A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tonic Sol-fa College, The
TONIC SOL-FA COLLEGE, THE, is one of the few public institutions in England wholly devoted to promoting the knowledge of music. It was founded by Mr. Curwen (see preceding article) in 1869, in order to give stability and permanence to the Tonic Sol-fa system of teaching, and was definitely established in its present form in 1875 by incorporation under the Companies Act 1862. The College is chiefly an examining body, but it also carries on the teaching of music (mainly directed to the training of teachers) by means of lectures and correspondence classes. The buildings, lecture-rooms, offices, etc., are at Forest Gate, E., an eastern suburb of London, some twenty minutes' railway journey from the City.
The examinations are based on a system of graded certificates, arranged so as to test the progress of pupils from the earliest stage. From the elementary certificate upwards the power to sing at sight is demanded. The higher certificates are granted upon a paper examination combined with vocal tests, on the rendering of which the local examiner has to report to the College. The official report gives the number of certificates granted in the year 1879–80 at 15,755, which was 964 more than in the previous year. The number of persons entered in correspondence classes was 4729. The subjects of these were Harmony-Analysis, Musical Composition (four stages), Staff Notation, Musical Form, Musical and Verbal Expression, Counterpoint, English Composition, Organ-fingering and Chord-naming. Students from all parts of the world enter these correspondence classes. The College further organises a summer term of study, lasting for six weeks in vacation time, which is attended by young teachers and students from Great Britain, the Colonies, etc. A great point is made of the art of presenting facts to the learner, and of cultivating the intelligence as well as the ear and voice. The students give model lessons, which their teachers criticise. The total number of certificates issued by the College up to the present time (September 1884) is stated to be as follows: junior, 51,500; elementary, 163,850; intermediate, 44,073; matriculation, 3,367; advanced, 525. The receipts for the year 1883–84 were £1398, the payments £904. The total payments for the new buildings were £3635. Altogether the published reports of the College give an impression of a vast amount of useful work carried on with thoroughness and spirit.
The College has 1465 shareholders, and is governed by a council, in the election of which every holder of a 'Matriculation' certificate has a vote. The constitution of the council is somewhat curious. It is composed of 48 members elected in eight classes of six members each, and drawn from the following classes of society:—(a) handworkers, (b) clerks and employés, (c) masters in commercial or professional occupations, (d) schoolmasters, (e) professional musicians, (f) clergymen and ministers, (g) persons of literary and other qualifications, and (h) honorary members. The object of this arrangement is to prevent the College getting into the hands of any one interest or party. The present president is Mr. J. Spencer Curwen, A.R.A.M., who succeeded his father, the founder, in 1880.