Woman of the Century/Caroline Keating Reed

REED, Mrs. Caroline Keating, pianist, was born in Nashville, Tenn., and reared and educated in Memphis, where her father, Col. J. M. Keating, was the half owner and managing editor of the "Appeal." Early in her childhood she displayed her fondness for music, in which art her mother was proficient, the leading amateur singer in the city, a pianist and harpist As soon as she could comprehend the value of notes and lay hold of the simplest exercises, her mother began to train her. CAROLINE KEATING REED. She became the pupil of a local teacher, Emile Levy, and went forward very rapidly. Her parents determined that her earnestness should be seconded by the very best teachers in the United States, and she was sent in 1877 to New York, where, under S. B. Mills, she made great progress, but still more under Madame Carreno. She also took lessons from the pianist, Mrs. Agnes Morgan. She subsequently studied under Richard Hoffman and under Joseffy. She studied harmony and thorough bass with Mr. Nichols. To those lessons she added later on the study of ensemble music as a preparation for orchestral works, under the guidance of leading members of the New York Philharmonic Club. During the two last years of her stay in New York, she plaved in several concerts in that city and its vicinity. As an artist, she was recognized by the musicians of New York and the musical critics of the press. In January of 1884 she returned home. Before entering upon her successful professional career, she gave several concerts in Memphis and surrounding cities. The following year she became a regular teacher of the piano-forte and singing, having been fitted for the latter branch of her art by three years of study under Errani. She is very practical in her philanthropy, and since first forming her class, which has always averaged forty pupils, has never been without one or more whom she taught free of charge. For two or three years she gave lessons gratuitously to six pupils, who were unable to pay anything. She has contributed frequently to charitable purposes, either by concerts or with her earnings. Since her marriage in 1891 she has continued to teach. She is at present engaged in preparing a primer on technique for beginners. Mrs. Reed is broad and progressive in her views of life, especially those concerning women and women's work. When a mere child, she was wont to declare her determination to earn her living when she grew up. In stepping out from the conventional life of a society belle and conscientiously following the voluntary course she marked out for herself she was a new departure from the old order of things among the favored young girls of the South. Thoroughly devoted to her art and in love with her vocation as a teacher, she stands among the best instructors of music in the country. She has no patience with trifiers, and no money could induce her to waste time on pupils who are not as earnest and willing to work as she is herself. Though young, she has accomplished much and will maintain the high position she has so honestly won.