Whitehaven Male Voice Choir - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Whitehaven Male Voice Choir

(Communicated).
The above choir recently completed its first session and, as one who had
derived considerable profit and pleasure from attending the classes, I would
like to recommend it to the notice of those interested in the study of Music
and Singing. We were fortunate in have in a teacher like the Rev. B E
DADLEY, whom it is easy to see is at home in every phase of the subject; a
most enthusiastic lover of music himself, he can't help wanting to make
others acquainted with the art, and I understand that he has been remarkably
successful elsewhere in the training of choirs. Mr DADLEY employs the Tonic
Sol-fa method in teaching the elementary section of the choir, and it has
proved to be a most effective method in removing those obstacles in the way
of the student of music. So much were they impressed by the value of this
system of teaching, that nearly all the members who were entitled to call
themselves "singers of some experience," attended the instruction given to
the elementary division. Those acquainted with the Tonic Sol-fa system will
be quite familiar with time,ear, and memory tests, but some of us found when
we had to encounter, say, the ear tests, that we had something to learn
before we might hope to become singers according to Mr DADLEY's standard.
Whether the Whitehaven Male Voice Choir will ever consist of members, every
one of whom will be able to sing at sight, with good quality of tone, and
the graces of expression, is hard to say, but that is the goal which the
students are encouraged to aim at. Each practice night a portion of the
time is devoted to study on the following parts of the subject:--Correcting
faults in voice production, with hints on the management of the registers,
and vocal exercises to improve the quality of tone. Singing at sight,
voluntaries written on the blackboard by the teacher, with hints on the
study of the mental effects of the tones in the scale. Ear tests in which
the pupil endeavours to write down in their books, notes as they are being
either sung or played by the teacher.

Singiing at part songs and rounds in the tonic sol-fa notation followed by
singing in the staff notation. These exercises are very enjoyable as they
"report progress." Time tests with study of accent and rhythms. During
these exercises M DADLEY makes remarks upon key, and time signatures, rate
of movement, and expression marks, and corrects errors in pronunciation and
other little defects in a kindly manner. All this work is got through in a
happy enjoyable way; no dry bones, no stiffness, but bright and
interestingly led by the teacher; the members never lack in attention to his
instruction, and it is worthy of remark that when a mistake is made it is
oftener due to over zeal than inattention. I think I have said sufficient to
indicate that the work being done is of a valuable character, and it seems
to me that this opportunity should not be lost, but that all lovers of vocal
music should take advantage of Mr DADLEY's residence among us and attend the
classes when they are resumed, as I hope they soon will be. I am glad to
hear that a class for ladies has been formed, because I can see the
possibility in the future of an amalgamation of these two choirs resulting
in a Choral Society second to none in the North of England.