The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-11
SINGING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Chorus of $500 st. Louis Children In
operate and OratOrio Music.

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
fifty grand opera choruses or selec-
lions from oratorios, in addition to a
wide range Of less pretentious songs
Of merit. This 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 a great chorus of $500 St. Louis
school children, accompanied by the
Damrosch Symphony Orchestra, sang
with great success selections from
classical compositions and music e the
highest character. Several orchestral
choral concerts have been given joint
ly with the st. Louis Symphony Or
chestra, the vocal pieces being divided
equally among three chorus Of about
400 children each. Among the COM
posers represented IN the repertoire Of
the st. Louis school children are Wag-
ner, Offenbach,. Beethoven, Mendels-
sohn, Gounod, Verdi, Grieg, and Cos
ia.
The supervisor Of music instruction
in the st. Louis public schools said:
"As early as the seventh grade chill
dren are given selections from the
easier arrangements of oratortes and
grand operas, and from music Of a
like character, and training in such
high school. In this way we incul-
cate a love and understanding Of clas-
steal music with such good effect that
among the $4,000 school children Of St.
Louis there are few advanced pupils
who would not much rather sing fine
music than rag-time. However, we
shall not be satisfied till the children
are brought to the point where they
will understand and enjoy symphony
music, a training in which Is very
nearly the ultima thule Of the music
lovers education At the present rate
of progress, the children ought to reach
this stage Of music culture in five
years. :.
ANY child can be taught to sing"
said Mr.. e. L. Coburn, Supervisor OF
Music, 'if the teacher will simply play
or sing the strain often enough In
company with him. That is the basic
principle on which we work-the child
Is started to singing by singing to him
not by making him learn the scoe
In the end, technique comes to him
easily, almost unconsciously. with the
result that the new method OF teach
ing singing by singing actually devel-
OBS more sight-readers OF music than
did the old method Of teaching sing
ing by practising the scale"
'Ia9 WORK WHICH ID OOAA1B oOAAO IA
music. in the st. Louis schools may
be regarded as OF wide Importance, >
said James G. Boylzin. the Editor OF
the United States Bureau OF Educat1on
Yesterday, 'by reason Of the fact that
it is a conspicuous example Of the
truth that the potential musical ability
of the American people is practically
as great as is that Of any other ma
tion,, requiring nothing more than
training to bring It out: The alb
sence Of a general forward movement
in musical education among the
schools of this country has been
matter Of concern to this Bureau,
which therefore welcomes all the more
cordially the excellent work done In
the st. Louis schools. That the arts
directed to the ear make deeper
emotional appeal than do those direct
ed solely to the eye can hardly be
ouestioner, and there Is no d'sputing
the conclusion that our children must
be trained to love music, to crave 1t,
and to produce it, If they are to ar
rive at a fully rounded maturity"