CHANGE WROUGHT BY GOOD MUSIC

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6667, 21 July 1928, Page 9

CHANGE WROUGHT BY GOOD MUSIC

, LEICESTER ENG. ' The headmaster of the Carlisle Grammar School (Cumberland) has tried an experiment in connection with the music in his'schoor which has proved very successful. - • • ■■ - ■ 1 A few, years ago he arranged to have some.'short piano recitals after morning prayers'from a good performerwho, as it happened in. this' case, is the father of the headmaster and living with him. The school is fortunate enough to possess a fine 'old grand piano of world-famed make, and regularly - dur-. ing the past few years the boys have been able to listen to movements from the old classical and romantic masters,; with an occasional more moic-n composition; they have also been aii...vcd ,to hear violin and vocal music, with the consequence that they are familiar with much of the best music that has. been composed., ' ■ ■ The headmaster states that as a result of this, not only have the taste and appreciation powers of the boys been developed) ' but that individual boys have spontaneously taken up instruments and made good with them. The school has been able to start a band. The boys have also shown themselves able to enjoy not only the few composers generally regarded as easy enough for them to understand, but-prac-tically every composer represented. He is convinced that if musical,'leaders of the country, desire a wider musical public they have only to go to all our schools and offer them a few minutes of such music day by day. In a few years’ time they will have the public they, desire; and, in due time, a popular demand for municipal orchestras and the like, such as . are common in musical countries. ’

This musical effort on the part of the headmaster, it, is of'interest to note, is only part of a scheme whereby the best literature and the best pictures are also directly presented to the boys, for training of taste and . appreciation.. ..