should never intrude upon the melody, nor fail to be a good background
for it. The singing of part music is one of the best ways to train the
attention--that is, to get Concentration. As we sing our part we must
have in mind these things:


I. To keep to it and not be drawn away by another part.

II. To give the part we sing its due prominence.

III. Never to destroy the perfect equality of the parts by unduly
hastening or holding back.

IV. To remember that each part is important. The other singers have
as much to think of and to do as we have, and they are entitled
to just as much praise.

V. To be alert to take up our part at exactly the right place.

VI. To put the full meaning of the poet and of the composer into
every word and tone.

These, after all, are only a few of the things; but from them we may
learn this, that to sing (and to play is quite the same) is one of the
most delicate tasks we can learn to perform, requiring attention from
us in many ways at the same time. Even now the usefulness of music is
clear, for the faculties we learn to employ in music form a power that
can be applied in anything.

But music has even a greater reward for us than this. It presents to