VOCAL MUSIC IN SCHOOLS

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1925, Page 10

VOCAL MUSIC IN SCHOOLS

WHAT DOMINION LACKS,

INSTRUCTOR APPOINTED

The Hon Sir James Parr, Minister of J Education, in announcing the appointment of an officer to undertake the supervision and direction of instruction in vocal music in school, .stated he regarded this as a most important appointment, and one which would have a far reaching effect, not only in the musical education, but also 011 the gen- j eral mental training of the schools. In j order that a fully competent supervisor \ might be obtained applications were j invited in both England and New Zealand.

The applications received in England were examined by Sir Walford Davies, Mus. Doc. (Camb.), A.R.C.M. (London), LL.D. (Leeds), P.R.C.O. (London), Hon F.R.A.M. in association with Dr H. A. Harding of the Royal College or Organists, and Sir Hugh Allen of the Royal College of Music. After considering the report of these gentlemen and thoroughly examining the New Zealand applications, it 1 has been decided to appoint Mr Edward Douglas Tayler, of Lancaster, England. Mr Tayler, who is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and ar. Associate of the Royal College of Music, has had considerable experience as a teacher and examiner in music, and is regarded .as eminently suitable for the position. He received his early training at the Royal College of Music, London, and studied under the late Sir Walter Parratt, Master of the King's Music and Oxford professor; the late Sir Charles Stanford, Cambridge professor; the late Sir Frederick Bridge, Gresham professor and organist of Westminster Abbey; Dr Charles Wood, present Cambridge professor; the late Dr F. J. Read, of Chichester Cathedral; the late Dr W. S. Hoyte, Mr Marmaduke Barton, and Mr Sidney Waddington. He was the winner of two open scholarships for organ play- ; ing and composition, the "Arthur Sullivan" prize for musical composij tion at the Royal College of Music, and j the "Lafontaine" prize for highest ■ marks in all England at the Fellowship I examination of the Royal College of | Organists. I Mr Taylor has had many years exI perience in South Africa, and in j his present position of organist and j choirmaster to the Lancaster Parish i Church. He is also instructor in school music at the Lancashire Girls' Grammar School. He is also musical director of the Lancashire Church Choirs' Association, conductor of Lancashire j Orchestral Society and Morecambe Ma- [ drigal Society, honorary local reprej sentative of and examiner to the j Royal College of Music. In commenting upon the appointj ment, Sir James Parr said: "I am convinced that we have not given this subject its proper place in the currij culum. We are behind England and i Wales. More serious attention to it ,is nccessary both in training colleges ! and schools, and the department must i arrange for more time. Good school ) • • singing will not only create a taste for I music and enunciation, but will assist i because of its social interest to give j the pupils a sound community spirit. ! Such a country as New Zealand should [ breed a nation of young singers. We shall take Mr. Tayler's advice upon ! tho whole question of re-organisation |of school music. Possibly we shall j need to detach from their present j duties two or three teachers already in j our service who could under Mr. Taylor's direction do excellent work —say ! probably one in each island, but that ! will be a matter 'for discussion with ' the new supervisor on his arrival."