theliterature of art that would interest children if given to themdiscriminatingly.

THOMAS TAPPER.

BOSTON, October 30, 1896

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

PREFACE

I. WHAT THE FACE TELLS

II. WHY WE SHOULD STUDY MUSIC

III. MUSIC IN THE HEART

IV. THE TONES ABOUT US

V. LISTENING

VI. THINKING IN TONE

VII. WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR

VIII. THE CLASSICS

IX. WHAT WE SHOULD PLAY

X. THE LESSON

XI. THE LIGHT ON THE PATH

XII. THE GREATER MASTERS

XIII. THE LESSER MASTERS

XIV. HARMONY AND COUNTERPOINT

XV. MUSIC AND READING

...