The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-28
MERGER OF SCHOOL AND
MUSIC TEACHERS PROPOSED
Latter Body Will Name Com
mittee to Look Into the
Matter

When the question OF affiliation with
the Michigan Public School Teachers
association for the holding Of the an
uual meeting came up In the business
session OF the Michigan Music Teach
ers association convention, Thursday
morning, In the First Unitarian
church, II precipitated a spirited dis
cussion. which ended in motion be
ing passed 10 have q committee ap
pointed by the president look into the
matter further and report fully 10 the
1912 convention in Lansing.
III our joining the public school
teachers in convention will help pub
lie school music then by all means lei
Us do IT," said Miss Alice May Harrah
"Children's voices are being ruined by
the present system OF public schoo
singing. The majority Of the teachers
who are expected TO devote a certain
portion OF the school day 10 teaching
this subject cannot carry the simplest
tune in their heads. Children are
made, not taught. TO sing In the public
schools. The fault does not lie with
teachers but with the system. dare
say not one OF the teachers nov
obliged to hold singing class in thu
school rooms, but would welcome re
lease from the task"
Others entering into the discussion
| felt the music teachers association
would be lost in the larger organiza
ton This view was held by the ma
jority, especially as the association
has received tremendous impetus IL
membership during the Detroit con
yention, the active membership hav
ing increased in the past two days
from 143 to 3S6.
II was voted TO increase the dues u
81 for active members and 81 TO
associate members, TO place the asso
citation on a better financial basis
The membership committee for 191.
was appointed as follows: Marshal
Pease, Mrs. Louise Unsworth Cragi
and Frederic Alexander, all Of De
| trcit.
Round table discussions for organ
lists, theory and composition, and sins
lug teachers were held simultaneous
| ly, a fact that met with some adyers
criticism from the rank and file Q
delegates who expressed themselge
as anxious TO hear all three.
| 1t is said that to give more time Z
papers and discussions the association
officers will take up the advisabilit
OF cutting down the concert part
the convention programs TO evening
only, giving over the morning and ar,
ernoons to business sessions.
In the department for vocal teacf
ers, Thursday morning, Mrs. Eleano
Hazard Peocock read witty and II
teresting paper on The singing teach
or as a faddist." Mrs. Peocock pre-
sented, In a highly amusing manner
the various alleged systems OF voic
culture and a collection OF theories
rut into actual practice by vocs
teachers, that would seem TO max
plausible the unfortunate hallucins
tons OF the mentally unsound. Mri
Peocock summed up her paper in thi
way I'm no other branch OF must
are there such tragedies, the result 9
false instruction, as in vocal teacf
| ing. /"
While the round table discussion
were on In adjoining parlors, Mis-
Elsa Marshall, soprano. OF Cincinnati
visitor In Detroit, acceding to vi
gent request, gave much pleasure {
dozen or SO persons In the mai
body of the church, by singing grou
of songs, 10 the admirable accompan
ments OF Miss Leona Troy. Miss MAJ
shall has recently returned from stud
in Europe. Her voice Is flexible an
clear soprano and she sings wit
good style and artistry.