SCHOOL MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 12 December 1923, Page 9

SCHOOL MUSIC

IMPROVED SYSTEM WANTED

WORK OF COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Commenting on music in the schools, Mr. E. Palliser, president of the Wellington Competitions Society, at the annual meeting of the society last evening, said that the question had received consideration during the past year, and the society had been committed to an expenditure of £25 a year for three yearstowards the salary of a singing master, conditional on the Education authorities making a grant for such an appointment. He had personally endeavoured to obtain the co-operation of other musical societies in the city in connection with the matter. The negotiations had not yet reached the desired stage, but he trustedthat the incoming executive would use all its influence and power in the direction of the provision of an improved system of musical instruction in the public schools. He thought it was generally recognised that of recent years music had not been taken up seriously by the Education authorities. There were, however, a few who seemed to think that music was being adequately taught in the schools, and,who resented the interest which was being taken in the matter by others outside the teaching profession. "Only recently," continued Mr. Palliser, "a correspondent in the official organ of the New Zealand Educational Institute, under the protection of a ncm-de-plume, endeavoured to impress upon readers of that journal that there was little room for improvement in the present method of musical instruction in the schools, and expressed his resentment towards members of this executive and others who are interesting themselves in this matter. ' Generally speaking, I take no notice of anonymous correspondents, but as this particular critic went so far as to say that officials of this society had stated from the public platform that none of the teachers in the public schools were competent to teach singing in, the schools, I feel that I must refer to the matter. As it has been my privilege on more than one occasion to refer to this interesting subject from the platform of the Town Hall, I have never made any. such ridiculous utterance as this correspondent would suggest. On the contrary, I have on all occasions given the greatest credit to the teachers who are responsible for the singing instructions in some of our schools. During our recent festival some magnificent performances were given ,by choirs from some of the public schools, reflecting the greatest credit on the teachers responsible. But why, not this standard of merit in all the schools? Prior to our last festival certain of our headmasters, when discussing this question with me, made no secret of the fact that they had not one member of their teaching staff competent to teach simple two-part harmony. I shall not dwell on this subject, other than to state that this matter is now causing the Education authorities more concern than our critical friend is prepared to admit. This is adequately borne out by the fact that in the June issue of the official organ of the New Zealand Educational Institute, the editor, reviewing the proceedings of the annual meeting of the institute, stated that one of the most interesting discussions heard during the meeting was that on the subject of school music. The editor stated, 'It is true that in a fair number of the primary schools the subject of music, thanks to the presence on the staff of musical enthusiasts, receives its due measure: of attention,' but. there is no doubt whatever that in others it is previously; neglected, and an important influence in the cultivation of the aesthetic side of child life lost altogether It is very pleasing to note that the Minister of Education, in his address to the meeting, mentioned this matter and indicated that something was to be done in the near future to restore school music to its rightful place in the life of the' school, and I trust that this society will continue to exert its influence until this desired end has been attained."