Antha Minerva Virgil facts for kids

Antha Minerva Patchen Virgil Bergman (born around 1852, died 1939) was an amazing American woman. She was a writer, a composer (someone who creates music), and a music teacher. She also helped invent and get a special legal protection (called a patent) for a silent practice keyboard. This keyboard was known as the Virgil clavier. Professionally, she was known as "Antha M. Virgil."

Antha was born in Elmira, New York. After finishing high school in Burlington, Iowa, she started teaching piano. In 1877, she taught at Almon Kincaid Virgil's music school in Burlington. She married Almon in 1878. A year later, in 1879, they moved to Peoria, Illinois. There, they opened their own music school, which they ran for four years.

Inventing the Silent Keyboard

In 1883, the Virgils moved to New York City. They worked together to create a special keyboard that made no sound. This keyboard, called the Techniphone (or Virgil clavier), had keys with adjustable weights. This meant students could practice silently and adjust how heavy the keys felt.

Almon Virgil received eight patents for this invention and its parts. Antha helped him design an improved pedal and footrest, especially for children. She also helped create a smaller practice keyboard.

Teaching and Publishing Music

Antha continued to teach piano lessons. She also wrote articles for popular music magazines like The Musical Courier and The Etude. In 1889, their first method book, The Virgil Clavier Method, Foundation Exercises, Book 1, was published.

In 1890, the Virgil Clavier Company was started. Antha then opened the Virgil Piano School in New York in 1891. Almon later opened Virgil Piano Schools in other countries, like England and Germany in 1895. He also opened schools in American cities like Chicago (1896) and Boston (1899).

Antha's Own Inventions

Antha and Almon divorced in 1900. After that, Antha continued her work. In 1901, she applied for her own patent for a "practice clavier." She then opened her own clavier factory in New Jersey. There, she hired a piano expert named Amos C. Bergman, whom she married in 1902.

Like Almon, Bergman also received eight patents for the practice clavier they developed together. They called their invention the "Tekniklavier." These keyboards had "MADE BY MRS. A. M. VIRGIL NEW YORK" stamped in gold letters on the wood. Antha also sold a more affordable model called the "new Bergman clavier."

Composing Music

Besides writing method books for the Virgil Clavier, Antha also composed (created) or arranged over 250 songs for piano students. These songs were organized by difficulty, from easy to more challenging.

In her articles and talks about teaching piano, Antha always suggested using a metronome for practice. A metronome is a device that helps musicians keep a steady beat. She often included metronome markings on her own compositions.

The Popularity of the Virgil Clavier

The Virgil clavier became very popular. At its peak, people could even take a special course by mail to become certified Virgil teachers. These courses reached students as far away as Australia and India.

Famous pianists, such as Vladimir de Pachmann, Moritz Moszkowski, and Amy Beach, praised the Virgil clavier. However, after Almon's second wife, Florence Dodd, passed away in 1945, the Virgil clavier became less well-known.