The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-12-03


! have planned to carry out these
ideas and ideals by means of stand
ardiZed four years course suitable to
| high school needs We do not at
! tempt to cover the details of this
child are always consulted before We
adhere strictly to any one plan or
course. Then, too, we do not always
have the training of the children
from the start, and they sometimes
come to us with poor training, which
is often worse than none, or with
one side overly developed to the dis
paragement of the other sides of
their musical education.
In Tucumcari, we allow only one
half credit per year or one credit for
two years of piano and one year COM
bination courSe of Harmony and Mu-
steal History-two periods of har-
mony and one of musical history per
week. We also, give the pupils free
access to the glee club and orchestras
to further round out their musical
training.
We have high school orchestra
of thirteen pieces, consisting of two
first violins, one second violin, one
cello, one bass viol, first and second
comets, one flute, drums and piano.
This orchestra has been organized
for four years and has played for two
of your state meetings / believe.
They are quite capable, playing quite
heavy and difficult amateur numbers.
We have recently organized a
Junior orchestra, consisting of about
twenty-five pieces, out of which we
will be able to fill the vacancies made
from time to time in our Senior or
chestra. These orchestras have a
very good effect in the town as al
most every church and society has it's
small orchestra composed of players
trained in the High School and you
will find the entire community TAX
ing much more lively interest in
music than is generally found in a
town of the same size which has not
this atmosphere.
A glee club of twenty-four voices,
OF which we derive material for spec
ial work of any kind such as quar-
tettes, trios, Duets and solos, gives
excellent opportunity for those wish !
ing training in part work. AS much |
as is possible in class work, we will |
teach correct position, breathing,
voice-placing and care of the voice.
Music twice a week in fifth, sixth,
and seventh grades is also carried on.
Two teachers, one of piano and one /
of violin are able to handle these /,
various departments nicely.
Programs, concerts and informal
recitals give students opportunity to
~, haf <1,o% tel
not of the least Importance by any
means. When student can perform
even a short primary selection artis-
tically, he has proven beyond doubt
that music is of value. He has been
able to give back in pleasure to 9TH
ers, what he has gained in the studio.
AS to the practical value, any in
course trains the reason,
memory, eyes, ears and hands Can
we say that of any other subject?
believe not. If our subjects cover
one of these points of training we'll,
we consider it more than sufficient
for our course.
Sight reading as a phase of instru-
mental music is unequalled for train
ing quickness and accuracy of the
eye. we nave uOL one DuC many
points to grasp at one and the same
time. We must consider notes,
phrasing, harmonical intervals and
chords, rhythmic accent, tone quality
and marks of expression, all at once,
bringing into play, judgment, mem
Dry. quickness OF eye and ear To
produce, each point must be grasped
by the mind in order that it may
send it's command to the fingers,
wrist, forearm, as the case may be
for execution.
Memory is brought into good play
by having students commit selections
in order that their forces may be
spent on the rendition of them and
also, that they may appear to better
advantage in public
AS manual training and domestic
science trains the hand to execute &C
that which the eye has seen,
50 likewise does instrumental music,
and to an even greater extent. Exc
:ution must come more quickly to fol-