Music itself uses the same
tones over and over again; it is by doing so that we begin to
understand tone a little.
The school studies try the mind; with the tasks increased bit by bit,
the mind is made stronger. Thus is Strength gained. By the tasks
demanding exactness, the thoughts must not be scattered everywhere,
but centered upon the thing to be done. Thus is Concentration gained.
By making the hand work with care and a definite purpose, Skill is
gained. By demanding of the thoughts that they must seek out all the
qualities of an object, Attention is gained. By placing things and
signs for things before us, we are taught to See. By educating us in
sounds, we are taught to Listen. When we have a task that admits of a
single correct result, we are taught Exactness.
Now, from all we have learned in these Talks about music it must be
clear that all these qualities are just what are needed in music:
I. Strength of thought for Real doing.
II. Concentration for Right doing.
III. Skill for Well doing.
IV. Seeing and listening for the cultivation of Attention.
V. Correctness for the Manner of doing.
We sought for a simple lesson. It is this:
Let us learn all we can that is right and worthy for the strengthening
of the mind, for the cultivation of the heart, for the good and joy of
others; for these things are the spirit of music.
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