Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-13
REMARKABLE MUSICAL
INSTRUCTION GIVEN IN
SCHOOLS OF ST. LOUIS

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washington. ID C.. April ii.--As
result OF the instruction in music
given in the public schools OF ST.
Louis, each graduate OF the high
schools OF that city Is familiar with
nifty grand opera choruses or selec.
lions from oratoriOs, In addition TO q
wide range Of less pretentiOus songs
OF merit. Thfs work, which Is OBJ
served with interest by officials OF the
United states bureau of education has
been carried on In its present form
for five years In the course Of this
time q great chorus OF $500 st. LOuiE
school children, accompanied by tho
Damrosch Symphony orchestra, sang
with great success selections from
classical competitions and music Of
the highest character. Several or
cheBtrachoral concerts have been
given Jointly with the st. Louis Sym
phony orchestra, the vocal pieces be-
ing divided equally among three chor-
uses OF about 400 children each.
Among the composers represented IN
the repertoire OF the st. Louis school
children are Wagner. Oifenbach, Bee
thoven. Mendeissohn, Gounod, Verdi
Grieg and Costa.
Tae supervisor OF music instruction
In the ST. Louis public schools said,
"As early as tire seventh grade chill
dren are given selectiQns from the
easier arrangements or oratories and
grand operas. and from music OF a
like character, and training in such
choruses Is continued through the
high school. In this way we inculcate
love and understanding of classical
music with such good effect that
among the 10000 school children OF
81 Louis there are few advanced pup
lis who would not much rather sing
fine music than rag time, However,
we shall not be satisfied TIL the chil-
dren are brought TO the point where
they will understand and enjoy SYM
phony music, training IN which 10
very nearly the ultima Thule OF the
music lovers education. Al The pres
ent rate of prograss, the children
ought to reach this stage OF music Gull
lture IN five years"
/ ANY child can be taught to sing.
said Mr. El l. COburn, supervisor OF
music, III the teacher will simply
| play or sing the strain often enough
In company with him. THAT is the
basic principle on which wo work.
the child Is started 10 singing by sing-
ing &c him. not By making him learn
the scale In the end, technique comes
10 him easily, almost unconsciously.
with the result that the new method
Of teaching singing By singing act
ually develops moro sight readers of
music than did the old method OF
teaching Singh by psacticing the
scale"
| 1.-The work which Is being done IN
music IN the 81. Louis schools may
be regarded as Of wide importance.
said James G. Boykin. the editor OF
the United states bureau OF educa-
tion. yesterday, by reason OF the fact
that Il Is "A conspicuous example o.
the truth that the potential musical
ability OF the American people Is
practically as great as Is that OF any
other nation. requiring nothing moro
than training to bring Il out. The
absence OF a general forward move
ment in musical education among ,he
! schools OF this country has been a
matter Of concern 60 this bureau,
/ walch therefore welcomes All the
more cordially the excellent work
done IN the 81. Louis schools. That
the arts directed 10 the ear make a
deeper cmolional appeal than do
those directed solely to the eye can
hardly be questioned. ana there is
no disputlng the conclusion that our
children must be trained 20 l0vo
music. TO crave a., and 20 produce Il,
II they arc 10 arrive at a fully round
cd maturity"