El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-28

Z" HE thirty-third annual meeting OF
the Music Teachers National as
ISOLATION, now in session at Ann
Arbor, Michigan, has called over 500
members gathered from 40 states. The
association this year is giving special
/ consideration to various means by
which the standard of music in America
| may be more Uniform and the qualifica-
lions of music teachers improved.
The association believes this last OBJ
| ject can be secured only by legal GER
tificatiOn of music teachers throughout
/ the whole country, and efforts to bring
| this about are being actively pushed.
| Already bills have been presented to the
/ legislatures Of Michigan and California
/ while in other states similar action is
I being considered. The bill before the
I Michigan legislature provides that no
! teacher shall be permitted to teach
music in any town or township VINO mas
not had at least five years experience,
I or is in possession Of a certificate Of
| qualification signed by a board Of mu-
steal examiners properly qualified BY
that state. The California bill makes
! special provision for the registration OF
teachers who have had three years ex-
| perience, and for the examination Of
! those who have been teaching success
fully for less time than that.
To License Music Teachers.
Several Of the states are considering
a law which viii place the license for
the music teacher on a basis similar to
that Of the public school teacher. Under
these conditions, examinations for mu-
sic teachers certificate will be conduct
ed under the direction of the depart
ment Of public education by properly
qualified persons appointed for that
purpose. The qualifications OF this
state board Of musical examiners is at
present a debated question.
Many music teachers rely upon a d.
ploma for their credentials of ability.
When this is given by reputable musi-
cal institutions, it is reliable. But there
are many sOcalled musical conservato-
ries in the country, which issue SNOWY
diplomas to persons who have perhaps
taken only few weeks lessons, en-
aiding them to render some effective
composition with certain facility, but
who are unacquainted with the first
principles of real music. On the other
hand there are a great many excellent
music teachers capable Of giving prop
er instruction OF advanced grade, who
cannot show any kind Of a diploma from
a musical school
Music IN Universities.
Another matter connected with the
status Of music in the United States IS
the increased attention given to the
subject on the part Of the universities
and colleges. Until within the past
decade the department Of music in most
OF the American colleges and universe
ties had small Importance, If indeed II
existed at all. Music had not been
looked upon as a science TO be carefully
studied, but rather as an accomplish
ment which might easily be dispensed
with Now, however. this attitude is
changing, and the music students OF
the university are taken quite as seri-
ously as the students In any other de-
partmentl Of work
Women students have long desired to
make music count as a part of the work
towards college degree, but in most
cases this privilege has been denied.
Prominent educators are now coming to
the point Of acknowledging that If a
uniform standard Of musical attain
ment could be agreed upon, there IS no
reason why college girl should not be
permitted to substitute work IN music
for advanced mathematics OF some other I
subject in which she takes no especial
Interest, and that this concession would
not in any way lower the value OF the
college degree.
Such an arrangement, however. can
not be made until the higher institu-
tons Of music have agreed upon a uni
form standard Of requirement. When a
certain amount OF work is accepted as
obligatory for each years study and a
pupil in music IS required to qualify in
the same manner as in mathematics Z
this standard will Be secured, and it is
the greatest object toward which the ef-
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are working.
Women the Leaders.
The musical development Of America
Is to large extent dependent upon the
women. The prepOnderance Of women
as music teachers is even greater than
that Of school teachers, whereas the ra-
ito Of music students among the school
children in the United States IS equiva-
lent to u girls TO one boy. Consequent I
~, much of the agitation regarding leg
islation for musical standards is being
Instituted through the Women's organ |
izatiOns In Ohio, a wOman's musical
club has lately formulated a schedule [
Of musical work for school children
from the fourth to the eighth grade [
which is now receiving the favorable I
attention Of the Ohio Music Teachers {
association. 1t win be suggestive Of.
the standard OF musical work desired by 4
the music teachers Of that state. With I
this as q foundation the grades OF mu- /
sic through the different schools can be I
systematized TO the end of the univer /
sity course, which gives the degree Of I
doctor of music.
The Music Teachers National asso- {
citation practically holds the same /
place in the musical Development Of the
country that the National Educational I
association holds in the development /
Of public education. Many Of the men, }
bers of the National Educational asSO-
citation are also members Of the Music 4
Teachers National association, and they 4
organizations towards their movement [
for the uniformity Of musical standards, /
just as the uniformity Of the require
ments Of the public school curriculum
has been secured.
Should be Cooperation.
It is considered important that there
be close cooperation between the 1
school worker and the music teacher.
While vocal music is a recognized part
of the public school curriculum, the in
strumental music teacher though out
side of the school, needs to get closely
in touch with all the school work of the
child and to arrange the musical stud
les to harmonlze. In the development
of vocal music, it is felt that there
should also be cooperation between the
schools and the church, where children
are required to sing in chOirs and sun
day school. The Music Teachers asso-
citation is now giving much attention to
the development Of church and school
music. In this connection il has been
making some interesting Investigations
with reference to the voice conditions OF
boys. The theory that boys voices are
lower in pitch than those OF
girls has been proved erroneous. Up TO
the period of the change Of voice, a
boys voice may take quite a high notes