MUSICAL EXAMS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 403, 30 May 1905, Page 2

MUSICAL EXAMS.

(To The Editor)...

Sin,—l should like to draw the attention of reactors of the local Times to a letter of Mr Maughan Barnett's, of Wellington, on the subject of " Musical Examinations," which appeared in the" Wellington Times, of May 25. I most heartily agree with all Mr BarnDtt says, and hope that his letter may bring about the beginning of a reaction against the present absurd craze for musical examinations thatseeirja j 0 bo general thoiighv out tho polony. I speak from experience: when I say that they are as a general rule inimical to the real musical progress of a pupil, and a burden to the teacher who is bent upon developing the musical faculty in his or her pupils., Also the possession of even the highest' certificates of merit I havo proved to be no guarantee whatever of a player's efficiency, or even soundness of musical knowledge or pianistic ability. The possession of Buch certificate cannot make up for bad playing. It is after all the player who gets the best teaching; connection, irrespective of whether he holds certificates and has letters after his name or not. For further reasons why examinations in music are more or less thiDga of fiction, I refer your readers to Mr Maughan Barnett'a letter. —I am, etc., H. J3. Gtj^teb.