EXAMINATIONS IN MUSIC

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25345, 19 November 1947, Page 3

EXAMINATIONS IN MUSIC

DR. THOMAS FIELDEN’S COMMENTS Dr. Thomas Fielden, who has been conducting examinations in Christchurch for the last month for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, last evening addressed teachers on the performance of candidates. The standard of playing was very high, the standard of musical knowledge not so good but better than in other centres, and in most cases preparation had been done well, he said. There were no “knowing cusses’’ who wouid argue about the content of the syllabus. A plea that tiny tots should not be entered for the preliminary examination was made by Dr. Fielden. Often they could not speak properly, had to be lifted on to the stool, and helped through their performance. There was no merit in this. Parents were probably more to blame than teachers. Dr. Fielden appealed for natural technique, saying that he had np time for exaggerated gestures which were not pleasing to watch and did not produce good tone. He had noted imperfections in understanding of keys, scales and arpeggios, notes only having been learned. Mentioning cases where music was misread. Dr. Feilden suggested more practice in sight reading and said that this should be done correctly, even if slowly. The advice: “See with your ears and hear with your eyes” was sound. Aural tests should be piade quietly and with interesting variations. He had tested one candidate on the dual-toned horn of a passing car. “Shocking” was the description given to the sight-reading of some of the singing candidates. When they did not know their intervals it seemed that difficult songs had been ‘‘rammed into them.’’ Dr. Fielden also urged teachers to take the advice of experts in preparing pupils for higher examinations if they were not qualified. Even masters of the Royals schools pocketed their pride and gave reciprocal help in training advanced pupils in special topics. A short recital of preludes and studies of Chopin and the Symphonic Studies of Schumann was given by Dr. Fielden. who will give a recital in the Christchurch Cathedral this evening.