SINGING IN SCHOOLS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 7

SINGING IN SCHOOLS

(To the Editor.! Sir, —As president of the i 909 Conference of New Zealand Professional Musicians, I fee.l it my duty to emphatically contradict the following statement in your issue of the 25th inst., with reference to the teaching of singing in public schools, over the signatures of Dr. Thomas, Messrs. Dutton, Phillips, and Young:—"'The only national musical association in the Dominion is the Society of Musicians, which, ao far, has done nothing to serve the public in this respect."' Now, Sir, at the conference of musicians, representative of the whole of Xew Zealand, h«ld in Auckland in 190! , . the subject of singing in schools was exhaustively dealt with. The late Mr. Maitland Gardner (Dunedin) moved to the effect: "(1) Thut the present system of teaching singing in public schools was having an injurious effect upon the children's voices, and recommended placing (ho children under specially qualified' teachers; (2) that this conference respectfully submits to the Education Department the undesirablencuH of continuing vocal music as a compulsory subject for teachers, and strongly recommends the training of suitable candidates in the subject."' This resolution was carried unanimously. A deputation was appointed, and waited upon the Minister for Education. This deputation brought the matter fully before the Hon. Geo. Kowlds, who said (us reported in the daily Press of September S): "The Department and he. himself, strongly held the view that whatever teaching was given in the primary schools should ho carried out by the , primary teachers. . . . \f they employed special teachers the difficulty of sending them to the small country: schools would render the scheme impracticable. He would look into the question as to whether music should be a compulsory subject for teachers."' Prior to this, at the conference of professional musicians, held in Wellington < 1908) under the presidency of Mr. Maughan Barnett, this subject (singing in schools) was also dealt with at great length, when the following resolution was carried: "That this conference respectfully submits to the Education Department the inadrisability of continuing in making vocal music a compulsory subject, and strongly recommends the special training of suitable candidates.'* That the action taken by the professional musicians had soin- , effect is shown by the following resolution, which was carried by the Wellington Kdueation Board:

"That in view of tin- expression of opinion at the musicians' conference, recently held in Auckland, that singing is not taught properly in the primary schools in the Dominion, the inspectors of this Board be asked to furnish a report, indicating those schools, if any. in the Wellington education district in which singing is not properly taught, and also their opinion as to whether the services of specialists to visit the respective schools arc required." The Board subsequently derided to retain Mr. Parker's services as lecturer on school singing at Thorndon Training College. Xothing. however, appears to have been done (as far as 1 know) by the Auckland Board of Education in this matter. Tho subject, of singing in schools was further dealt with by Mr. .1. 1., limes, while president of the Auckland Society of Musicians, in a highly interesting and instructive lectnro given in this city. Mr. Innes also contributed an able article in the Auckland press on the same subject. It will therefore bo seen by tho above that both the local Society of Musicians and tho combined societies have f(iven the subject in question the attention it merits, notwithstanding the assertions to the contrary of your correspondents named. In conclusion. 1 cannot lmt express my astonishment that tht'ip gentle-nif-n should sign their names to a statement without first making themselves conversant with the facts, which have been so widely reported by the Press genera rir.—l am, etc., 'W. IT. WTCBBE. Mrs. Tsa Xeave. hon, secretary Auckland Society of Musicians, while endorsing the remarks with regard to voice cultivation contained in the letter from representatives of the Auckland Musicians Institute, takes strong exception to the statement that the Society of Musicians had taken no action in the matter. She confirms Mr. Webbe'e eumnmry of the- reflations -peaeed by that society..