MUSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 250, 19 October 1904, Page 2

MUSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

A TALK WITH MR MUIR. A number of music-teachers ant students listened on Tuesday to an ad dress in the Chamber of Commerce Hal by Mr James Muir, the London score tary of the Associated Board of the Koyal Academy of Music and the Koya College of Alu=ic. Mr Muir is visiting New Zealand to explain the examination scheme of the Board, and to receive suggestions" to take back with him to England. Mr Muir explained the objects of tbe Board, and stated that the syllabus was prepared at considerable pains by the best musicians of England. It provided for as absolute an equality of standard all over the Empire as was possible, and the examiners themselves were ail previously trained and made familiar with the standard adopted. Thus the examinations enabled students to know exactly how they would stand in the Old Country. It was sometimes asked what was the • use of these examinations. The reply was that, when rightly planned and carried out and prepared for, they did a great amount of good as an incentive to study for the pupils, and as a means to -prevent teachers from getting into grooves and becoming faddists. It would, do good for teachers to put their shoulders together. The mere, passing of the examinations was of only secondary importaoocG 'in comparison, with the value of the previous study which it encouraged. Mr Muir asked for suggestions, and in the course of discussion it was suggested by ..-Mr "Webb, that the date of entry (now- fixed in May) should be brought nearer, to the, date of examination (October) so that candidates .should not have too much tiice to practice on the work of the examination. Pianoforte, selections were played during the proceed ngs by Miss Alice Chambers, Miss Anderson (gold medallist), and Miss- Mary : Saunders. . On the. motion of Messrs Ber-netfc and Hunt a hearty vote of thanks was accorded, to, the., lecturer and .to the Mr : Hugh Is, Copger.