TEACHING SINGING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 21

TEACHING SINGING.

EARLIER STUDY OF MUSIC.

AUSTRALIAN DECISION.

"LACK OF MUSICIANSHIP." i

Many potential singers have had their voices ruined in childhood by forced and unnatural training. The Australian Music Examinations Board has been seriously considering this question for the past 18 months, and with the object of exercising some measure of control has reached decisions which will cause a

good deal of controversy, says the Melbourne "Herald." These decisions, whicb also aim at an earlier study of the rudiments of music by singing students, will be included in the next syllabus, and will take effect next May.'

Mr. J. Sutton Crow, secretary of the board, said that at present a person had to be at least 17 before he or she could enter for a singing examination. Speaking broadly, there was among many young singers a lack of general musicianship, much greater than in the case of instrumentalists. The reason was perhaps not difficult to explain. As a rule, the musical education of eingers began when the voice was discovered, say at the age of 16 or 18, whereas pianists or violinists at those ages had studied the rudiments of music, sight reading, ear training and had at least something approaching a sound musical foundation. As the impressionabe age had more or less passed so far as elementary study

was concerned, the singer began with a handicap. Most children certainly received some kind of training in class singing. Some of this was undoubtedly excellent, but a good deal was misdirected, and there was a need for some supervision. It was natural for the child to sing, and indeed he should be encouraged, but it- was very important that his training and guidance should be entrusted to an expert, otherwise irreparable damage might ensue.

With the object of endeavouring to exercise some measure of control in that direction, Mr. Crow announced that the Australian Music Examinations Board had extended its singing examinations by making provision for a junior grade for children under the age of 15. It would be laid down, he said, that no attempt should be made at voice production as in the case of the adult, but that the natural treble voice of the child should be preserved, particular attention

being paid to purity of tone, intonation, rhythm, sight reading, rudiments of music, and the singing of a few simple songs suitable for children. Grade V., the lowest of the examination scheme, would be devoted in future to that purpose.

Mr. Crow said that from Grade IV. upwards candidates must be* at least 15 years of age, ae at that point some definite training in voice production would commence. Some children matured much earlier than others, and it was for the teacher to determine whether the student who had reached the iifteenth year was sufficiently matured to undergo training in voice production.