The talking machine world (Aug-Dec 1919)

December 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 25 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ 1 The Talking Machine Assumes the Part of | I Pedagogue Most SuCCeSsfuly :: by J. S. Parsons [ After a long and intensive fight against prejudices due to lack of understanding and appreciation of the real musical worth of the talking machine, this instrument has won a well earned position as a musical instrument worthy of a place in the highest musical circles. The finest homes in the country have their talking machines as well as their pianos, organs, harps and other musical instruments. Musical education has been materially advanced by means of the talking machine in schools, colleges and other institutions of learning. Music departments of public schools, high schools, colleges and conservatories of music have come to realize that in their work of spreading the knowledge of music among the people of the land through the pupils attending their courses, the talking machine has been a valuable aid in proving theories by actual demonstration and comparison. In the great work of Americanization, of teaching those who come from foreign shores the ideals, and practices of America the talking machine has had its place. It has helped these people to become better citizens through giving them a conception of the things for which America stands, not only in music, but in other spheres as well. It has brought to their new home the music of their native lands and has helped tD keep them contented while they were assimilating the many experiences of the new land. It has helped them to learn English and has been used in night schools to help the pupil to learn the rudiments of our difficult language. It has now come to be a part of a different work and one which affects the business world of America in very definite ways. The great call of modern business demands men for work in all countries of the world. Great exporting houses with branches in innumerable countries send out men to carry on the work in distant lands. Many a young man has wished to take up this work but has not been able or has not enjoyed the privileges of education which would permit him to become an adept in the language of the country to which he would like to go. To supply this need language courses in talking machine record form have been arranged and through these courses the talking machine is entering upon a pedagogical field as a teacher that is available to all. The study of languages in schools and colleges has largely been for pleasure illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllill^ and just for the sake of adding another accomplishment. But now the talking machine comes forward and offers a means by which everyone may learn a new language for practical purposes as well as for pleasure. And in order to learn any desired language it is no longer necessary to attend a special school which would be both costly "and would require considerable time — more than the average man or woman engaged in business could well afford. It was felt that if language could only be taught in the home, and made available at any time, a great step forward would be made. With the perfection of the talking machine and the attention given by experts in every line to its use, the language records made their appearance and at pillllllllllllllIIIIIIIM | Few Teachers j | Have Been Able j | to Accomplish j | what the Talking j | Machine Has | | Achieved in Ed j I ucational Field. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii once established themselves. Now it is possible for the ambitious young man to study any desired language in his spare moments after the day's work with but a fraction of the cost of a college education or a special school course. Not only can he learn at a small cost, but he can really learn. That is to say he comes to know a language thoroughly, not as a language from a printed page, but as a living thing to which his ear has been attuned. It has long been said that our method of teaching languages in many of our higher institutions of learning was wrong in that it taught from the printed page and did not train the ear to receive and translate foreign sounds into terms of our own language. It is agreed that a combination of the two methods is best. This combination is effected by the talking machine, for special books are furnished with the sets of records and what one ^^Il'll:!!!:!!:!:!!:,!! JhJ; 11.11:. .11. IlH,.! iHi :i. sees on the printed page is also heard coming from the sound box of the machine at will. Clear and perfect enunciation with the correct accent is the great feature of these records and in this way they are able to do what few teachers have been able to accomplish. The growth of the companies who have made a specialty of these language records is evidence that the people of this country have recognized the need for just such an improvement upon modern conditions. Many talking machine dealers, scattered in every corner of the land, handle these record courses and consequently there is no one who cannot profit by this intensive education work. Inaccessability of location and insufficient means should no longer hinder anyone on his way up the ladder of success. If his ambitions point to work in great enterprises either here or abroad he can learn the necessary language equipment in his own home and in his spare moments. The man or woman who is just starting upon a business career and sees a future ahead, can make the most of the time after working hours by learning a new language. The salesman or clerk can qualify for that position he has been longing for. A few minutes each day taken from his time in the evening when he has returned from work will make him eligible for a better position in a higher department or perhaps in another branch of the work. In these days of hurry and rush in business great stress is laid on utilizing spare moments and in no better way can this be done than by using the talking machine record courses in the study of another language. It is always a source of satisfaction to have the consciousness of a task well done, and in learning a language well, so that you have command of its peculiarities and difficulties, there is the feeling that you have, accomplished a great deal. This is perhaps one of the reasons why these language courses make such an appeal to earnest workers. After using the record courses there is the feeling that something very real and definite has been accomplished and you feel repaid for your work. So it is obvious that in the field of commercial education the talking machine has done and is continuing to do a great work. It is demonstrating in this new sphere just as successfully as it has in musical and educational gelds that it is very much more than an amusement factor. |||||t||tt||||#|##|||||»»4M4**4444*444*ii 4 <©reettngs>:=== For a most joyous Christmas Season and for a New Year marked by progress and prosperity in full measure. OLIVER DITSON-BOSTON COMPANY VICTOR EXCLUSIVELY 44£114444444444444444444444~444444~44~44£1£££