MUSIC IN SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 12

MUSIC IN SCHOOLS.

All address on music in schools was given by Mri=. Uupree before the Civic ! League at its last meeting. The speaker pxp-e=setl tlie opinion that siiifring in the schools should Ix> a pleasure to the children, and that it should be so taught that it gave them healthy : bodies as well as trained their eye ami ear. Tha critical period with our boy* j artd girls ie when they leave the primary j school. Many do not continue their '■ education in secondary schools, but stay ' Jat home or g-o to business. At five i o'clock they are free. We cannot cx- ' pect young people to ?it down after a ( day's work and have no fun. They want eociety, occupation, relaxation, and all that is offered to them aro picture shows A good training- in music would I enable them to read music at Mght. and to join choral classes, choirs, or musical societies. It .would enable them to stay at home in the evenings and enjoy themselves, and entertain their .rouiijr 1 friends In this we. are "behind all European countries. coming to Xew Zealand the speaker had heard a lot I sl»out its musical attainments, *but her ! Srst school, which was a two-teacher one, proved otherwise. The children would not eing. dSach waited for tin , othor, and all sat like blocks. In the English schools music is made a more important subject. The children sin;,' a hymn to open school, they sing grace before lunch, and also a dismissal hymn, and this, means that each child sings 20 I times a week in school apart from singI ing lessons. In all large towns they form combined choirs, and in London they have fetes at the Crystal Palace Part sinking, in the opinion of the speaker, is responsible for a great deal of bad production. Unison singing, and plenty of variety in songs, and a number of them, particularly the old English folk songs, are what our children need. Many teachers do not realise the possibilities of children's voices, and a pattern and a little guidance with the knowi ledge they already possess will enable I them to do good work. Tlie speaker went on to suggest that there should be ono or two items of claes singing at the organ recitals, when the kindly criticism of the city organist would be appreciated, and said that the prosperity of this country was tound up with the land. We "must encourage our young i people to go on the land, and one of the chief reasons that drove them to the town wae that in the country there were no recreation. Singing. properly taught, would provide one charming way of spending their evening in their home?, and grlee clubs could "be formed, orchestras, and band practices to while away the winter evenings.