MUSIC AS A PROFESSION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XVII, 27 October 1894, Page 385

MUSIC AS A PROFESSION.

OF late years music has become (says the St. James’s Gazette] a very popular profession. It is impossible to state with even approximate accuracy how many people get their living, wholly or in part, by practising it ; but a rough idea may be gained from the * Musical Directory,’ published by Messrs Rudall, Carte, and Co. This publication, which is admittedly very incomplete, gives the names of 7,000 professional musicians in London only, of whom about 1,700 are * orchestral instrumentalists,’ and the rest pianists, singers, organists, and ‘professors of music.’ No doubt London contains more musicians in proportion to its population than any other place, but every provincial town has a considerable local list of its own. Manchester and Liverpool, for instance, are credited with about 300 apiece, Birmingham with 200, and so on. In fact, it appears that at the present time more persons are engaged in music than in any other civil profession, except that of general education, using the word * profession ’in its nsnal limited sense. Several causes have contributed to bring about this rather curious state of things; but the principal ones are probably the spread of education in general, the increased facilities for musical education in particular, and the

HONOURABLE SOCIAL STANDING now vouchsafed to music as a profession. These things have brought recruits into it from all sections of the community. To the lower and lower middle classes it offers a rise in life, to the upper a means of livelihood without any fall. Indeed, the fuss which it has for some years been the fashion to make in society over all * professionals ’ has been a distinct inducement to many who would have shuddered

at the notion no very long time ago. And then the fabnlous possibilities, the vast sums paid to popular favourites, of which the public is kept perpetually informed for advertising purposes, and which lose nothing in the telling—this is, of course, an irresistible bait to all sorts and conditions of men. The immortal Frau Buchholz typifies thousands of British mothers, whose fond imagination swells a drawing-room success into the applause of multitudes, and straightway foresees a'dazzling future for her gifted offspring. Why should not her daughter study for the profession 1 Does not Madame Patti get £l,OOO for singing three songs, and Madame Albani take tea every day with the Queen ’ The newspapers say so, and what more could anybody want 1 Then there is the pianoforte and the violin— Paderewski and Sarasate ! Law, medicine, and the Church offer nothing so brilliant and lucrative. No wonder that many are attracted, considering the comparative cheapness of a good musical education. The majority fall by the way ; but large numbers have sufficient talent or perseverance to stick to it seriously, and eventually enter the pro* fession. What prospects really await them there we shall consider presently, after giving some account of the best means of acquiring the necessary proficiency. HOW TO BECOME A MUSICIAN. Music, like the other arts, is still free. A student may betake himself to a private teacher, and, after studying as long as his inclination suggests or his purse allows, may start upon his own account without passing any examination or satisfying any authority as to bis proficiency. This was the old way, and, in point of fact, it still produces some of the most successful musicians. However, the general tendency is all in favour of organisation, of large academic institutions, where a more systematic and complete course of instruction can be given at a moderate cost. These advantages are sometimes more appaient than real; but on the whole, no doubt, the academies exercise a good influence and offer real help to some classes of students.

That, at least, seems to be the opinion of those who take most interest in musical education, and accordingly recent years have seen a great extension of the principle, and a great deal of money spent on it under the fostering influence of exalted patronage. Whether this is really such a matter for congratulation as many suppose, is a question on which two opinions may be held ; bnt our present concern is rather with facts than with arguments, and this at least can be said—that in developing organized schools of music, we are only following the example of other and, as people say, more musical nations. The three most important institutions of the kind are the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal School of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music. THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC. The academic year consists of three terms, each about twelve weeks in length. It is considered to begin at Michaelmas, but students may enter at the beginning or half way through any term. They are not admitted for a shorter period than three terms, nor for less than the full curriculum of studies, except in the case of wind-instrument students. Before entering they must pass an examination, to enable the Principal to judge of their fitness for musical study and the degree of proficiency already attained by them. The curriculum is as follows :—Principal study, two lessons per week of half an hour each ; second study, one lesson per week of one hour, and also one hour’s lesson in class in the following subjects :—Elements of music, harmony and counterpoint, composition, sight-singing, choral singing, elocution, besides three hours’ orchestral practice per week. The principal and secondary studies may be either singing or composition or any of the instruments. For this course the fees are 11 guineas a term, with five guineas entrance fee. Extra lessons may be taken in the chief studies ; and other subjects may be learned, such as modern languages and stage dancing, for extra fees. But taking the ordinary course, as most students do, the cost comes to 38 guineas for the first year and 33 guineas for subsequent ones. For this very moderate sum a good all-round knowledge of music may be acquired, and further facilities, in the way of scholarships, are offered to the more competent students, who alone are likely to make a career.