He wishes me to change his style to their better manner; but he still continues to pound, to bang, to exaggerate, and to play in his own way, and only wishes his style to be improved, and his power of execution to be increased.

If a performer of this sort is not much more than twenty years of age, something may yet be done for the improvement of his touch, and consequently of his style of playing; but this is only possible by laying aside all his accustomed pieces of music, and by diligently practising, daily, small easy exercises, which must be played delicately, with loose fingers, and without allowing the arm to give the slightest assistance; otherwise, all labor will be thrown away upon him.

How else can you begin, except by laying a proper foundation for a better style?
I have frequently urged this principle both by speech and in writing; but the difficulty always returns, and especially in the cultivation of female singers.
A girl of eighteen comes to me: she has heard of the excellent cultivation of my lady singers, and wishes to obtain the same for herself.

In order that I may hear her voice, she selects the "Erlkoenig," by Schubert, that perilous piece, which is apt to lead even highly cultivated singers into frightful atrocities.

Heavens! what must I hear?
With the remains of a fine, youthful voice, whose registers are already broken up and disconnected, she shrieks out the "Erlkoenig," between sobs and groans, with screwed-up chest-tones, and many modern improprieties, but nevertheless with dramatic talent.