MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 10

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

FURTHER SUPPORT

JUVENILE CONCERT LEAGUE

Witt the-idea of arranging a.■series' of'-concerts: :suitable and entirely for audiences : ;of children so : that ''the foundations of an intelligent appreciation of good music . may be theirs, the Juvenile Concert League has ~ been founded in Wellington, by, Mr. John Bishop. Circulars, setting out the aims of the league have already been distributed to pupils of the Wellington schools, and it is hoped that parents will allow their children to join the league and. signify, tlicirv willingness' by filling in the enrolment form and returning it', to the, school, teacher. ■ In.an article in Saturday's "Post" Mr. John Bishop explained in detail the work which tho league hoped to perform, and further...endorsement, of the movement comes ..from, Mr. Robert Parker, doyen of musicians, in Wellington,, who writes:— ■■'~.. ■.•,-' : ■ , , . "I have been asked to express:, an opinion on 'Ihe.-rjroposed Juvenile. Concert League, sponsored by. Mr. John Bishop. 'Die obje'ets of the league and its methods of .working were fully and attractively'set forth in 'The Evening Post', on Saturday, and as an important'part, of my own musical ~ work during GO years has bceiv directly and indirectly devoted to-.the training .$ children, I am glad to givo my, cordial support to the proposal. .The idea .is, of course, not new, oven in New Zoa-' land, for Mr. Maughan Barnett has otr some years done successful :■> work iv Auckland with his recitals for.children, but the present .scheme1 is of a wider and, more ''comprehensive character, and if it can be carried through will undoubtedly be of groat service in 'the important work of creating a worthy standard of musical taste in the children who join.the ileague. "I think it. is generally conceded, by musicians "of experience . tliat in :the last resort the, most important, factor in the training of the child is what it is taught to do for itself, but the capacity to listen, intelligently ,'is, of course, a valuable auxiliary,to such training, and fronr that point of ,view, the present' proposal is worthy of all support.". "A SPIRITIJAI. VALUE." : "I would welcomo anything: of that sort very: much indeed," said ;, Mr. E. Douglas ; Taylor, Director : of , School Music,.when ho,was asked for his opinion of the worth of the Juvenile Concert League. "Children don't asi a rule go /to choral and orchestral concerts, and: they should, have .special opportunities of- hearing this, .very important branch of the art. The child's powers of ; attention;, are , very- -limited, therefore it is necessary that hu should have short item's- simple enough for him to grasp. The children's concert movement has grown very much in Britain. In Ba'ttersea'j; for example, attendance at the special orchestral, concerts is part of the education of the children in the London' County Council schools. The Board of Education (the central authority) arid the L.C.C. have recognised these concerts |as part of the regular School curriculum and .fifty Battersea schools support the concerts ;• consistently. A band will pwform at, one concert, at another an orctostra. will play, or perhaps it will-be, a strong quartet, the children thus learning the: different types of instrumental combination. "We endeavour in the schools here to bring the children into contact with music of the best, quality,, but this is work which can only be accomplished gradually. The school orchestra, fon instance, cannot develop very far for there are continual changes in personnel1 and more recruits are brought in, bo : that it is advisable for the child's musical education' in this direction to be supplemented by listening to orchestral music more difficult than he can attempt himself in school. If the league encourages a love for listeiiing to good music, it will be of immense, value. The fact that prize fights, wrestling matches, and race meetings draw better attendances than concerts shows that life is^ still more or less upside down, and -this will continue unless the child can; be,given a taste' for those forms of art and recreation that have a spiritual value. '

"I would like to see the movement spread: to other; towns,"1 concluded Mr. Taylerj who also1 mentioned that on,one occasion the Harmonic Society gave a folk sorig concert to the school children in Wellington and the Savage^Club Orchestra has also played for the young people, both concerts being very enjoyable. -■■'■■■■'.' ■■'•'■ ■ ■•■ -■ ■•'■•■