PROGRESS OF MUSIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18404, 11 August 1931, Page 4

PROGRESS OF MUSIC.

IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS. PLAN FOR FUTURE WORK. A five-year plan is to be introduced into New Zealand. It is to be for the development of school music. It is to be left by Mr Douglas E. Tayler, retiring Director of School Music, who is going to California at the end of this month, after five years’ service in New Zealand. In a farewell message to teachers, he says that he Is leaving the details of his plan, and Intends to "Jog everyone's memory at the beginning of each year,” so that the successive steps for development may be taken. He does not give details of his plan, except that it is connected with si'ght singing, but he does give some / terestlng observations on the deve.._ ment of school music to date, and the necessity for carrying on the. work. Not Disappointed. He says he is not disappointed with the progress of school music, for he has had the satisfaction of seeing a sound foundation laid and a strong structure beginning to rise. “ Now that the training colleges have been musically organised, the scheme of school music issued, and the various other impulses given to the work, It is evident that what Is most needed is personal visits to the schools by musical advisers or inspectors, to see that the work is being carried out," he says. He expresses satisfaction with the growth of the Children's Theatre movement, under the auspices of the Amateur Arts Society in Wellington, and the hope that it will spread throughout the Dominion. He stresses the point that the work must be run on the right lines, and with actors who are prepared to throw themselves into the atmosphere of rollicking lun. Removing Awkwardness. “ I imagine young male actors will be hardest to find, judging by the awkward self-consciousness of some of our senior boys when they attempt anything of an artistic nature," he says. “ I often think plenty of school singing would remove a lot of this youthful male awkwardness and encourage a more natural freedom of Imaginative expression." He refers, also, to the school music festival movement, and the weekly educational broadcast. Concerning the instrumental classwork, he remarks: " The most noticeable development of this Is In Mr T. Vernon Griffith's organisation in Christchurch, with its 1500 pupils and annual festival.” Mr Tayler Is of the opinion that school music can no longer be considered the Cinderella of school subjects except that she is on her way to the Prince’s palace.