The Detroit times., 1911-04-20
SCHOOL MUSIC
BELIEVED FAULTY
Singing Teachers, in Convention,
Feel That Pupils Get Little Real
Practical knowledge of Subject.
CHARLES BROOKS

Dcspile the Iact tnat music ID
taught universally in the public
schools OF America, and that expen-
sive supervisors OF music are main
talned In most cities. the consensus
OF opinion expressed, Thursday morn
Ing, in the Music Supervisors Nation.
al conference, now In session in the
Hotel Pontchartrain convention hall,
was that, in the main, little real prac-
tical knowledge Of music Is gained by
the child. A spirited discussion was
evoked by a paper on Harmony for
grammar grades and high schools
read by w. A. White. Of Northwestern
university, Evanston, Ill. Prof White
contended that the child should be
taught the fundamental principles OF
music from the earliest grades up
wards, and said there was too great
a tendency to merely teach public
school pupils song singing"
If pupils entering our colleges had
as little definite knowledge of other
subjects as they have OF music, fol-
lowing public school course, the,
would be ridiculed," declared Prof.
White. IL don't believe In methods.
in the sense of employing weird
means of trying to impart musical
knowledge to the childish mind. Why
teach them things they will never
ultimately meet with I'm the serious
study Of music? The staff Is the
thing TO teach them, and the genuine,
fundamental principles of music, not
lot OF baiderdash that doesn't mean
anything at all. Some great philos-
opher said. TO appreciate, one must
reason. think and compare To ap-
preciate music, one must have knowl-
edge, and | say that In order to give
children an intelligent idea OF the
subject Of music, as one tries to OF
history, mathematics, grammar and
other subjects In public school cur
riculum, there must be taught funda-
mental principles. Music In a school
ject, and should be treated as such,
taught rs such, and the pupils will
accept 1t as seriously as they do any
other subject"
Prof. White found many supporters
of his views, one Of the most able
talks on the matter coming from Mrs.
Parker, supervisor, Of Cleveland, o.
1T is charming to hear the senti-
ment expressed that a child should
be taught to sing naturally, just like
the birds but, II must be remembered
that the birds make IL the business
OF their young lives to sing, while
children are meant for other pur-
poses than to carol blithely through
life," said Mrs. Parker. When we
hear a great artist spoken OF as
singing like a Bird we know that
back OF the bird-like voice Is techni-
cal knowledge and training, the re-
suit Of years OF hard study and wors.
II has always been a mystery to me
why the theory should be accepted.
that, in teaching music to public
school pupils or children anywhere.
the methods employed OF imparting
fundamental principles Of other sub
jects should be thought not the thing
to apply to this subject. What's the
use OF teaching anything except with
the thought OF imparting correct and
useful knowledge? Children should
be taught the technical principles or
music, from the earliest years"
Mrs. Parker's speech was frequently
interrupted by applause from those
present, men and women supervisors
OF music from all over the country
TO the number OF hundred or more
Prof. White and his adherents, how
ever. had considerable opposition, and
Edwin 3. Birge. OF indianapolis. pres
ident of the conference. permitteG
sides 10 have the floor.
The delegates we're in convention.
Wednesday, although routine business
largely occuDied the morning hours
and the remainder of the day was
devoted TO visiting the schools OF the
city and 10 listening TO programs by
children gathered in the Central high
auditorium.
The interesting feature OF Thursday
afternoons meeting. was a talk on
THE boy voice." by FIR. Finn, director
OF the Paulist choirs of Chicago.
which he illustrated with two OF his
own choir boys. Fr. Finn and his
fine choir were in Detroit last fall.
when their concerts in Holy Rosary
church attracted much interest and
favorable comment
An automobile tour OF the city was
one OF the late afternoon entertain
ments planned for the delegates. a
reception and musicale will be given
Thursday evening. In the convention
hall OF the hotel rendered the con-
vention visitors and their friends b.
Detroit musicians.
The convention will continue