MUSIC TEACHERS’ SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 2

MUSIC TEACHERS’ SOCIETY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE Attending the nineteenth annual conference of their organisation, more than 60 delegates of the Society of Registered Music Teachers are meeting for three days in Christchurch to consider 17 remits which have been forwarded for consideration by the conference. Yesterday morning, the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) gave a civic welcome to the delegates at Canterbury College Hail. He spoke of the important part music played in any community, more particularly its role in the cultural development of young people. Although the profession of teaching music was in many respects ah arduous one, he said, it had its undeniable reward in the occasional discovery of some young musician of outstanding capability. In recent years, he ’said, there had been a gratifying revival in the interest taken in musical culture, and the proof of this could be seen in the re-establishment of orchestral and musical societies which had fallen into lapse during the war. Another feature of the general resurgence of musical interest was the inclusion of music lessons in school curricula and the formation of school choirs, all of which augured well for the cultural future of the Dominion. Mr Ernest Empson, who is presiding over the three days’ gathering, thanked the Mayor for the civic welcome. It was a popular fallacy, said Mr Empson, that the music teacher was an ethereal person who was unable to organise himself and his fellows into an integrated body such as the Society of Registered Music Teachers. This gathering gave the lie to such an illusion, he said. By the very nature of his calling, went on Mr Empson, the music teacher was frequently denied the communion of men, and he was obliged to travel a lonely road. In remembering the dignity of his profession, however, and the courage and integrity required to fulfil his obligations in carrying out the cultural education of youth through the medium of music, the teacher could lay aside all thoughts that the profession was “misunderstood,” he said. Enlarging on this theme, Mr Empson emphasised the importance of having a clear definition of the results of music teaching. “Not merely voice and fingers, but also soul and mind must be ministered to,” he said, “if we are to achieve a worthy end.”

Speaking on behalf of the Music Teachers’ Registration Board, Mr S. Oliver (Wellington) gave the delegates some idea of the results which attended the board’s waiting on the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr F. Jones) and the Director of Broadcasting (Professor Shelley). It had been considered necessary to approach the Government, he said, to discuss the need for higher remuneration of selected radio entertainers, and the drawing on more local talent for radio broadcasts. The delegation, said Mr Oliver, also sought professional status for such entertainers. Although the delegation was accorded a hearing, he said, nothing definite had been established; but it was more or less certain that, eventually, professional radio work would be paid, although a generally high standard of entertainer would be required. Describing the activities of the board during th£ last 12 months, Mr Oliver said that 90 applicants had been accepted for positions as qualified music teachers. Letters had been received from 24 country districts deploring the lack of facilities for children to study music. Because of this correspondence the board would seek an interview with the education authorities and ask that legislation might be passed to offer assistance to these districts which were without musical teaching amenities.

“I note with satisfaction the increasing Governmental interest in cultural life,” he said, “and where such an interest is used to encourage an institution such as ours to assume community responsibility, then much good must accrue to the people from it.” On the other hand, too much official direction without consultation would undermine the dignity of citizenship, he said, so it was imperative that the Government seek the advice of interested societies and organisations in any move towards cultural education. It was high time that, in an emotionally starved world, the people should forget about the mechanics of living and get on with the art of living. Offering the first remit for consideration, Mr Shirley (Auckland), had it amended to read: “That the Minister of Supply be asked to consider the re- I moval of sales tax on musical instru- i ments.” He said that the tax was 25! per cent, of selling price on all Brit- ‘ ish-made instruments, and more on | foreign goods, and he urged that the Government be impressed that the possession of instruments was a necessary feature in the education of cul-turally-minded children, who were denied them because of prohibitive prices. The remit was adopted. The second remit which was forwarded by Wellington stated: “That competition societies be urged to form and consult an advisory committee of professional musicians regarding the choice of music for set pieces.” This remit caused considerable debate among the delegates, some of whom quoted instances of just such a system obtaining in their centres. The pri-

mary cause of the remit’s being sent, said the Wellington delegate (Mr Bryant), was because of cases occurring of competition music being chosen in keys incomparable with a contestant’s vocal capabilities. It was explmned that choice of music was restricted because of shortage of stocks in music shops. The remit was adopted. To-morrow and on Fridav the remaining remits will be dealt with.