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Washington, D.C., circa 1925. Library of Congress transcription of the label on this negative: "Kaspar Handley," i.e. the Hendley-Kaspar music school run by Lucia Hendley and Henry Kaspar. View full size. National Photo glass negative.
Dress is rather blah, but have a pair of shoes just like hers. Having taken piano lessons for mucho years, have done the blindfold technique several times. My teacher used it in preparation for juries and recitals where all pieces had to be memorized. Gotta laugh, though, as my current abode has a radiator and gas lamp very similar to those in the pic. Luckily, the gas isn't still hooked up - it's a good candle holder though!
In 1948 I learned on a typewriter with blank keys. I think that you can get similar keyboards today.
...but those sure are some cute high-heeled Mary Janes.
I guess Kaspar's method included the eyes being covered so the student wouldn't look at the keys. Typewriting used to be taught that way.
I think this is one of the most striking photos I've ever seen.
I would submit that the left picture on the wall is a print or photo of the courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The girl is probably in the middle of a piano-seance, trying to contact the departed Kaspar to find out where he hid the money.
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