THE STUDY OF MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18047, 22 September 1920, Page 6

THE STUDY OF MUSIC

UNIVERSITY COURSE PROPOSED.

A n important and attractive suggestion wb.oh wo* record wkh «,nskleralKvo°r bra., hf V" f ' VeiS,ly ■ Co " ncil y«*towlay, was brought before ,t m the lorn, of tho fol»?»™B resolution I>ro9osed Di Bcnhi^ in.it tlioCouncil iiia.igurulo a course of innrsT.'Z "I *,"° S " bj<^lS rCCluired f <« «"e "rat i>.ut of the examination of tlie dogruo u lSpp or - Of , " USiC .. l3y the 'W™ l of ti icciuier in music. t l,^ ro [?^ or Bl "''"'" begun by explaining 1. t this proposal would not involve th" Pnotis.ng of cornets or other .musical instruments within the precincts of the Uni-versity-exocpt on Capping Carmval day when the council had no control. It was i cunous thing, he said, that a man could got a degree ui bachelor of music of ih e Un.versity of New Zealand witllout h(iv |™ to jrivo any evidence that ho could play the sunplest tune with one linger on uny n,, 18 I col instrument. What he proposed was to inaugurate a course of study in the theoretical s ide of music, embracing « three subjects harmony and counterpoint li°tl?'f !ind o«s*»ostru.tipn, and history and iiterature of music. Tho great majority cf music students in Duncdin were merely Retting training in singing or the use of sjme instrument, though a largo number prepared thomselvosior tho diplomas of Trinity College and other bodies. Mr Victor Galway, who was a graduate in musio of Melbourne University, told him that the groat majority of music students there did not propose to go for any degree, but such a course as lie rrowsed had always proved a success. 1 hey could, for instance, have a. course in harmony and counterpoint, two hours a. week at three guineas, and a large number of students would prefer to attend that rather than pay a private tutor 20 guineas. The course would interest a new set of oeople in University matters. There would be no great expense involved —probably none at all. In Canterbury College where they had had a lecturer in music sinoe 1892, the roll of students numbered If we had only 50 students taking those throe subjects, that would bring in 500 guineas, and a lecturer could bo secured for £200 or £250. There would be no outlay except perhaps the hire of a piano, because these subjects had to be illustrated. It might be advisable in a year or two to issue a diploma of music from the University, which would serve several purPoses. Auckland University College had a professor of music, and they were said to specialise in music, and it had been suggested that they might resent the introduction of a course of music into another college. Ho did not think there wa s any ground for that suggestion. Music was a subject in which there could be no specialisation in the strict sense, ns it belonged to all the centres. The studonts taking the proposed course would not necessarily bo matriculated students. Probably very few of them would be. It could not be too widely recognised that anyone was welcome to , come in to the courses of instruction at the University whether matriculated or not, and the introduction of a subject like niusio would emphasise that freedom. Mr Thompson suggested that the matter be ieferred to a special committee. Mr Morrell seconded the motion with a view to securing discussion, and expressed lumself in favour of the proposal, though it would require more detailed "consideration He favoured the suggestion that it be referred to the special committee. Mr Ritchie moved as an amendment that a committee comprising the Chancellor, Vice-chancellor, Dr .Benham, and Mr W. J. Morrell be appointed to consider the matter and report to the council. Mr Walker seconded the amendment and said he was not so sanguine as Dr Benham that this would not conflict with northern colleges. It required considerable thinking over.

In reply to Dr Macdonald it was stated that students did not go from Dunedin to Auckland to study music. Mr Stephens emphasised the importance of considering fully the financial bearing of the- proposal. Dr Benham said he would willingly accept the amendment, as he recognised that the motion as it stood was in somewhat strong mandatory terms. ■He agreed to have the motion altered to read that tho council appoint a committee consisting of the Chancellor, Vice-chancellor, Dr Benham, and Mx Morrell to consider the inauguration of the proposed course in music. The motion in this form was carried unanimously.