THE PROPOSED CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 February 1908, Page 4

THE PROPOSED CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC.

'Sir,—lt was .with ,m,uch/plea,suro/that>. I read Mr.- Cohen'? capablo ami ;el6(]uent address at the meeting of the University Sonate last Friday on the subject, of ; the proposed " Musical Conservatoriuni.'?/As.was natural, the' majority of the professional. musicians mot in council in Wellington at the time were not in favour of such an institution, as they wero called together to.considor the Bill that thoy had caused to be introduced into tho House to provide that music teachers, should bo registered, and that tho various incorporated" societies .of > music in Now Zealand, (if there \\;ero ever to bo such) should „ control ' tho/' examinations ill tho theory and practice of music instead of tho present English authorities. This Bill has not passed. What I want to emphasise is the fact that, had tho Conferenco been represented by more of tho older members of the profession, I doubt very much whether tho resolutions carried by that august body would have received the sapie.support. .1 am well awnro that I received an invitation to attend, and it was my own fault that I was not present, but cirotimstanccs prevented my being ablo to go. There is no doubt in my mind that a conservatorium such as is proposed to be instituted in Now Zealand by tho Senate'..would do moro, good to, the, cause of .'music in our Dominion than all tho societies. Still,'lit tho samo timo it is necessary that the,.musicians should bo. registered', «nd be-, foro becoming a member should pass a preliminary oxaminatirin, and show certificate, or testimonial of some sort, and so provent :tho fearful influx of inferior teachers who, from ignorance alono, can, and never could, raise tho standard of musical art in our midst. In support of our having examiners 'from our own ranks., L.would point out that nt present both tho examiners from Trinity College and the Royal Collego must, according to'tho present rogimo, bo prepared to psamiat} any student who has paid tho fees,

never mind what instrument he or she cares to ho examined in. Now, it stands to reason that the Professors v,'ho visit tho colonies cannot ho expected to' ha' proficient in every branch of music, and understand sufficient to give a fair judgment on pupils'studying (for instance) brass instruments, and tho like. I know that tho majority of candidates ■aro only entered for piano, singing, and' violin, but aro wo; always to content ourselves with proficiency in only thre'o branches °f t " 1 ° art. As was very properly and judiciously laid forth by lir. Cohen, thero is in only two large centres •in New Zealand— namely, Christ-church■ and Auckland—any ohniico-for students becoming cognisant'of tho literature and hearing lectures, etc. Music is moro. than being ablo to pleaso oitlior' oil tho piano, 'or to Im able to vernier a song that is not absolutely a torturo to listen to. I could write for weeks oil tho subject, as I have had' tho good fortune to bo olio;, of tho toachers in Now Zealand now over forty years, and I can, without foar of contradiction, say that the music 1 of to-day is very littlo, if any, in advance of that of twenty years, ago, notwithstanding tho thousands of pounds that aro spent overv year by parents and guardians, in endeavouring (to get: their children a certificate which will enable thoni, whon tho necossity arises, to launch their offspring on the arena of music .as qualified teachers, because at some remote dato 'they wero coached 'or threatened into ;passing ono of tho examinations, without which many people think they cannot become musicians. Tho general result'of such examinations is 1 that, when" tho "aforesaid holders , off certificates bccomo full-fledged: teachers,' in tho majority of cases (of course, exceptions) you will find that'mostof t-heiji cannot read an ordinary accompaniment t-o a song of moro o'r .less difficulty with tho'slightest, .intelligence, for tho ' simple, reason..that .cramming _a certain .number.,of. scales and studies and what aro called draw-ing-room pieces. into a given time do not givo tho desired knowledgo requisite to mako them understand tho first ideas of tho composer. I endorso every word that Mr. Cohen, gave.,utterance to in liik able address, and think•, if it wero published'in pamphlet form land-circulated amongst, the right-minded aiid capablo toachers and musicians in the. Dominion, ,it' would hp. proved by tho replies that would bo sent; in that they. were strongly in favour of tho New Zealand .Sonato's recommendation to : the Government—namoly; to establish ; a conservatorium of music'tvii tho lines suggested by the Senate.' Hoping other musicians will givo thoir views on'.'tliV matter,: and' apologising' for."taking up' so much'.of your valuablo space,—Yours, etc,,. ARTHUR TOWSEY.. '. Wauganui. February 4.