The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-08-31

: inefflciency? Should not teacher do- ing honest work be a all times ready for inspectlon? As regards the general situation, we have every reason to feel | encouraged in our Work. The grand army of adult pupils who have gradu- ated with more or less ability to read music, having become parents, are now anxious to have musical instruction perpetuated for the benefit of their chil- dren. Educational associations, both state and national, have accorded mu- sical exercises and discussions a place in their progress. More and more, as the years go by, will come an increas- ed demand for competent teachers and best methods.
 Ours is a profession by itself, with possibilities extending far beyond our immediate vision. Our pupils are as a thousand to one of those in any other department of musical instruction, and while we take comfort in the assur- ance of a large opportunity, we must not forget the responsibility that goes with 1t. May these conditions be per petual stimlus to aid us in fulfilling our grandest ideals and highest concep- tions of the work entrusted to our keeping! Is it too much to hope that power which is so wonderfully adapt ed to all ages, capacities and employ ments, shall ere long be recognized by legislative enactments as legitimate study in public schools throughout the land? Tn conclusion, fellow teachers, be it ours to labor faithfully and con scien tiously in moulding the material of the sublime future, and in laying the foundation of a musical structure in this fair land of ours, which shall be the admiration of the world and the lasting monument to supervisors of music in the public schools of Amer ica.
 The address of MT Howard was on sight singing, drills and practice. MT. Howard advoca ted it for the following reasons:
 of development.
 2-It is an application in music teaching. It is true that the practice of scales and intervals as a prepara- ton for note singing in general in this country and in England, but our scale drill is of recent growth, or rather is the elaboration of recent development. The bulk of musical teaching, however, to- day and previously is and has been built upon the melody form. In Ger many the state names as an object of musical study Ito awaken a sense of melody"
 3-The use of melody as a basis for sight singing is of gramma tical and of musical significance. Formerly reading was taught by instructing the pupil in the alphabet. This has been trans formed There have been great changes in the methods of teaching English, and teachers of music can study the idea and not the words. Groups of notes have no excuse for being useless, they express thought, and thoughts in music is a tune or a melody.
 Distract yourself from the idea that all melodies are and must be express ed in too complex form for little chill dren to sing a sight, Start with a song of four or eight measures, using only two or three pitches. Develop the subject from this point gradually and with as liberal a use of common sense as the teacher of reading employs, and soon the pupils will be as conscious of the melody they are singing as more advanced pupils can possibly be.
 "A complete recollection of the tune consists in mentally rehearsng 1t. It is then an instantaneous act, but also a series of progressive and connected states of consciousness. I am speak ing, of course, of the ability of one to do this who has the musical power. h. tervals should be learned as they oc- cur in series of co-ordinated. connect ed sounds-that ls-melody. They are then like words in a sentence.
 Fourth-Melody interests children. The order of presenting topics in edu- cation that will best conserve to ener- gies in the child is based on the fact that children are interested in new matters when they recall to something already known or experienced''