Book One,

FOR PRIMARY GRADES.

THE AMERICAN MUSIC SYSTEM

BY

FREDERICK ZUCHTMANN

KING, RICHARDSON PUBLISHING CO.,

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., U. S. A.

1898

PREFACE.

This book is designed for the Primary Grades.

Pupils when first entering upon their school life have faulty habits of speech which we aim to correct by means of the exercises on the vowel charts.

Song is developed out of speech, therefore it is necessary to develop the organs of the voice in the right direction from the beginning.

Rote singing is an important factor in developing the musical sense in children, and the pupils are to sing the simple little songs in the first part of the book by rote until they are able to read the notes.

Teachers should require the pupils to sing softly and pay particular attention to enunciation. When the words are not distinctly heard the song loses its beauty.

The songs have been carefully selected and will be found singable and pleasing. All trashy music and words have been avoided.

Particular attention should be given the breathing marks and accents.

THE AUTHOR.