SINGING IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 8

SINGING IN SCHOOLS

THE TRAINING. OF THE YOUNG. AN.IMPORTANT STEP. " That the'subject ot tho teaching of singing in public schools bo'taken into consideration b.v the.''Council, with practical suggestions .for its improvement by v t-ho educational authorities of the Dominion," was tlio text of a resolution; moved by Mr. • Robert Parker (Wellington) at tlio Conference of Musicians yesterday. He thought it would bo a pity if tho Coufcrcnco dispersed without taking some cognizance of this important question. Personally, he had acted for twenty-rlivo years as an examiner for tho Education Department in connection with certificates for teachers, and ho could .speak from long experience. From time to time ho had also boon engaged as' instructor of teachers of public schools. It must havo been seen by others present .from thos'o school teachers whocanio up for ■instruction that the standard was very low. Teachers gave vocal instruction in the schools who had 'no knowledge at all ,of it. They candidly admitted that. ' This a subject of great importance in the musical lifb of New Zealand. . A younger generation.was growing up without practically any opportunity of learning To'cal 'music.,' • Ho" compared the stato of tilings : heroi with the admirable methods adopted at Home, whero even 111 tho poorest suburban district schools it .was delightful to hear' the' beautiful singing and to observe the influence it had on school lifo. I'rbper instruction in singing was beneficial to the children from a hygienic point of view —in tho matter of proper breathing. . the worst of it was that the public looked upon musical education as something to_ bo relegated to the odd corners of tho week s work, to bo done.by anyono and anyhow. It was timo protest was made against that. (Applause.) Vocal music should take its piace in the curriculum of tho schools. (Hear, lipar.) It was also important for tuo futuro musical lifo that listeners as well as ]>erformers should be trained. (Hear, hear.) If tho present Conferenco'could make serno practical suggestion it would liavo dono good work in that alone. Tho _voice was so delicate that many wero spoiled: every day becauso children' were allowed to bowl m a raucous wav at school. (Hear, hear.) There' should be an expert to" givo instruction in. every centre ,of population. . Hero ill Wellington something had been dono for two or three vearSj. hut- oil the score of economy it had had to'go. ' Last : year representation .had been made, by the teachers that tho 'teachers in .the, younger .'.schools'should havo some instruction, and ho (Mr. Parker) had been engaged to give'. Saturday lessons. . Jhese lessons had'resulted in most gratifying success. But this was only ono small .spasmodic 'effort.!- Continuous-work, was nccessarv. Ho would like the Conference to tiass a. resolution bringing tho urgency of the .mat-tor before tho -.educational authorities -of the Dominion. Though at first progress might bo slow, they would expect bettor results in tlio future. (Loud applause.) .. • • • Mr. Charles Gray (Invercargill), seconded Mr. Parker's motion. Ho said lie also had had considerable experience in, this matter. He had examined teachers at various times, and had no hesitation in saying that tho display, in tlio papers was/disgraceful in its ignorance. ' Once, ho continued, he had had to conduct ;W chorus of .'3OOO children, and ho would never forget- the. awful noise. (Laughter.) Tho Coufcrcnco should take this matter lip enthusiastically..- The childish ear should bo trained from the start. (Applause.) Mr. Maitland Gardner (Dunediny, also an examiner Of singing in schools, gave some amusing instances of the ignorance of teachers, and the results of it in the schools that had come under his notice. Mr. Maughan Barnfctt (Wellington), alluding to the references madi to tho sotting of examination papers of teachers, said that the education regulations prescribed these matters. It would be best- "to ask tho permission of tho Education Department for musicians in as many towns as possible to visit tlie schools and report, and for such report to ho sent to a committee who might be appointed, and who would then recommend tOj the Department. , It was' pointed out that musicians would have a thorny time, of it if' thoy attempted to'invade" the 'schools'.' " 1 After" further . remarks by Herr Zimmerman and Mr. Mackintosh,' Mr. Parker briefly replied. He suggested 'half-a-dozen members should be appointed to draw up a plan and wait upon the Minister and tile Secretary for Education. They might then also be able to effect improvement in the' regulations .regarding examination papers. He proposed a. resolution ill this direction. This was carried. >- \ The following committee was then appointed: Mr. R, Parker (Chairman), Mrs. Glover Eaton,, Misses Phoebe Parsons, and Richmond, Messrs. M. Bariictt, L. Watkins, and Meadows. A report will be made to the various societies in the Dominion 011 tho result of their deliberations.