MUSIC TEACHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21952, 13 May 1933, Page 9

MUSIC TEACHERS

o Inclusion of conference j I'Che final session of the tenth annual & inference of the 3)lusic Teachers’ AssoC fation of New Zealand was concluded yesterday. Mr R. Parker (Wellington) 0 i.eupied the ciiair. j INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS, f Upon the suggestion of Mr Ernest Jenner, of Christchurch, it was decided io communicate with the Director of /Education and point out the desir--1 ability of placing the specially-trained third-year teachers from the training colleges when the staffing of the new intermediate schools was being considered. STIMULATION OP MUSIC.

Mr Sydney Williamson, of Christchurch, spoke of a scheme he had conceived for the stimulation and development of music and the teaching profession. He suggested that an effort should be made to bring out from Horae some outstanding choral body. It would be too ambitious to undertake a tour by the Sheffield Choir, but a tour by a smaller body on similar lines could, doubtless, he managed. Mr Williamson admitted that the scheme was so colossal that it scarcely sounded feasible. The conference did not display much enthusiasm in the scheme, the president remarking that it would, perhaps, be advisable to hold it over until the period of depression was past. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES Mr John Bishop, of Wellington, sub-, mitted a report from the sub-committee appointed to investigate the position with regard to “music in New Zealand.” Mr Bishop said that the committee recommended that each branch of the association should appoint small committees (not necessarily composed of council members) to inquire into the matter, and that they _ should communicate with all music-making sources in their districts. It was also recommended that a central inquiry committee be established in Wellington to get into touch with the director of the magazine, and that a report of a conference with him be sent out to all branches as a basis for their discussion and investigation. Mr Bishop felt that Hie sub-committee could not recommend that the association should organise and finance its own journal, but it was fully agreed that the possibilities of carrying on the publication at present in existence should be investigated. A motion to this effect was carried. SCHOOL HOME WORK. A remit brought forward by the Otago branch to the effect that the excessive amount of home work demanded by schools has a detrimental effect on musical studies occasioned some discussion, but no definite action was taken. In introducing the remit, Mr Harold Riddle stated that in many cases musiical studies had been arrested by the very large amount of home work. He was of tile opinion that this amount of home work was brought about by the number of masters, and the work accumulated to an alarming extent. Mr Riddle had come across several cases where home lessons had prohibited musical studies. The president said that the remit was only an expression of opinion, and did not suggest a remedy. Ho spoke of his own experience with his choir boys in Wellington. The boys could not come to practice except on Friday nights on account of the amount of home work.

Mr John T. Leech said he did not see what the conference could do about this matter. He pointed out that although music was an absolute necessity general education must take priority. Mr Ernest Einpsou, of Christchurch, said that some recommendation might be made to the Minister pointing out the great value of music as part of a general education. He did think that the educational authorities failed to grasp the essential value of tire physical and nerve training in executive art. Miss Ida White said she considered that the authorities were endeavouring to do their best. She thought the subject might he left alone.

Mr Hamilton Eagar said that tliey were in a delicate position, as they had considerable opposition from a number of teachers. A number of headmasters were constantly opposed to the teaching

of music in the schools, as they considered it interfered with schotl work. The piesident stated that thje training given in New Zealand developed the intelligence and the capacity for} fine work in a remarkable way. A Jaumber of eminent English headmasters had testified that their best boys in scholarship were studying music. Mr Parker ditj! not think that headmasters as a whole wqre opposed to music in schools. There was a great deal of musical activity in the schools, and music was undoubtedly going ahead. He did not consider tlujit it would ' be of the slightest use making (representations to the Minister or department. Mr G. W. Johnstone expressed the opinion that in no .time in the} history of the country had music in schools been taken as seriously as it was mow. There was a great deal of good work! being done in Dunedin and elsewhere, ajbd he was sure they were advancing. Thry had been in a very deep trough, and eqemed to be out of it. i / . • After a short discussion it yas,decided that no action should be taken, and the subject wa.. then dropped. j- ■ GENERAL, j ■ Proposals with ■ regard to | a summer school for teachers next yeafl’ were discussed, many suggestions beiijig advanced by delegates. ; When the formal business: of the conference was concluded Mr Parker congratulated the Otago branch upon its admirable arrangements for ( the conference and concerts. The provincial delegates expressed appreciation of Mr Parker’s chairmanship, and jhe was accorded musical honours. I ; CONCLUDING FUNCTIONS. , In the afternoon the delegates were taken for a drive through tjhe city and surrounding districts, and in; the evening they were the guests at a reception tendered by the Society of ‘Vyomen Musicians. I PIANOFORTE TEACHING I . r LECTURE BY MISS CjORLISS. Miss Yalerin Corliss,) A.R.A.M., L.R.A.M., New Zealand representative of the Tobias Matthay Pianoforte School, London, by request gave a lecture on the art of pianoforte teaching and performing before a large audience of music teachers in Begg’s concert chamber yesterday afternoon. Mr 6.. W. Johnstone, wl(o introduced the speaker, said that Mis*. Corliss had been in England recently, (and had met many of the notable teachefis of the day. She was, therefore, well verged in modern methods. | Miss Corliss spoke on thp musical, instrumental, and physical aspects of the pianoforte and the influence} of psychology in the training of children. She enumerated some of the musical experiences children were given fin the kindergarten before they were (actually given music to play. She then ilealt with the teaching of technique to children, and gave some instructive examples.) working progressively through the various aspects of pianoforte work such ad the need for musical attention, the various ways in which one used the pianji key, the coordination of muscles, position at the keyboard, and the element of motation in technique. Miss Corliss provided some very instructive examples of betave playing, which were very much appreciated hy ;he teachers. I Good technique, said Mliss Corliss, was good mental habit. Thfee elements of technique, roughly speakhng, were finger exertion, hand exertion, aj id arm element. Miss Corliss spoke of (Matthay’s principles, the visible and invisible in piano technique. Here the lecjturer gave some practical illustrations ofi these principles at the pianoforte. She) explained some interesting points on rhythmical attention, and said that accuracy jof tone was the link between music and J technique. Miss Corliss gave interesting illustrations of conscious and utomatic control in the playing of quirk passages, and treated illumiuatiugly t/he interpretative aspects, finishing her Iciiture with an interesting talk on the psychology of style for the purpose of arjt expression, and on the positive qualities of personality from the point of Wiew of the performer. 1 I Mr Johnstone corapliipented the lecturer on the educational value and lucidity of her address.