EDUCATION IN MUSIC

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 7, 19 December 1932, Page 5

EDUCATION IN MUSIC

WORK OF TRINITY COLLEGE INFLUENCE OVER SIXTY YEARS EMINENCE OF EXAMINERS (By H. G. Spackman) Several of the Napier and Hastings music-teachers have asked me to give a brief resume of the work and operation of the Trinity College of Music, the first of the musical organisations to institute examinations. The Trinity College of Music owes its existence to a few far-seeing enthus lasts who, GO years ago, were actuated by a sincere interest in the betterment of musical education. The world-wide influence of the college as it exists today exceeds, no doubt, all they hoped to accomplish. The work of the pioneer is generally difficult, and it certainly was in this case. The teaching of music at that time was unsatisfactory, not because the teachers were unworthy, but because there was little opportunity of revising their methods under the direction of experts, and practically no opportunity of testing the results of their teaching by the standard of skilled and sympathetic examiners. The college was the first institution to require of its examiners some standard of general educational attainment, and this at a time when the opportunities of culture were extremely Limited. From the beginning until the present time the college has secured the co-operation and services of men of undisputed eminence in the art of music. COLLEGE’S EXAMINERS. Sir John Goss, Henry Smart, Sir Julius Benedict, Sims Reeves, H. G. Bonavia Hunt, E. H. Turpin, J. G. Saunders, E. J. Hopkins, Sir Geo. Elvey, Sir Herbert S. Oakley, Rev. Sir F. A. Gore Ouseley, Sir Hubert Pai-y, Sir Joseph Barnby, Ebenezer Prout, John Francis Barnett, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Walter Macfarren, Myles Birket Foster, Sir Frederick Cohen, Chas. W. Pearce, Sir Frederick Bridge, are among those who have, in their time, given their services to the college; and the value and far-reaching effect of what they and the present administrators have accomplished are evidenced by the position attained by the college •is one of the great schools of music. • uring the year over 1000 students receive instruction within the college buildings. The college has to-day 700 local centres and schools where examinations are. held twice, and in some cases three, times and more a year; some 60,000 candidates are examined every year; and the number steadily increases. The college. devotes about £5OOO a year to scholarships tenable at the college, local exhibitions tenable at local centres, and national prizes open to candidates wherever local examinations are held. CHAIR OF LONDON UNIVERSITY. To mark the Coronation year of King Edward VIII., and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its own foundation, the college in 1902 was, by a gift of £5OOO, the means by which the King Edward university chair of music was founded at the University of London. The Royal Commission appointed in 1892 to consider the reconstruction of the University of London, included the college among the institutions suggested as School of the University.

It is a source of gratification to Trinity College that the work it initiatedand the results it has attained have stimulated other great musical institutions to follow where its founders were the first to venture.

I may add, in conclusion, that, during the 30 years that I have had the honour of being the college’s representative, it has been a source of very great pleasure to have been associated with the splendid musicians—l use the words in their highest meaning—who have been sent to this country as examiners. Among these have been Messrs J. E. Borland, Mus.D.; Ronald Chamberlain, M.A., Mus.B.; Edric Cundell; C. Egerton Lowe, F.T.C.L.; Albert Mallinson, F.T.C.L.; A. Mistowski, Mus. D. S. Myerscough, Mus. B.; Charles Sehilsky; D. Vaughan Thomas, M.A., Mus.D.; Chas. Vincent, G. E. Vincent; Henry Saint George.