MUSIC IN DOMINION.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18946, 16 May 1933, Page 8

MUSIC IN DOMINION.

THE STANDARD HIGH.

COMPETITIONS JUDGE’S VIEWS. Chatting at Christohuroh on musio generally .and on the -competitions particularly, Mr F. Wentworth Slater, of Wanganui, judge of vocal and instrumental contests at the Christchurch Musical Competitions, advanced the opinion that the capacity of the average student in New Zealand Is at least equal to -the standard In the Old -Country, and, considering the relative population, it might well be said to be higher.

Mr Slater said that he was well pleased with the contests he had judged. The -standard of performance was high, and in some sections of the vooal competitions particularly 'high. There were one or two outstanding voices. In the pianoforte classes the average of performance was very high, and there were -some performers whose work reaohed almost to a standard of virtuosy. That of course, was an indication that the ■teaching generally 'must be on sound llneS.

Appreciation of the Olasslos,

He commented on the evidence of appreciation of classical work among the young competitors, which was a commendable feature. He had never seen so many young people before showing.a partiality for the classics, and It was most pleasing to note that they were showing real appreciation and understanding.

In some of the vocal competitions Imagination was lacking a little, and In many cases a higher standard would be reached if the singers would allow their imagination to have much freer play. There was an attempt to attain the form rather than the spirit, and competitors, in striving to be technically exact -sometimes missed the atmosphere and spirit of a song. This, of course, brought one back to the teaching, for if the teacher lacked imagination that lack would be shown in the pupil’s singing unless the pupil possessed the intuitive faculty to make the most of a song. He observed, in passing, that the soprano section this week was really wonderful although the competitors had a very hard -song.

Gramophone and Radio.

Talking of the effect of gramophone and radio in developing -musical appreciation, Mr Slater voiced the opinion that the effect was a good one because gramophone and radio gave opportunity of hearing -good performances of good works. Visits to the Dominion of first-class artists were comparatively rare, and they left more or less of -a fleeting impression. Radio and gramophone, however, had made it possible for the people of the Dominion to hear the best artists as often as they wished, and ho thought -that through the opportunity thus provided the standard of appreciation must bo raised.

Makers of records did not produce high-class recordings just for the fun of produlcng them, and such records were being bought and appreciated, which must have a beneficial effect on serious students in any branch of music.

Teaching In Schools.

Mr Slater thought that when times were better New Zealand might with good results follow the lead given by his native country, Wales, in the teaching of music lo school children. In Wales, lie said, every child is taught music in the 1 schools by the tonic sol fa system. They learned to read music, which was a fine asset to them in later years. The effect of this was most noticeable to the visitor when he was attending religious services. in the Welsh Nonconformist Churches there was no choir. The whole congregation was the choir, and, being able to read music, part singing in its fullest sense was indulged in, with a most profound and stimulating effect upon the visitor.

There was, he thought, a real and growing appreciation of music in New Zealand, and ’so far as tho present competitions were concerned lie was very pleased with what lie had heard.