Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-05-03
CONCERNING MUSIC


This article follows up the one o
last week which had to do with inusi'
in the Salem public schools 1t
merely a sketch of the status quo Of
things as they are"
To Miss Lena Belle Tartar who ha.
charge Of the music In the three jun
ior high schools of the city. and who
does all the teaching in them. we are
indebted for the Interesting account OF
her work.
Last fall the powers that be fell In
line with the spirit of the times and
provided an instructor who would do
the ordinary chorus work and besides
this would organize u band and or
chcstra. This band and orchestra
work was practically new venture,
having been merely launched the pre-
ceding year by group of interested
students. Accordingly few players
could be found who had attained any
degree OF proficiency aud in order TO
get the work going anybody and every
body was encouraged to get an instru-
ment and get into the game. Incl
dentally we may say that the same
policy was pursued IN the vocal work.
In a school of coo pupils there ought
TO be a chorus of 100 or $50, and no
voice tests were waived and all com
ers were welcomed.
During the year the orchestra has
grown from IL members to "a, the
glee club from "a TO 60, and the band
from to 40. And the gratifying fea-
ture OF II all, Is that all but a very
small percentage Of the newcomers
have made good.
The band and gec club meet daily
and the orchestra three times week.
All periods are 40 minutes.
With the band only beginning work
is possible Representative pieces at
tempted by the chorus are "The Bridal
Chorus" Magic of Spring" stars
and Stripes Forever" and Italia"
The orchestra has worked out
number Of standard marches and semi
classics
music department that will rank fav-
orably with any other department of
the high school. In addition to the
courses here mentioned. we plan soon
TO offer courses in harmony and his
tory.
Music In the Junior High Schools.
The object OF the music work In the
junior high schools Is to create n love
for music and to obtain . spontaneous
free expression in singing. No attempt
is made to teach a great deal of the
technical phase of music; but an ef-
fort is made to make clear the inter-
pretatiOn OF song and in this way to
create interest.
This work IL combined with litera-
ture in n unique way, A recitation
period Is devoted half to singing and
half to reading. a reserve library of
Interesting story books Is maintained
from which each pupil has the privl-
legr of selecting a book to reach. The
pupil may De called upon at any time
TO give the complete title OF the book,
the authors name in full, and intelli-
gent account Of the story and its clas-
slfication.
The seventh grade music classes do
considerable work in part singing
Songs that are tuneful and rhythmical
are selected, care being used to have
them adapted to the season, the holi
day or other occasion. The folk songs
Of different countries form a part or
this work.
The eighth grade songs are nearly
all in unison. Some part singing is
done. Due to the changing of the
boys voices, best results are obtained
when all the pupils sing the same. The
adolescent boy often hesitates to ex-
press himself when he is singled out
to do Il certain part which shows the
quality of his voice in contrast. Many
of the selections used In this grade are
scored In the bass to teach reading In
that clef. The texts OF the song are
varied; some are patriotic, others arc
tho standard classics and number
are from operas, such as "Men OF Har-
lech." "Florian's Sing. "on Wing of
song" and "When All Was Young"
The work in both seventh and
eighth grades is varied by the use of
supplementary songs. The words of
some number that is popular but not
inferior In quality are copied on the
hoard and remain there one week, The
song is sung every day and in this
manner training Is given IN selecting
muc. Some of the supplementary
songs learned this year are; Dear Old
lai of Mmc," "Wnld irish Rose, I" i,
"That Wonderful Mother Of Mine"