WHAT IS WRONG ?

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 7

WHAT IS WRONG ?

PUBtjC: AND MUSIC

CANDib CRItIGISM

.Busiriess.lather than pleasure was the, jnotto on Thursday of rthe •■conference of the Music Teachers'- Association \ of; New Zealand;;., It had been; inteiided^o' devote the afternoon to ;-an- excursion, but. delegates -preferred to , cariy- on rwith.tne work of the: conference. •• ,

One of the most interesting of the topics touched upon was that .of smaller audiences at "■; coupled with a decrease in the number of music pupils. Dr. S.^K. Phillips,,of Auckland, laid that the cause . was not to be found, solely in the depression. It was' evident that music had a wide appeal, the universal use of radio and gramophones" proving this. The.public, he thought, were becoming more critical. Having, heard good records, they were no longer inclined to attend" concerts and' to put up with' ■,inferior ■ performances. It seemed' to him that the ' standard .of public performances would have 'to"' bferaised, and 'raised 'considerably; if -the attendance at concerts".' was to be increased, Along with a higherJstaidara of artistryj there was need for a better realisation of what the'publie wanted vi the way of ■ musical • programmes.' Talkie, and theatrical firms: here: they endeavoured to give the public Tvhaf was wanted, and were atparently successful. .The .staging of concerts, too, Dr. Phillips, suggested^ might be improved with-. advantage. - Dealing with the subject .of fewer music pupils; Dr. P.hillips said that there -jyere many, counter-attractions vi these days. He did not put much value on degrees ana diplomas; .some .of "this best educated men he had ever met had no degree, at all. There was, however, the bugbear "of"examinations.' Teachers ; he; thoughf;, could do much to [Stimulate an interest in "music and to' bring about \a revival, but they wbuld have to busy themselves a little' more than they often did. They should sco to it that musical education was made attractive: . educational' music could easily be overdone, and Uhat: tad to be guarded against. j Miss Corliss 'gave' the" conference a sketch of the work of the British Musiu Society, expressing the hope that branches - would be formed' in the Dominion centres. .■■■"' ' " ;

. The' conference' -recommended' that there should be an interchange ipf tho most proficient and popular artists between the various fcroadcastijig stations, also that the' churches should, Wherever possible; employ professional musicians. ■- .;• '.' •.'■; ;i.,■ ■

Threo' papers were read to the conference: '' Violins and 'Violin-making,'' by Mr. H. Kiddie, Dunedin; . "Tne Qualities of Voice Production,?' by Mr.. J. Holmesßunnicl'es;;'PalmerstonN6tth; and "Class. .Teaching in. Music," by Mr. T. VernonGntfthß.,OHrisfctiufch.,' '

A married woman who had told tie police she had taken whisky for a cbjd, and did not. know what she was1 doing, and; upp;n whom ■ the Probation Officer reported favourably at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, was fined . £5, in default one. month's ;Jmprjsonment, for stealing :• glor.es^worthuescedfrom the D.I.C. \ ' ■: