American pupils and most of them
seem to have the fault of wanting to advance to a higher step long
before they are really able. This is very wrong, and the pupil who
insists upon such a course will surely realize some day that instead of
advancing rapidly he is really throwing many annoying obstacles directly
in his own path.

INSTRUCTION BOOKS

Many juvenile instruction books are used in Russia just as in America.
Some teachers, however, find that with pupils starting at an advanced
age it is better to teach the rudiments without a book. This matter of
method is of far greater importance than the average teacher will admit.
The teacher often makes the mistake of living up in the clouds with
Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, and Brahms, never realizing that the pupil is
very much upon the earth, and that no matter how grandly the teacher may
play, the pupil must have practical assistance within his grasp. The
main duty in all elementary work is to make the piano study interesting,
and the teacher must choose the course likely to arouse the most
interest in the particular pupil.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIRTUOSO-STUDENTS IN RUSSIA

It may surprise the American student to hear that there are really more
opportunities for him to secure public appearances right here in his own
country than in Russia. In fact, it is really very hard to get a start
in Russia unless one is able to attract the attention of the public very
forcibly. In America the standard may not be so high as that demanded in
the musical circles of Russia, but the student has many chances to play
that would never come to him in the old world. There, the only chance
for the young virtuoso is at the conservatory concerts. There are many
music schools in Russia that must content themselves with private
recitals, but the larger conservatories have public concerts of much
importance, concerts that demand the attendance of renowned artists and
compel the serious interest of the press. However, these concerts are
few and far between, and only one student out of many hundreds has a
chance to appear at them.

One singular custom obtains in Russia in reference to concerts. The
pianist coming from some other European country is paid more than the
local pianist. For instance, although I am Russian by birth, I reside in
Germany and receive a higher rate when I play in Russia than does the
resident artist. In fact, this rate is often double. The young virtuoso
in the early sta