TEACHING OF CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 18

TEACHING OF CHILDREN

FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC

Au interesting talk oil tho teaching of the foundations of music to children was given by Miss Clero at- the recent Free Kindergarten conference.

Music, said Miss Clero, should nevor be shut out of a child's lifo as it was vrtry often tho outlet for tho spiritual siiio of nature. Tho purpose of musical training in the Kindergarten was to awaken tho child's sensibility to mood, pitcVi, and rhythm, .And lay the foundation for more formal study of music lator on in life. IMPRESSION AND EXPRESSION. There were two aspects in tho process of learning—impression and expression. The natural expression of a child was through action, therefore the teaching of music should be associated with movement. Because the child developed according to the same; general plan that affected tho progress of his ancestors, music should bo primitive in character. Musical education began in tho cradlo with tho lullaby and nursery songs of tho mother, and this indirect training should''be continued in schools, the music presented being of rhythmic character, connected with simple moods and actions) vivid and illustrative of a story, or event, within the child's understanding- The chief ppints to develop, said tho speaker, were the appreciation of rhythm, phrasing, pitch, form, and notation. .. V

Dealing with rhythm, sho illustrated its appearance in Naturo in tho circlo of day and night, seed-time and harvest, etc.; in community lifo in tho ■ stroke of a. rowing crew, sea chanties, and so on. It was instinctivo in every child, and should bo taught in tho natural way, establishing the connection between music and movement. For example, a child should hear tunes that suggested that ho was a marching soldier or a galloping huntsman,' and should express tho musical experieneo in movement.

Miss Clcro spoke of rhythmic move-