'Girling' at the piano...a guy's reactions

In the chapter entitled " 'Girling' at the Parlor Piano", Solie covers an interesting and powerful aspect of life for the young women of the Victorian era.  The discussion revolves around the piano specifically, and music in general, in the development of a girl into a marriage-ready young woman.  It is explained that  young woman would be expected to learn the piano from a young age, and that this skill was considered a basic requirement of women ready to be married.  The skill was not so much expected for the quality of the performer created, but more for the ability to entertain her family, and when she had daughters, to help guide their own development.  In this was, the cycle was perpetuated.

From our own 21st Century perspective, this seems a rather ridiculous expectation and requirement.  Today, marriageability is determined by all manner of criterion that have to do with a person's quality and individuality, rather than adhering to a pre-determined pattern.


However, Solie shows the various other impacts that occurred from this 'girling' expectation.  Some girls took to the piano playing readily, such as future nurse Florence Nightingale.  It was fascinating to read how eager she was, and how much she enjoyed that part of her upbringing.  In contrast, you had some girls that would rather be doing anything other than playing.  This is where, as a musician, I most strongly disagree with the forcing of the instrument upon the girls.  Music is only meaningful, in my opinion, when it is accepted into your life willingly.  The last thing I would like to see is a person turned off to music because it was forced upon them.

While I can certainly appreciate the idea behind such measures in the much-stricter Victorian society, I am also quite happy that we have moved beyond this.  Society benefits most from the diversity found in individuality; by allowing that to be found, we improve the prospect for a better tomorrow.  Today, we find much more allowance for individuality; the best thing we can do for future generations is to encourage the continuity, and even expansion, of this acceptance.