1200 LEARNING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31800, 3 October 1968, Page 8

1200 LEARNING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Few streets in Christchurch have not been touched by the stillextending ripples from a small splash made in music 14 years ago. A Saturday-morning scheme, started in two rooms of the Christchurch Teachers’ College has grown into the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music. The founder (Mr R. E. Perks) is still musical director.

From those small beginnings has come an organisation of approximately 1200 pupils, 80 teachers and a team of indispensable parents. All orchestral instruments are taught, in practice and theory, but what makes this scheme so distinctive is the requirement that all instrumentalists learning, plus 270 “orchestra-only" pupils, make up the eight orchestras which provide a steady progression from beginners to skilled instrumentalists.

Almost all the 28 players selected for the National Youth Orchestra in 1968 had received some musical tuition at the school. Some have reached National Orchestra status also.

The growth rate of the scheme continues unabated. However, with growth have come headaches mainly accommodation. At present, through the generosity of the controlling bodies, the school has access to teaching rooms at Teachers’ College in prefabricated rooms, and Cranmer building, in the Christchurch Girls’ High and Aldersgate, in the Durham Street Art Gallery and in the Provincial Chambers. This places a great strain on the administration with pupils spread over such an area. The problem is given urgency by the projected redevelopment of many of the buildings at present in use.

The encouragement and assistance given by the Education Department and the Canterbury Education Board are gratefully acknowledged

as, without it, the C.S.I.M. would cease to exist in its present form. To show the public the scope of its work, the C.S.I.M. will hold a demonstration concert on Saturday evening at 7.30 at the Cowles Stadium. As well as items by beginner groups on various instruments, each orchestra, in ascending progression, will present an item.

The probable highlight of the evening will be the massed items with Mr Perks controlling approximately 1100 players, from beginners to the chamber orchestra. He will present the Light Cavalry Overture, an excerpt from Symphony No. 6, by Tschaikowsky, and Mozart’s “Away with Melancholy.” Other combinations of orchestras will present the first movement of Symphony No. 4 in A by Mendelssohn;

Strauss’S “Der Rosenkavalier" waltz and “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” a Negro spiritual. The photograph shows a rehearsal last Saturday morning.