Orchestral Training For Christchurch School Children

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 13

Orchestral Training For Christchurch School Children

At the forthcoming primary schools’ music festival the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music will present the Friday evening performance and half of the Saturday evening programme. On Friday each of the seven orchestras will perform individually and then in combination, forming a massed orchestra of about 550 players. On Saturday evening Orchestras 1 to 4 will take part. Now in its tenth year of operation, the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music continues to aim at providing instruction in music and opportunity for the study, practice and performance of

orchestral work by young people at their standard of achievement. Classes for all orchestral instruments, recorders and melodicas are held on Saturday mornings. Theory classes are held on Wednesday afternoons. With about 700 pupils attending, several classes are available on each instrument so that careful grading, and regrading, can be made from time to time. Most children commence on an elementary instrument, learning to read the printed page of music unhampered by technical difficulties, before proceeding to an orchestral instrument. After about two terms they are admitted to Orchestra

No. 7 from whence they graduate through towards No. 1 Orchestra. The progression may be seen during Friday evening’s programme. For its continued sponsorship, encouragement and financial assistance over the years, the school owes the Christchurch Schools Music Festival Association much. This year because of the growth of both bodies, each has become a separate entity, yet maintaining close contact. Both have become incorporated societies managing their own affairs. At its first annual meeting early next year, which it is hoped will be attended by a large body of parents, the

school will elect a management council. An interim committee has been functioning for some time. One of the big problems which continues to face the school is keeping the supply of teachers abreast of the numbers learning. The demand is increasing each year. The numbers learning the various instruments this year are as follows: Violins, 150; violas, 12; Cellos, 61; String Bass, 10; flute, 47; Clarinets, 60; Oboes, 4; bassoons, 4; recorders, 250; melodicas 18. In addition 150 to 200 players now learning privately at individual lessons, play in one of the seven orchestras. “We are faced with two alternatives,” said the director (Mr R. E. Perks). “Either we refuse admission or we train young players to become teachers, in the best of all teaching situations—with an actual class of children each week. We realise the big responsibility we bear in adopting the latter policy and we would not accept this if we could hot have supervisory teachers. “We have been most for-

tunate in obtaining the services of Mr and Mrs T. Rogers, outstanding professional players and teachers who, after several years of study in England, were brought out to become two of the members of the first University of Canterbury string trio. Mr and Mrs Rogers assist all the string teachers, giving advice, demonstration lessons, and lectures when necessary. The results of this coaching must become evident throughout the country as many of these teachers leave Christchurch. “It is well known that there is a world-wide shortage of good string players. In any country, the remedy lies in spreading the net over as large a body of children as possible, suggesting that they should try themselves out on an instrument to discover whether or not they have ability and encouraging them to experience the pleasure of orchestral playing. They must then be kept interested in various ways and the goals of the National Youth Orchestra and the orchestral holiday courses are kept constantly before them.”