Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
But who could advise her to give it up ?' said Herr
Deppe again ;
' for if she begins with me and has not
the patience and perseverance to carry it through to
the end, all her present enjoyment in piano-playing
will be embittered.'
' What is wrong ?' I asked very earnestly, but very
quietly. ' I have not minded your laughing at me,
because I had the feeling that there was much in my
playiag that not only amused, but also pleased and
interested you ; but it is scarcely fair of you to put
me off like that with general statements. Tell me
plainly where you think my chief deficiency lies, and
whether it is of a nature which resolution, persever-
ance and patience can overcome.'
We all three looked full at one another for a few
moments. The gentlemen hesitated. Herr Deppe
still remained silent, and I think it was Mr. Clarke
who first spoke, and addressed me thus :
' I tell you, then, that, to accomplish anything in
the Deppe method, you must entirely lay aside every
piece you have ever learned, and give yourself up to
a physical drill of which you as yet have not the very
faintest perception—and that, supposing you do this,
and supposing you are unusually gifted in mastering
this side of the school, in a year and a half, you who
now play Schumann's Concerto, and Liszt's Rhap-
sodies, will at the most be only able to play some of
Mozart's simpler Sonatas, and Moscheles' Studies.'
All this naturally roused and excited me. I did