Selected Content
from the Prize Winning Essays Department 
Content is listed chronologically in the order originally published by "The Etude". To be alerted of new content posted to this department, subscribe to the RSS feed.
Second Prize Essay. - Present Worth - By S. P. Govi. - April, 1895
Engaged one day at the library in a pastime that is always most agreeable to me—gathering notes of useful information to the musical student—an unusual conversation arrested my attention. The first speaker was a bright-eyed little Miss whose generally serene... Read More
First Prize Essay - To Acquire Expression - By Wm. Benbow. - April, 1895
Music, played or sung, is an utterance. St. Paul, speaking of musical instruments, calls them "things without life, giving a voice." The culture of this voice is the end of our studies in touch and technic. But it is possible... Read More
The Prizes Awarded. - April, 1895
We have awarded the prizes for the two best essays, to the following parties: William Benbow, of Reading, Pa., receives the first prize, and S. P. Govi (a sister, of Providence) the second. The essays are published in this issue. Read More
Second Prize Essay - Musicians or Executants, Which? - May, 1895
BY JOHN C. FILLMORE. Shall we make our piano pupils into musicians or shall we make of them only executants? This may seem to many a very absurd question. So it is, from any rational point of view. The prompt... Read More
First Prize Essay - The True Value of the Study of Music. - May, 1895
BY BERTRAM C. HENRY. When we engage in anything which demands so great an expenditure of time and money as is needed for the study of music, we are generally anxious to direct our efforts so as to gain the... Read More
Fourth Prize Essay - Some "Passing Notes" - by Julia B. Chapman. - July, 1897
Miss Julia B. Chapman was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., but has spent the greater portion of her life in the South. She received her musical education from eminent teachers in New Orleans. For the past eight years Miss Chapman... Read More
Third Prize Essay. Learn To Think - By Madame A. Pupin. - July, 1897
Madame Pupin is a native of New Jersey. She inherited her musical talent from her father, who was a natural musician, playing several wind and string instruments though he had never taken a lesson in his life. The father also... Read More
Second Prize Essay. Child Nature - BY E. M. SEFTON. - July, 1897
E. M. Sefton was born in Benton County, Iowa, on the ninth of October, 1859. Love of music was early manifested in him, as he commenced its study when thirteen years of age. During the progress of his musical education... Read More
First Prize Essay - Plagiarism In Music - July, 1897
It is much easier to raise the charge of plagiarism than to substantiate it. For are we not all plagiarists in our sayings and doings? Do we not, through early education and association, through reading, nay, through the visible example of our elders, imbibe ideas which we do not hesitate to express as our own? Do we not unconsciously reflect the opinion of our daily paper, whether in politics, sporting matters, the drama, art, or music,--little thinking that we are mere plagiarists of an editor who, in turn, may be plagiarizing some one else? Read More
Fourth Prize Essay - The Educational Value of Concerts. - June, 1900
It is strange to think that there are many students of piano and voice who do not avail themselves of attendance at concerts as a means of study; who work away at home at a Beethoven sonata or a difficult aria and never dream of the inspiration received from the hearing of these works as given by a first-rate artist. Of course, there is the excuse so often heard "I really cannot afford it. My lessons and my music cost so much!" Read More
Third Prize Essay. Child=study: The Teacher's Privilege and Duty. - June, 1900
Child-study! What a privilege, and yet what a difficult thing! How may we best begin? There is the scientific study of children, which has been followed out, not only by those who are interested in general education, but by scientific men of our time, who have recognized that science had much to gain from an investigation of the physical growth of children, and of their social characteristics, and also of their mental, moral, and religious tendencies and development. Read More
Second Prize Essay - Two Characteristics of the Best Methods of Teaching Music - June, 1900
One method of stimulating interest is to get the pupils to ask questions concerning their work. The asking of intelligent questions on an uninteresting subject is not an easy task. An excellent recipe for finding questions is to have the pupils explain points in their lessons to older persons ignorant of music. The would-be teacher's attempts to meet the questions of such persons with satisfactory answers will reveal to them their limitations, and suggest other questions. Their ability to explain satisfactorily such questions will awaken feelings of self-confidence and interest. We like to do what we can do well. Read More
First Prize Essay - Basis of Success in Music Teaching - June, 1900
The Young Man is what he is by virtue of circumstances which are to a great degree inexplicable. His inherent character, the thoughts he permits himself to think when alone, his secret desires, and his professed ambitions spring from him as naturally as certain flowers spring from certain soils. Read More
