Speech lessons for everyone

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 22

Speech lessons for everyone

By

YVONNE MULDER

Speech lessons are no longer the domain of the middle classes, a British speech examiner, Mr James Patrick, says. "Once, it was known as elocution and only people with pots of money and a i certain class conscious- 1 ness would do it,” he said, s < Now, the people who sat Trinity College speech exams came from a .

greater variety of backgrounds. Mr Patrick said the standard of New Zealand candidates in the speech and drama examinations was as high as anywhere in the world, and it had got better during the seven years he had been coming here. Speech and drama lessons and other formal

training were for aspiring actors, he said. "However, like every golden rule there are exceptions, and some people do very well without it,” he said. Another Trinity College examiner, Mr lan McGre-

gor, is in Christchurch to examine grade and diploma candidates in music.

He said it was good to have examiners who travelled around the world as it helped to set equivalent standards from country to country.

“The teachers seem to feel a bit isolated here in New r Zealand and they like to know they are

keeping up with the standards in England,” he said. Both men said they had learnt from other teachers during their time here, and that the trip involved two-way communication of ideas and methods.

Mr McGregor will be the adjudicator for the National Concerto Competition, to be held in Christchurch from December 15 to 17.