The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-11-24
HARMONY THE ).
LIFE PRINCIPLE

knows a musical air or melody by a GER
tain name (and to objectify Is about the
only way by which to reach the child
mind during early years., 1t will be quite
out of the question to call this same
piece by another name-the child will re-
gard such as gross infringement on his
right, for 1t recognizes these tunes as
part of its personal property, and this of
course may not be tampered with.
THESE tunes should be piayed with all
the hghtness, freedom, grace, or gnlgy
aud breadth, according 10 the ci1ardctei
Of the composition, thus kindilng the
Imagination OF the chic, p. ooucnis exn4i-
ara .Ion and buoyancy. 1t is not advis-
able to help their imaginat on a4ong too
much by oral descriptions, for the chilG
becomes dependent upon your story, ana
its concrete picture, SO 10 speak, is So
V1VIu that IL ceases to absorb otherwise.
There are times, of course, when this IL
a great help in keeping ther interest
alive. The lyric or song element is di-
rectly perhaps the most useful in musical
kinder garten work, and gives wide scope
for intelligent an-pulation. A song
should always be sung-not talked
harmony, rhythm and melody are lost
sight of when this broken detached ele-
ment steps in.
This can be easily overcome, though,
by drawing simple arched line on the
board and a detached one beneath it. Max
ing some allusion to these different modes
OF singing generally brings about intelh-
gent recognition.
When the English language is used Gin
the Hawaiian il would be impossible)
there Is another illustration equally ef-
fective. Speak a sentence fuently (Which
represents the melodic or musical and
then repeat this sentence in this afore-
said broken. detached way. The ridicu-
icusness nearly always makes a lasting
impression on the child. An explanation.
lxa off ,,.ft1 .ll
means are exhausted; it is our last re-
sort
Refinement and surety should always
go hand in hand in whateverfis done.
Coarseness should never be permitted,
and this is by means simple matter
for in marches and military steps, dIgni-
ty, strength and precision are often lost
sight of and wild stampede is the re-
suit. A kindergarten director who has an
assistant capable of observing all this il
indeed blessed.
Wonders have been accomplished in this
town of mixed races, and the mother of
this movement here has full reason to be
proud of the result in the work which
her noble ambitions prompted her to un-
dertake.
No pains are spared by her and her
earnest co-workers to attain high de-
gree Of competency; still there is one
difficulty that causes much annoyance
the lack of properly trained musical as
sistants.
This is a serious matter-the profession
al musician can not be obtained-his time
is too valuable, and we often forced
to accept any player, however Inadequate
simply to have some one at the instru-
ment. A player who goes through her
task in a half-hearted, perfunctory sort
of way, or is slovenly, viii not do, and
ought not to be tolerated.; If she has not
enough enthusiasm to enter into the spirit
of her work, she has no right among
children.
1t was not so long ago when successful
kindergartnering was measured by the
quantity of papers cut into and so
many forms, or pin-pricked designs ana
other materials fashioned into various
shapes, and at that time the musical ele-
ment meant little more than to sing a
few songs in an initiative way; but this
age of rapid progress soon wrought a
change in every department; the same
work may still be done but in a different
way and the real value of music's benefi-
cence on character building is also being
recognized more and more, and we must
not be behind the times Any one who
has little surplus time and strength can
use his or her musical ability most profit
ably by sharing ii with the little ones.
This Is noble work and one can fore
tell the limit of good it is destined TO car
"
such work.
Every Kindergarten director should be
musical, so that she can intelligently di-
rect her assistants, but In case this privi-
/ lege has been denied her, the best musi-
cal talent should be placed at her dis
: poSal, to even up matters.
: Now, how we are to get qualified musi-
cal assistants is the problem. Many girls
of certain class are talented in way,
but will be found unfit for progressive
: work; they have been spoiled by injudi-
cious praise and are no longer open to
suggestion, being blinded to their short
comings. 1 am not against expressing ap-
probation of worthy efforts, for this is
J not only commendable, but right and just
but should be quite sure that the
work is really meritorious before com
mending, for these girls do not under
; stand conversational platitudes, and
. swallow every word of praise uncondi-
tionally. There ought to be enough avail
[ able talent on the Islands to supply the
I. demand, but this talent may be undevel
oped and 1t would require some time be-
fore this could be used. Some way must
be devised to bring this to the front Lib.
eral inducements offered publicly in one
form or another, might arouse ambition
and competition; this would have to he
: tested. / am aware of several scholarship
students who are working in that direc
ton. but there are few points to be con.
/, sidered.
1t requires not only good intentions or
the part of the aspirant, but intelligence
and adaptabilty (a reasonable sense OF
: pitch and rhythm being taken for grant
] ed). Besides these natural attributes, IL
requires leisure for practice and rest. The
strain is considerably greater than the
iayman imagines-that is. IL satisfactory
results are to be gained speedily.
J During such period of preparation the
general responsibility of the young won.
an should be lightened as much as pos
! sible, for II her brain Is filed with innu-
merable problems of how to make ends
!, meet, the result will be disappointing even
: If she does devote three, four or even five
hours daily to her musical work
a A fund would make the realization OF
this desirable feature a possibility; i,
may not be feasible to give the various
: aspirants the fun benefit of such arrange.
ment at once, but something might and
ought to be done to raise the musica
r standard oftour kindergartens; the duty
z towards our children is sacred, and de
q mands it, and with such able philan.
4 thropic and earnest workers as are devot
: ing their attention to this cause now. &
n seems this difficulty might be easily over