me time the attention
is given to the intonation, style, etc., must require an exceptional
temperament and natural capacity. The fact is, it is beyond the power
of most musicians. They must practise their instrumental and vocal
music, and learn it nearly "by heart," before they attempt to perform
it for others.

The writer of this has attended a class taught by one of Cheve's
pupils, and can testify to the efficiency of the method, though the
lessons were a very modest attempt to exemplify the perfection of
the system. The lessons of M. and Mme. Cheve were divided into three
parts: first, a drill in the principles of the theory of music;
second, singing scales and exercises; third, drills in "reading time,"
beating time, analyzing time, etc., ending with some diverting "round"
or "catch" or some exercise in vocal harmonies. On their method of
teaching time, more than on any other part of their system perhaps,
did the grand success of the Cheves depend. Rhythm was always taught
separately from intonation, it being contrary to their principle to
present two difficulties together before each had been mastered alone.

The first grand law of Galin's system is that _every isolated symbol
represents a unit of time_ or beat, whatever the measure. For example:

5, unit of sound articulated.
., unit of sound prolonged.
0, unit of silence.

The second law is that _the various divisions of the unit of time are
always united in a group under a principal bar, and such a bar always
contains the unit of time--never more, never less_. To illustrate:

H | __ T | ___
A | 55 H | 555
L | __ I | ___
V | .. R | ...
E | __ D | ___
S | 00 S | 000
. | . |

Here the units of time--the numeral, the dot and the cipher--are
divided first into two equal parts, and then into three. In both cases
the groups represent units of time--one beat of a measure--according
to the rule. It will be noticed that the form of the notes is the
same whether whole or divided into fractions; that is, there are no
different forms for "crotchets," "quavers," "semiquavers," etc., the
expression of time being better provided for. Thus, halves or thirds
are indicated to the eye by a single bar surmounting two signs for
halves, three for thirds. If the halves or thirds have in their turn
been divided by _two_, then the principal bar covers two little groups
of _tw