he erring, incite the indolent, and
chastise those who wilfully persist in the wrong.

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

I. ON ELEMENTARY PIANO-FORTE INSTRUCTION

II. AN EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AT HERR ZACH'S

III. MANY STUDENTS OF THE PIANO AND FEW PLAYERS

IV. A CONVERSATION WITH MRS. SOLID, AND FOUR LESSONS TO HER
DAUGHTER

V. ON THE PEDAL

VI. THE SOFT-PEDAL SENTIMENT

VII. A MUSICAL TEA-PARTY AT THE HOUSE OF JOHN SPRIGGINS

VIII. SINGING AND SINGING-TEACHERS

IX. THOUGHTS ON SINGING

X. VISIT AT MRS. N.'S

XI. SECRETS

XII. THOUGHTS ON PIANO-PLAYING

XIII. ON MUSICAL TALENT

XIV. EXTRAVAGANCES IN SINGING AND PIANO-PLAYING

XV. CONCLUSION

PIANO AND SONG.

CHAPTER I.

ON ELEMENTARY PIANO-FORTE INSTRUCTION.

You ask, my dear friend, for some particular information about my piano
method, especially with regard to my mode of elementary instruction,
which differs essentially from that in common use.

I give you here the main points; and, if you place confidence in my
experience of forty years, and if you will supply those details which I
have omitted, your own varied experience as a thoughtful, talented, and
earnest piano-teacher will enable you to understand my theory, from the
following dialogue between my humble self under the title of Dominie, my
friend, and the little Bessie:--

DOMINIE. My dear friend, how have you managed to make piano-playing so
utterly distasteful to little Susie? and how is it that the instruction
which you have given her for the last three years actually amounts to
nothing?

FRIEND. Well, I will tell you how I have proceeded. First I taught her
the names of the keys, that was pretty dull work for her; then I made
her learn the treble notes, which was a difficult matter; after that I
taught her the bass notes, which puzzled her still more; then I
undertook to teach her a pretty little piece, which she hoped to perform
for the delight of her parents. Of course she constantly confused the
bass and treble notes, she could not keep time, she always used the
wrong fingers and could not learn it at all. Then I scolded her,--she
only cried; I tried a little coaxing,--that made her cry worse; finally
I put an end to the piano lessons, and she begged me never to begin them
again; and there you have the whole story.

DOMINIE. You certainly might have begun more