135 THE AKTB I people, and is, perhaps, the best-designed and Tuost beautifully decorated in London. There are Ught and air all over the college, ?nd a total absence of that depressing look which may be called " institutional." The class-rooms have good pictures on the walls, there is a library for the students, and a students' union, which gives charming " At Homes," indoors or out, as the case may be. There a^'e separate staircases for the male and female students. The staff of teachers is long and brilliant, ard the subjects range over every form of musical education, and include operatic acting, elocution, deportment, stage dancing, and languages. The ordinary course con- sists of a principal subject, a secondary subject, and a number of paper-work classes and general classes. There is no limitation of age, and students must enter for at least three terms. The fees are extraordinarily low, considering what first-rate and com- prehensive teaching they include. There is an entrance fee of two guineas, and the tuition fee is twelve guineas a term for the ordinary course. After three years, there is a •reduction per term, and in the junior de- partment, for pupils under sixteen, the fee is only six guineas a term. There are extra fees for extra subjects, which are optional, and, in addition, there is a fee of five guineas for the examination which enables successful students to put thc^ coveted letter A.R.C.M. after thci names. The pupils are divided into three sections : Students — those who are simply taking the ordinary course in the ordinary way ; scholars — those who are enjoying one of the fifty-seven open scholarships or the eleven local scholarships ; and exhibitioners, who have won one of the seven exhibitions. In addition, many prizes are given annually, consisting either of musical instru- ments or medals. Many of those who enter for scholarships and exhibitions have not been trained at the college, but this does not prevent them from entering for one of these benefits, some of which give three years of free instruction, and all of which are valu- able both intrinsically and professionally. Each pupil stays in the class-room for an hour — that is, twenty minutes for a private lesson, and forty minutes Ustening to two other lessons. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION An intending student must obtain a form The Library of application, fill it up, and pay the entrance examination fee, and the first term's fee. The entrance examination is fairly easy, consisting of questions in the rudiments of music, and the projected principal and secondary subjects. The object of it is merely to discover the exact stage of pro- ficiency of the pupil. References.s and an undertaking to obey the rules must be given to the director before entering the college. The usual course consists of two lessons weekly of one hour each, as described above, in the principal study. These lessons may be solo singing, vioUn, viola, 'cello, double bass, piano, organ, harp, or wind instru- ment. If theory or composition be the principal study, the lesson is an individual weekly one of half an hour. One lesson weekly of one hour is given in one of the practical branches of music, such as piano accompaniment, or in languages, elocution, or composition. Then there are weekly class lessons, one of each, in harmony, counter- })oint, sight singing (for singers), choral singing, ensemble playing, orchestral practice, and choir training, while fre- quent lectures are given, fully illustrated by voices or instru- ments. A second principal study may be taken at an extra fee. and stage dancing, dra- matic action, and deportment are alx) extra. A feature which makes the college par- ticularly attractive to people living in the country, who wish to send their daughters to a first-class musical centre, is the existence of Alexandra House, on the opposite side of the road to the college, where fifty female pupils are housed. For sixty guineas a year, a girl has a bedroom to herself, shares a sitting-room with one other pupil, and is well fed. She also has the use of a drau-ing-room, with hbrarv, gymnasium, practising rooms, and a concert-room. For £i a term, her washing is done bv a steam laundry ; and for an extra half-crown, she has the use of a telephone. Alexandra House is under the patronage of Queen Alexandra, and its watch- word is " Garland liberality." There is also an infirmary in which students are cared for by expert medical attendants. 27ns series will be continued in Part 2 of EvERY Woman's Encyclop.=edia The following are good firms for supplying materials mentioned in this Section : Messrs. The Artistic Photographic Co. ( Pictures). The Fme Art Publishing Co. (Pictures*.
