Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-19
MUSIC IN SCHOOLS
IS ABLY ORGANIZED
Professor Todd Has Made
Musical Department Eff
cient And Enjoyable.

The builders of empires and institu-
tions have always been men of dreams.
The man at the head Of the Salem pub
lie school system has had vision of
Salem as one of the great (if not the
greatest) musical center of Oregon. He
is laying the foundation for its realiza-
tion by organizing the musical element
in the public schools until it hes risen
from the position of q mere chest-de-
veloper to stabilized cultural factor
in the curriculum.
Time was when fifty-odd teachers in
as many departments took q fraction of
a period each day, turned musical in
structor to the best of her ability and
gave the young idea a round OF vocal
instruction. This served to break into
the monotOny of regular study and it
expanded the lungs; but it was rough
on the laws Of acoustics and the young
idea didn't get anywhere in musical de-
velopment.
Recently the reporter interrupted the
orbit of Superintendent Todd, put few
leading questions and exsrac,eu some
interesting information. 1t went to
show that during the three years or his
administrator the musical work has un-
dergone a metaorphosis, expanded its
scope and become a fascination to the
pupils. In former years the work was
carried on under the direction of one
supervisor and one special teacher
situation that suggested setting of
fifteen Brahma eggs under Leghorn
pullet. Today there is one supervisor
past master in the art--and nine spe-
cial teachers Of music-one in the High
School and one in each Of the element
ary schools. In the High School and
Junior High School the pupils are given
forty-five minutes of instruction each
day, and in the grade schools they are
given twenty minutes a day, the time
being divided between voice culture,
note reading and musical literature.
Music Rooms Provided.
Several music rooms are provided,
equipped with pianos, victrolas and a
collection Of standard works on music.
A certain amount Of time is allotted
to each class each week to be spent IN
the music room where the pupils may.
either absorb musical photography or lis
ten to the world s masterpieces from
the victrola. 1t need not be stated that
these rooms are popular resorts, and
that the periods Of instruction are
among the brightest spots in the day s
round.
Regarded specifically, the immediate
conclusion is that all this must make
tremendous addition to the cost Of
maintenance. 1t sounded like a demon-
stration Of the fourth dimension of
space, but Superintendent Todd has the
figures to show that while there has
been grand increase of scope and ef-
ficiency, there has been no apprcciable
increase in expense, over the old ordr,
since by the system of organization in
the elementary schools it has been pos
sible to put in musical instructor
without increasing the number of ele-
mentary teachers. Thus, from the third
grade through the eighth grade the pu-
pills have the services Of music teach
er, and are not only learning vocalising
Dub thV VI ihuolts l. hC iO7
suits of this modern plan are plainly
visible, not only in the addeo in,uiett
but in the development Of latent abil-
ity. One has only to visit one of the
buildings during the training period, or
to hear a number from the giri's clorus
to note the effect of exact training.
There is more or less real talent among
the pupils and it is safe to predict that
in many instances the training they re-
ceive will lay the foundation for fu-
ture musical careers, Added to this is
the actual cultural effects which can
not be estimated by results.
From general survey Of the situa-
ton it is easy to credit the statement
that the Salem schools, in musical train
ing, are On a par with, if not superior
to, any institutions in the state.