BABY PLAYS BY EAR.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXII, Issue 32, 20 February 1935, Page 3

BABY PLAYS BY EAR.

Three child prodigies, whose ages range from five to seven years, are said to have been discovered at recent examinations by Professor Harold Davies, professor of music at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. ‘ ‘ Audrey White, ” he said, ‘ ‘ is scarcely five. This little baby had to be lifted on to the music stool. A grand piano was quite strange to her; but that did not matter. There she sat for a minute in perfect silence. Then followed a recital of seven varied pieces which I asked for in turn. The child does not know the name of a single note; she has had no teaching, but just plays easily and by ear the things that her mother teaches to other pupils. “Mrs White says that at 13 months Audrey sang the melody of the Finale of Beethoven’s Sonata in F major. At three and a half she actually played before an audience, besides 'conducting four boys who performed a Moskowski Valse on two pianos. She specially loves the music of Bach. Then there is Bren ton Langbein, aged six, who in May passed with credit in grade VI., violin, after three terms of study, and last month secured honors in grade V. Alison Nelson, whom it was my own good fortune to examine, is 7i years old. Fourteen months ago she could not even read music, yet now she gains honors in grade IV., which is usually undertaken by children of nearly twice her age. ’ ’