Creative Music

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1939, Page 10

Creative Music

(By S. N. Coleman). (Continued from last week). It does not seem unfair, I hope, to place upon the shoulders of the busy man of affairs a share of responsibility to the personal musical training of his child. Too many fathers feel that their responsibility ends in earning the money to pay the bills for the musical education of their children. The father’s personal co-operation, however, is worth much more than the money he plans to spend. Even if he can give little or no technical help, he cain let all who are concerned feel his sympathetic interest. To some prosaic men (and women too) who have forgotten all about the feelings and mental attitudes of their childhood the natural musical development of a child would seem sheer nonsense and useless noise. Such an attitude on the part of either parent, by his or her mere presence in the house, casts a “damper” over the efforts of the other. All musical activity must be free and spontaneous, without any fear of displeasing anyone. The true spirit of the eftort is killed by the presence of even one unsympathetic person, and if that person is the child’s father or mother, or anyone whom he loves very much, it is quite fatal to the undertaking. . Any musician knows how quickly his musical feeling and power of expression are affected by the presence of one who is intolerant or unsympathetic; and I have known many fathers who, from lack of sympathy with their children’s efforts, have blighted, quite unconsciously, the musical powers of their children to a serious extent. On the other hand, many fathers who are really svmpathetic with their children’s training feel that “roughhousing” is the only way they can play with them. This also is unfortunate. Such play often ends in a tearful reaction from an excitement that is nervous and uncontrolled. No real development in song or dance can come through rowdy or riotous singing and dancing. Rhythmic play can tie free and spontaneous, and yet sane dnd wholesome for everyone concerned Baby games, such as “Patacake, , “This is the Wav the Baby Rides.’ and “This Little Pig Went to Market’ have real value in the development of the sense of rhythm, and have stood the test of time. (To be continued).