Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1896.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 181, 3 August 1896, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1896.

The development of mnsical education in Nelson has been very marked since the School of Music was established, and it is encouraging to know from the annual report of the institution that a venture, started with the contingency that it might not last more than three or four years, , is likely to be permanent. There is some doubt, however, whether the progress being made should be gauged by the frequent appearance of pupils in public, or by the more solid progress achieved from tuition. There is naturally a tendency to judge that progress from the standpoint of the stage or the concert platform; but in doing so sufficient allowance is not made for individual temperament. Some people can never appear to advantage before an audience, even of a few intimate friends, while others, with perhaps less talent and less solid knowledge and execution, are at their best in the. presence of a crowd. Nervousness, or the absence of it, is constitutional, and often ineradicable; and frequently in the artistic temporamonts, self-consciousness is so overweening that public appearances aro invariably made at a diadvantage. The monthly concerts by the pupils of the School of Music are intended not only to' show 'tho progress achieved, but to accustom the pupils to the concert platform, • and they havo their value in attaining both objects. But it is just possible that other objects quite as valuable, if not more so, may be sacrificed for them. Necessarily, there must be some hurry of preparation, and a devotion ! of time to the special purpose of per fecting a pupil in the one or two songs I or pieces which are to be rendered in public. While this is done in moderation there can be no harm. The tendency to be feared is that other instruction equally as necessary may be temporarily sacrificed. A pupil, instead of being taught to sing or to play thoroughly, may be merely taught to sing one song, or to play one piece, There are many many thorough musicians who never appear in public, just as there are many who appear in public, but who are by no means thorough musicians. It must also be remembered that in accustoming pupils to singing at concerts, certain unconscious mannerisms, the outcome of nervousness, are likely to become fixed habit or style. One of these, and perhaps the worst of them, is singing from the throat instead of from the chest. The young performer is afraid to hold up his or her head and look the audience in the

l galleries in the face. The eyes, and consequently the head, have an almost irresistible attraction downwards, with the result that the delivery of chest notes is impossible. In time this mannerism becomes habitual, and bad style is thus perpetuated. Again, in the hurry of preparation for a public appearance, manydetails are hurried over, and it may _ be readily admitted that the faultiness which is not checked soon becomes an ingrained habit. These comments are by no means intended to discourage the monthly concerts of the School of Music, but only to invito attention to points which may bo ignored or overlooked by teachers." The chief aim of the school is to perfect pupils in musical knowledge, not to prepare them for the stage or the concert platform,, or in a parrot like proficiency limited to a single song or a single piece ; and as long as this is borne in mind the monthly concerts will be a welcome and a valuable adjunct to the system of the school. Another question with which the School of Music and also the public of Nelson arc deeply concerned is the erection of a proper concert hall in the city. The Theatre Royal and the Provincial Hall are useful in their way, but they aro not. suitable to concerts, and cannot be made so. Mr Cock's schemo of raising money by debentures which do not bear interest is a good ono; but unfortunately money is very scarce, and the depression has lifted only slightly. A suggestion has been made, however, which might be discussed on its merits, to ascertain whether it is practicable, .viz., that the Suter Art Gallery and the Nelson Concert Hall might be combined. The one building could serve both purposes, at least for some time to come, and thus a portion of the financial barriers! might be removed. Several of the i citizens who take most interest in I the chool of Music are also connected with the Committee of the proposed Art Gallery, and there is no reason why the two projects should not be considered together. Whether the suggestion is worth discussion or not, it is better than no action at all, and the Committees of the School of Music and the Suter Art Gallery are recommended to " put their heads together " and see ! if anything can bo done in combination. From this germ of an idea much good may be evolved. There is no reason why the Suter Art Gallery should not become the educational, music, and art contrc of the city. Here the Nelson Institute might also have its home, and there might be a combination of art gallery, library, museum, and concert hall, like some of the larger fcichools of Art and Mechanics' lustitutes iv the country towns of Australia.