LEAVING IT TO OTHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 142, 18 June 1929, Page 6

LEAVING IT TO OTHERS.

There is much truth in tho statement made by Mr. E. Douglas Taylcr, director of music in schools, that too much of our art is made for us professionally in proportion to what Ave do and can do for ourselves. The has largely superceded the individual playing of musical instruments and rendering of songs. Wireless -also has had an effect on the study and practice of amateur musical art. The "talkies" bid fair to substitute mechanical reproduction for the living orchestra. Thus instead of having a large number of amateurs developing their artistic skill we have second-hand entertainment provided fry a few highly-salaried artists. This has its counterpart in the growing tendency to watch ca-icket, football and other games rather than to pilay them. Art of any kind can only be fostered when the fullest opportunity is given for selfexpression. Nobody, for instance, can learn the ait of public speaking merely by listening to speakers, however accomplished these may be. In. this, as in other arts, the beginner has to learn by practice how best to express his thoughts and ideas. Social evenings in the Victorian era gave many opportunities for the talented amateur to : exercise his gifts. It is seldom to-day that music occupies any large part in the ordinary soc'ial gathering. Mr. Tayler has suggested a great federation of amateur arts associations Wlnfl'o people could meet together for social enjoy - •menit in the study and practice of amateur art of every description. Ho thinks that much of the money spent in second-hand entertainment might be more profitably employed in the artistic skill of our children, and then providing for them amateur societies in which they could find scope and delight afterwards. We can never hope "to do much unless we encourage selfexpression more than we do at present. We need it in the world of letters as well as in music and the arts. We have plenty of amateur societies struggling for support, and -in some cases competing against each other. A federation of all the societies would give strength, and wouid enable the amateur to get a truer idea of the value of any particular talent of which he may be possessed. Music mechanically reproduced can never really take the place of the human touch, and if vre rely too much on mechanised art we may lose the delicate perception which alone can foster trpe taste. —W.M.