E. —2.

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APPENDIX J). REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSICAL EDUCATION. Sir, — Wellington, 25th August, 1927. I have the honour to present my report for the year ended 31st December, 1926. Music in Training Colleges. —I took up duties as Supervisor of Musical Education in the middle of April, commencing with visits to the Auckland Training College immediately on landing, and to Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin Training Colleges during May and June. Christchurch and Dunedin were visited again during October. In Auckland and Christchurch work was awaiting reorganization until such times as the newly appointed Lecturers in Music —Mr. H. Hollinrake, Mus.Bac., and Mr. T. Vernon Griffiths, Mus.Bac. — should arrive from England early in 1927. In Wellington and Dunedin the present arrangements are capable of improvement, and when it is practicable these two training colleges should be given the same facilities as are now possessed by Auckland and Christchurch. Visits to Schools, (fee.—-During the visits to Christchurch and Dunedin, each of which was extended to more than a week, I took every opportunity of addressing gatherings of teachers, students, School Committees, musical and other societies and clubs, and the general public on the value and use of music in life and education. At the training colleges I gave demonstration lessons to the students I visited as many schools as possible, in each centre, hearing the children sing, talking to them, and giving advice to the stalls. In Wellington I addressed the Teachers' Conference then meeting at the Dominion Farmers' Institute, and also lectured to them at the Victoria University College and to the students at the Training College. In July the Auckland Training College was again -visited and the students addressed. Other centres visited comprise Wanganui, Masterton, Ashburton, Timaru, Palinerston North, Oamaru, Martinborough, Marton, Invercargill, Gore, Picton, Blenheim, Havelock, Nelson, Takaka, Motueka, Collingwood, and Levin, in each of which the teachers, and often the general public, were addressed and schools visited. Everywhere I have found great interest and enthusiasm, and the keenest desire to improve the standard of school music. Condition of School Music.—The music in the schools shows lack of organization and guidance, the chief weaknesses being (a) neglect of instruction in sight singing ; (b) lack of connected instruction throughout the standards ; (c) faulty methods of voice-training ; (d) poor choice of music, without definite aims ; (e) insufficient time devoted to music ; (/) a narrow outlook upon school music and general unawareness of its possibilities; (g) inability of teachers to play the piano, and scarcity of instruments. Handbook of Music.—ln order to meet the needs of teachers I have, therefore, written a special comprehensive handbook of instruction. It is hoped that this will be printed and circulated to the schools about the end of 1927. It comprises (a) general advice ; (b) a complete scheme of instruction in voice-training, ear-training, elementary rhythmical work, theory and sight singing, use of the gramophone, encouragement of musical invention, and a list of songs to form the foundation of instruction ; (c) a graded list of songs suitable for extending the school repertoire; (d) a chapter on musical form (design) ; (e) tables of reference for the correlation of music with the teaching of literature, history, and geography. This has involved a very considerable amount of time, thought, and research. Books, Articles, and Correspondence.—l have arranged for the supply of musical books helpful to teachers to the libraries at the Wanganui Education Board Office and Christchurch and Auckland Training Colleges. Articles on school music have been regularly contributed to the Education Gazette, songs published therein, and a considerable quantity of correspondence has been dealt with giving special help to teachers. Much testimony has been received as to the help given through these last two channels. Vacation Courses of Lectures. —Arrangements were made to visit and give courses of lectures at the Cambridge summer school and New Plymouth refresher course in January, 1927. This work will be extended. Examinations in Music. —I investigated the examination system in the subject of music for the teacher's certificates, set the papers for 1926, examined in practical music at Wellington, and marked a large number of the papers. As a result of this investigation recommendations have been made for a change in the scope of the examination in order to make it of greater use. It is most desirable that opportunity should be given for specialization in music, particularly as regards infant work, in training colleges, and that this should be provided for in the musical examination. Gramophones and Pianos.—Gramophones and pianos tendered for supply to schools were examined and recommendations made.