MUSIC TEACHERS

Southland Times, Issue 20865, 29 August 1929, Page 12

MUSIC TEACHERS

OPERATION OF THE NEW ACT. REGULATIONS GAZETTED. For some years past there has been a pianissimo agitation for some form of control over music teachers, some control that, will be a restraint on the unqualified, and at the same time a guarantee to the approved qualified. There have been charlatans in music as well as in all other professions, and the Music Teachers’ Registration Act of last year was framed to cope with that form of imposition on the public. It has been the prerogative of anyone to exhibit on his “shingle” “Teacher of the Pianoforte,” when his claims for such consideration might only consist of knowing how to vamp in a few keys. Of course, the pupil of any aptitude and intelligence would not take long to measure up the capacity of that class of teacher, but there may be those who only take young children, and who are able to camouflage their musical limitations because of the incapacity of the children to perceive the incapacity of the teacher. It was considered only fair to teachers of ability and standing, and only just to the public, to legislate against the charlatan. Just as lawyers, doctors, surveyors, architects, and others, have to pass certain examinations, it is contended, so should those who desire to take up the teaching of music, in any of its forms, instrumental or vocal.

But there are other and more complex reasons why there should be a strict survey, not only of the musical ability and knowledge of the teacher, but of his or her character. There have been many instances in Wellington of misdemeanours and sometimes .tragedies as the result of misplaced confidence in teachers of music. The new Music Teachers’ Registration Act, it is believed, was needed as much on that account as it was to dispense with the unqualified. The Regulations. The first meeting of the board was held about five or six weeks ago. As the result of that meeting regulations to the Act were gazetted last week, of which the following are the more important:— “The board may require evidence to be furnished to it by written statement, statutory declaration, or otherwise, of the identity, age, good character and reputation, qualification for registration, or any other matter on which the board is entitled to be informed in respect of any applicant for registration. “The Registrar shall keen (either bookwise or by means of a loose leaf or card system) an index, alphabetical by surnames, of the names of persons entered in the register, and such index shall be deemed to be a part of the register. Such index may be subdivided in respect of registrations current and cancelled, or according to locality of registered addresses, or in any other way that the Registrar may think expedient. “The musical subjects in respect of which registration may be granted under the said Act shall be the subjects enumerated in the Second Schedule hereto. “The examinations which shall be recognized by the board for the purpose of conferring a qualification to bp registered under the said Act shall be the examina- ' tions enumerated in the Third Schedule hereto. “Any person registered as a music teacher under the said Act may, in connection with his calling or profession, signify such registration by applying to himself the term ‘Registered Teacher of Music.’” Grounds For Right to Registration. Broadly, there are two grounds only to entitle one to registration. One is that the applicant had for a period of at least twelve months previous to January 1, 1929, been engaged in New Zealand as a teacher of music, and secondly, on the ground of their scholarship in music. This “endorsement” is set out in the “Gazette” as follows: — 1. Art of singing.

2. Theory of music to the standard required for any one of the following examinations: (a) Degree of Bachelor of Music in the University of New Zealand; (b) Degree of Doctor of Music in the University of New Zealand; (c) A Certificate of Proficiency granted by the University of New Zealand in the subjects required for the Degree of Bachelor of Music; (d) A Certificate of Proficiency granted by the University of New Zealand in the subjects required for the Degree of Doctor of Music; (e) Degree in Music granted by any British Chartered University or by any British or foreign University, provided that such degree would entitle the holder to admission ad eundem gradum to the degree of Bachelor or Doctor of Music in the University of New Zealand; (f) Licentiateship of the Royal Academy of Music, London; (g) Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music, London; (h) Associateship of the Royal College of Music, London; (i) Licentiateship of the Royal Manchester College of Music; (j) Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, London; (k) Associateship of the Royal College of "Organists, London; (1) Licentiateship of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, London; (m) Licentiateship of Trinity College Lon, don; (n) Fellowship of Trinity College, London; (o) A Certificate of Registration in Music under the Teachers’ Registration Council of Great Britain.

Cancellation of Registration. The Act makes ample provision for the cancellation of registration. It says: "The board may cause to be removed from the register the name of any person who (a) Is proved.to the satisfaction of the board to have died, or (b) has been registered in error, or (c) is punished by imprisonment for any offence which,'in the opinion of the board, renders him unfit to be registered under the Act, or (d) has been guilty of such improper conduct as renders him, in the opinion of the board, unfit to be registered under the Act.” Annual Fee.

There is an annual fee of 10/6 to be paid to the board by every registered

teacher, and if same is three months in arrear the name of the teacher may be removed from the register. The fees go toward paying the expenses of the board and travelling allowances to its members. No one under 18 years of age may be registered as a teacher of music. Appeals From Board's Decision. Provision is made in the Act that any person deeming himself (or'herself) to be aggrieved by a decision of the board may appeal to a Board of Appeal, which shall consist of a Magistrate and two assessors.