Schools’ Festival Well Organised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 12

Schools’ Festival Well Organised

The Primary Schools’ Music Festival ended last evening with senior choirs from Bishopdale, Cobham Intermediate, Isleworth, Oaklands, Papanui, Russley and Spreydon schools joining to form the large massed choir which sang under the direction of Mr Keith Newson. He has had an unremitting task throughout the festival, and before it, no doubt, in preparation, but was just as fresh on this occasion as when he began. He led the children through their far too few massed items with clear understanding of what he wanted from them and they responded well.

Mr Mathieson, in addition to his firm and well-controlled organ playing, also conducted two items with distinction. Mr Charles Martin has also given splendid and most helpful service to the festival through his inspiring playing of the accompaniments. All children concerned in these festival concerts have been fortunate in having three such fine musicians to help them on their way, and the whole city has been well served by their efforts.

The vast amount of work entailed in preparation for the organising of such a festival has obviously been expertly done for everything has gone off very smoothly. To Mr R. S. Jenkins, and to his large band of colleagues on the committee, congratulations and thanks must abundantly be given. The concert began with Handel’s “Come Golde” Sunlight,” sung with contrasted shadings but requiring more mature grasp of voice production to get the necessary tonal colour, and Bach’s “If Fortune had made Me the Master,” which was sung with commendable flexibility.

“The Jolly Farmer” and "On the Mountain Side” were sung with spirit and warmth. Control of voice was good. The two nursery rhymes, conducted by Mr Mathieson. were

sung with clear balance of parts, and the “Polish Dance Song” and “Waiata Poi” had plenty of vim.

There were some quite entertaining instrumental items from individual schools usually showing signs of good rhythmic training. The vocal groups were interesting too and considerable care had been given to clarity and to phrasing of words. Again in this concert, as in the others, there were choirs which showed some of the illeffects of poor or incomplete understanding of the fundamental necessities of vocal technique, and indifferent intonation usually followed. Although in many choirs there has been great improvement in training in vocal control over the past years, much remains to be done. Some bad habits of voice production are being formed and will, unfortunately, remain with the children who have acquired them in these malleable and formative years.

Some few choirs show a very good standard and the differences between them and the others is not accounted for by better raw material. It is only through expert and special teaching being provided at early primary school level that good and lasting musical habits can be formed and firm foundations laid for future work at secondary school level and beyond. It is the obvious policy for the Education Department to follow. It would alsi be good business for the returns will be much more profitable. —C.F.B.