The Chief Scout Talks

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 25 (Supplement)

The Chief Scout Talks

MUSIC FOR SCOUTS. (By Lt. Gen. Lord Baden-Powell.) When I first went to my old public school, Charterhouse, the celebrated John Hullah was music master there. He took us new boys into the beautiful old tapestried room at the Charterhouse —the room in which Queen Elizabeth had often been—and there he tried our voices. Each boy after being tested was sent to one of two corners of the room.

When it came to my turn I was put into a third corner, all by myself; there I remained a solitary one until all the boys present had been tried. It turned out afterwards that one lot was com-

posed of likely singers for the choir, the other lot had either no voice or no ear, while I, poor me, was judged to have a “falsetto” voice. Hnw Mr. Hullah discovered this, as I was only a shrill treble then, I don’t know —but it was quite true. I was shoved into the choir and there I remained for eix years.

When my talking voice “broke” I was still able to sing, and by the end of my time at school I was able to take any part needed, whether soprano, alto, tenor or baritone. I don’t say I had a good voice in any of them—l had not—but I wag just passable for general use in chorus singing.

Well, I enjoyed that a great deal more than if I hud been a solo singer; it was like playing football, or any other game, tn a team. DON’T GET A SWELLED HEAD. A youngster who is exceptionally (■rood at any one thing, especially if it us a thing where he has not had to work hard for it, is very apt to- become swollen headed. This is particularly the case with singers. The only cure for swollen head is a stern and sure application at the other end! ■ But where a fellow does chorus work he enjoys putting his voice into it, not for his' own glorification, but for tho honour of the team. This means every boy singing his best, but modulating his voice to be in proper harmony and proportion to the rest. In other, word?, playing in his place and playing th** game not for himself but for his side. But even choirs can become too cocky about themselves sometimes if people make too much fuss of them.

There is one point therefore that' I would always impress upon singers, and that is this: Remember that you did not make your voice aiid therefore you need not be conceited about it and merely sin<r to win applause. The Creator has lent you that voice—and when you are using it remember always that through it you may be touching some man or woman’s heart unknown to yourself, and through no special virtue of your own. So when you sing, sinj; with your heart, and with reverence. Team singing is a healthy and health giving exercise and is also one of the most “happifying” forme of exercise that I know. You never see scouts or guides at a camp fire singsong looking anything but cheery and. happy. THINK OF OTHERS. Then; too, through singing you can bring pleasure Into the lives of people who do not have as good a time as you yourselves have, especially at such a holiday time as this, we can be thinking out and planning the extra special good turns which you are going to do. I would urge every scout and guide who has any voice at all to isc it to the best advantage and for the happiness of as many people as possible. • In this way it will bring true happiness to its owner.