STUDENTS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AT MUSIC SCHOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 May 1950, Page 4

STUDENTS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AT MUSIC SCHOOL

Keenness and enthusiasm by the students and teachers has been the feature of the vacation music school, which is being held at the New Zealand Friends’ School, St. John's Hill, under the auspices of the Regional Council of Adult Education, Victoria University College. The director (Professor Vernon Griffiths) said on Tuesday the students were doing very well indeed. He said that even a half-a-day’s instruction made n great difference because of the intensive work that was being done. “These leadership schools,” said Dr. Griffiths, "introduce to the students the actual type of works to take back to their pupils.” Students are taking music which they will take back to beginners and at the same time are trying to obtain as high a standard as possible. Dr. Griffiths said all courses have their support. Practically all the students are taking choral work. Good support has been forthcoming for the orchestral groups and the male and female voice choirs. Great interest has also been taken in folk dancing. Asked why folk dancing was included in the syllabus of the music school, Dr. Griffiths replied that this was because so much of our music for the instrument comes from folk music, folk song and folk dancing. Later on students will concentrate on various types of classical music. Tonight students will give a demonstration concert in the Opera House. Dr. Griffiths said the school has not been working up to provide an out and out concert. It was being held to let the public see what the school is doing and aiming at. The concert programme has been framed to provide something for all people with varying musical tastes. More than 80 students, representative of all walks of life, are attending the school. Among those attending the school are four nuns from the Sacred Heart Convent, St. John’s Hill. The nuns are very keen members of the choir and have taken a great interest in making and playing bamboo pipes. A Catholic priest is also studying at the school. Others at the school include a farmer, a pensioner, housewives, two sixth form pupils from Hawera Technical High School, a radio technician, music students, music teachers, school teachers, university and training college students. Five Maoris selected by the Catholic mission in Taranaki and the council's Maori tutor are among the enthusiastic students. Most of the students are living in at the school, and, as can be imagined, catering is one of the biggest items. The council's tutor-organiser, Mr L. M. H. Cave, of Wanganui, yesterday. paid tributes to the staff and expressed appreciation of the board of governors in placing the school at the council's disposal. Making bamboo pipes has attracted great interest from the students. Approached by a reporter, one bamboo pipe enthusiast said this was the third music school he had attended, but many had come to a school for the first time. This enthusiast had made a number of pipes and the time he now takes is about three hours. The main appeal of the pipes, he said, was their purity of tone and their value of training the ear. When making these pipes the musician has to tune them himself. In addition, pipes are valuable for children. Another reason why pipes are popular is due to the pleasure obtained out of making one's own instrument. Bamboo pipe playing in England has a large following. Enthusiasts belong to the Pipers’ Guild, for which the great composer Vaughan Williams has written music. To make the Instrument. all that is needed is bamboo and a piece of cork. However, much patience and skill Is needed before one is an accomplished pipemaker. • Another interesting feature of the music school has been the violin technique gained by students, some of whom have never touched a violin before. About eight, students were chosen for a violin class, the only qualification being that they had not used a violin before in their life. The tutor was out to prove that, class tuition gives nothing away to private tuition in merit. It was not until the third instruction that the students drew a long bow on each of the notes. However, the technique of these inexperienced students is remarkable and some of them give the appearance that they have been playing for many years. Although these learners are only playing on open strings they are basically right and their experience will be of great value for when they leave the school and teach otherpeople The school will conclude on Friday when the main event, will he a lecture on "The Basic Principles nnd This School’s Achievements,” by Dr. Griffiths.