MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7, 9 January 1905, Page 3

MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND.

- IMPRESSIONS OF AN EXAMINER. » • A SCHOOL OF MUSIC FOB THE I COLONY. The musical education of the young J people of N-ew Zealand is rapidly beeom- . ing standardised. The teaching, of '. course, is largely unattached., i* left, that • is to aay, to private enterprise, and in , the nature of things its quality varies greatly. Whatever opinions may be held , concerning the merits and the dangers j of the written examination in ordinary ' school education the need for examina- ' j tion in some form or other is admitted " I in those branches of education which are i riot direeth' supervised by responsible [ authorities. The contention of the I musical experts, at any rate, is that &a , organised system of public examinations cannot fail to raise the general standaid of teachiDg in the colony, and they aie hopeful that ultimately musical instruej tion in New Zealand will be carried on directly under the control of a central • schooL or at least by "attached" teachers. The examinations which have been - held during the last, few years by the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music > are now firmly established and do, in great measure, supply the want of a cor onial school. The Associated Board coni aista of a committee appointed by these two representative teaching bodies in England, with the Prince of Wales as President. The examiners arc members of the staffs of the institutions, and include many of the most distinguished musicians and most eminent musical 5 authorities of the day. The examiner for 1904 was Mr. Graham P. Moore. Proi fessor of the Panofortc at the Royal ; College of Music. South Kensington.' No general report on the examinations - is published, but Mr. Moore gave a re- • presentative of the "Auckland Star ,, a very brief resume* of his impressions, as ihe was leaving New Zealand. The hard I work of his tour, he said, had heen relieved by the genuine pleasure of the • trip, the beauty of the country, and tbo ■ obvious content and prosperity of the . people surprising him at every turn. J "But musically. Mr. Moore?" j "Ah. yes! Well. I was here four years ago as an examiner, and I spoke in very [ j favourable terms then of the standard i obtained in most uf the centres, lv the meantime there has been really groat . progress in every Tcspect. among teach- • crs in improved met hods and among ; , their pupils in increased technical facility . and greater finish in the finer details of ■ I interpretation. The standard of the • ! Board has always been considered a high one, but judging from the numbers of 'passes' and 'distinctions' awarded this 1 year, it is net beyond the capacities of the majority of those examined. The Board awards four medals each yea., two gold and two silver. The chief distinction in the senior ~rade was obtained hy & singing candidate from the Convent at Blenheim, viho hnd been ad- ' mirably trained by one of the sisters. The I silver mrd.il in the senior grade was won iby a candidate from the Dominican Convent at. Dunedin, who played with technical care and finish. In the intermedia (c grade the gold medal went to a pupil of Mr. Robert Parker, of Wellington, and the silver medal to a pupil of Mr. J. Bennett, of Auckland. The competition for these medals was remarkably keen, a number of candidates coming within a mark or two of the successful performer?. The great number of entries may fairly be regarded as evidence ef the confidence placed in the examinations by the mueieal profession of the colony. "'Aβ for the teaching of music in the colony, - ' continued Mr. Moore, '"you mo.y give it as my firm opinion (hat it i> in a very sound condition iudecd. There arc thoroughly competent teachers in all the larger towns, and, what impressed mc still more strongly, there are teachers equally in the* smaller \ towns, where a high standard of instruction could hardily be expected. A question concerning the organisation of teaching drew the emphauc reply I that organisation on lino »\ proved } lvalue would be the best, thing possible i for the colony. "A School of Music. «?- tablished on the plan of existing institutions in Europe." be said, "could achieve splendid results in a colony so full of musical enthusiasm as is New Zealand. There is a great deal of real talent in the colony, and. what in of even greater importance, there is a great ! deal of earnest and genuine feeling for good music. and considering the quan- I tity of good material to work on, th* I colony should not hesitate to establish a School of Music. I have no doubt that if it were conducted on true artistic lines it would prove, financially as well ac musically, successful. Such institutions flourish now in all parts of the world, and the influence for good that they radiate can hardly be over-esti-mated. Music, as a gTeat educational factor, has come to stay. When you realise the mental, moral", and emotional influence it exercises, its refminsr influence. I mean, you will see that its encouragement is not a matter to be left te a few experts and enthusiasts. It has a wider value in life than the m«e giving ef pleasure, and the country that derates due time and thought to the cultivation of a love of music among its people is spending its energies in a direction altogether to be applauded.* "Will you let rae cay," concluded Mr. Moore, "how pleased I have been with the interest shown by everyone, connected with the work of the Board. Especi- ! ally the Board's thanks are due to the j honorary local representatives, who give j iieir services in every ease gratuitously ; for the good cause of music You may add, if you e*re to. that T have enjoyed my visit to the eoleny immensely. ,. Cheer up. Look pleasant. Of course, yon have your troubles. A whole lot of ! things bother you. Business worries or domestic sorrows, it may be, or what i not. Cheer up. What right have you to carry a picture of your woebegone face and funereal ways about among your fellows, who have troubles of their own ? If you must whine or sulk or scowl, take a ta-ain and go to tli.e woods, or to i the unfrequented lanes. Cheer up. Your ills are largely imaginary. If you were really on the brink of bankruptcy, or if there were no way through your sorrows, you would dear ' your brows, set your teeth and make the best of it. Cheer up. Yen are making a hypothetical ease out of your troubles, and suffering from a self-inflicted verdict- | You are borrowing trouble, and paying | 3 high rate of interest. Cheer up. Why, man alive, in a ten- ! minute walk yon may see a. score of j people worse off than you. And here yeu are digging your own grave, and playing pallbearer into toe bargain, j Sew, even though it be through your tears, winch speedily drr. And ebe«r trp.