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Scan 47
The violinist, 1903
16 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 5. See the scan on archive.org.
1L. E. HERSEY
3AMONG the schools and colleges located in small cities throughout the country are any number of excellent instructors who can with pride point to a list of pupils in numerous instances equally distinguished with those of teachers in the great musical centers, and it is an evidence of improvement in our music life that the opportunities for musical education are coming within the reach of more and more young people every year. In Bloomington, Illinois, one of the most successful of such teachers, Mr. L. E. Hersey, has for a number of years been sending out pupils whose training has placed them in responsible positions. First might be mentioned the violin soloist with Sousa last year, Miss Grace Jenkins, of Lincoln, Illinois. Then there is unfortunate Frederick Macmurray, who has just returned home from Brussels, where Cesar Thomson was imparting to him the secrets of Paganini music when suddenly a cord in the left hand was sprained and the ambition of as talented a young man as ever went abroad to study were dashed to earth. May his recovery be more speedy than is anticipated. Others of Mr. Hersey's pupils are H. O. Merry, teacher in Lincoln University, and Cecil Burleigh, a young man highly gifted both as a violinist and composer who is going to Europe in the fall to continue his studies. [Mr. Burleigh would be glad to correspond with a student who intends going to Berlin or Leipzig. He may be addressed at Bloomington.]
5In 1885 Mr. Hersey was offered the position of violin instructor in the Wesleyan College of Music at Bloomington; he was at that time studying with Henry Schradieck at Cincinnati. Accepting the position, which proved to be a good field, he very soon established himself as a painstaking and successful teacher and at the end of the first year brought together a very fine class. After two years at Bloomington he decided to go to Europe to continue his studies.
7Hans Sitt and Friederick Hermann were his instructors, at the Leipzig Conservatory, and with them still further perfected himself as a teacher, for it was to this branch of the art that he devoted his energies. Remaining abroad several years, he finally returned to his old position at Bloomington, where he has ever since remained. Of late years his time has been very much taken up by pupils, having taught eight hours a day during the past season. Yet with all these pupils Mr. Hersey has organized an orchestra of 35 members for the May Festival and commencement concert of the college. At the latter Cecil Burleigh played Sarasate's Faust Fantasie, Hubay's Hejre Kati and two of his own compositions, a Military March and Reverie. Other pupils played Leonard's Souvenir de Bade and the De Beriot 7th Concerto and Scene de Ballet.
9Eighteen months ago Mr. Hersey ventured to publish his "Modern Violin Methhd." Since that time it has gone through three editions of two thousand each, and all with very little pushing; it is fast taking a prominent part in the early training of young American violinists.
11The Method is endorsed by such well known instructors as Henry Schradieck, Johann Beck, Dr. Chas. Baetens and scores of others who have congratulated Mr. Hersey by letter from all parts of the country. It consists chiefly of well selected standard studies, carefully graded up to and including the easier positions, to which is added many practical finger and bow exercises.
13L. E. Hersey
15The pictures of the Hancock Trio, all violinists, have been received at The Violinist office. Leroy, 10 years old, Frank, 12 years old, and Walter, 14, are said to be remarkable violinists. Their home is Houston, Texas.
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