One of the large correspondence schools has gotten out an advertisement, with a cover in facsimile of a bank book. On the cover is printed: “THE SPARE TIME SAVINGS BANK IN ACCOUNT WITH AMBITIOUS AMERICANS.” The idea is, of course, to induce as many ambitious Americans as possible to invest their time and incidentally their dollars in that particular correspondence school. Moreover, we are quite convinced that such an investment has turned the career of many a young man from failure to success.
The little book brings out in a very unique way the centuries old necessity for saving time. There are people who are actually parsimonious with their time. They give so much of it to their work that they have no spare minutes for anything else. Like all miserly traits, this brings discomfort and misery to the one who practices it, as well as all those around him. For
the most part, however, we waste time in a most shameful manner. We are permitted to visit this planet for a very short time indeed, and we should value our hours too highly to squander them wantonly.
Musicians should realize that we live in an age of prodigality. This applies not only to our money, but to our physical strength and our time as well. The principles of thrift manifested by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, which represent the adamant foundation of our national greatness, are as important and as vital now as they ever were.
Musicians invest far too little of their time in profitable occupations. Many a man has built up a success in the spare time which another might have squandered. Allowing ten hours for work, eight hours for sleep, two hours for meals, one for other duties and one for recreation, we still have two precious hours to help us in advancing our careers. What are you doing with those hours? Are you, as Kipling has it, “filling the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,” or are the “unforgiving” minutes passing by only to pave the way to oblivion?
There are so many opportunities for personal advancement that we advise our readers to open an account in the “Spare Time Bank” right away. It need not be through a correspondence school. With a good book in hand and the habit of “putting by” just a little time every day a great advance can be made. If you are deficient in any of the auxiliary branches of your work—harmony, ear training, higher technic, musical history, etc.—why postpone taking them up when a small account in the “Spare Time Bank” will start you successward at once? Don’t say, “I haven’t any time,” or, “I haven’t any teacher.” Some of the most successful musicians have been self-taught. Remember what sage old Ben. Franklin said: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
