The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-20
MONTEVALLO

Montevallo, February 19-( Special .)-The
 first annual conference of the music teachers of Alabama went into session in Montevalo yesterday, with C. R. Cal kins of Montevallo in the chair and Miss
 Myrtle Lowe of Huntsville acting as Secretary.
 MT Calkins in his opening remarks spoke of the aims and purposes of this meeting. that it is time that the music fraternity of this state show their earn estness and belief in music as an edu- catlonal factor, and it's right to be recog- niZed as major subject in our schools. and that we should, at this meeting, make some definite plans that can be sub mitted to the state board of education The first speaker, Mrs. c. J. Sharpe or Birmingham, gave a most delightful talk on the early history of music in Alabama. Her audience was fascinated by her vivid word painting. She told of the romantic beginnings of music in this state and in Ter closing remarks she reminded them that music in Alabama is on the threshold of the greatest develop ment in it's history: that we are now, at this time, attuned to music. In the Past Alabama has not honored her c~@-n musicians IS she should. but we are learning to do that. The keynote of this conference must be harmony for the key note of all music is harmony
 Mrs Sharpe was followed by Mrs De- car Hundley of Birmingham, who tal>ed on tie Aims of the Alabama Federation of Clubs" Mrs. Hundley's speech was most aluable and rendered in her usual charming manner. She spoke of the growth of the national federation idea, and gave the history of that work in this state. Alabama has thirty music clubs with about 3.000 members. She re- minded her audience that organized eff fort makes for success always. That the federation was studying the folklore of cur state. as well as fostering coupoSi- ton. It hopes to have music depart n,ent in every library in the state It is working for system of music credits in the schools. She said that any state or gsnization of teachers should affiliate with the federation that we might work together to make music the most con spicuous part of our national life. That the federation hoped to reach its ideals through organization legislation.
 Mrs. James Hagan of Mobile followed Mrs. Hundley with the subject of Cred it's for Music in the High Schools.55 Mrs Habans speech was full of practical sug- sestions and greatly appreciated. She spole of the unsystematic ways of teach ing music in the past and almost to the present time: that the failure of many pupils was due to the poorly equipped teachers; that music teachers should be standardized as well as school teachers. That music should be male major study in the schools in order that the pupil on reaching high school and the most interesting period of her music de- velopmcnt might go on with her music untrammelled rather than have it crowd ed out by other studies
 At the close of these speeches MT. Ctl- kins gave the thanks of the assembly to the speakers, and called the attention or the audience to the fact that Mrs. Sharpe had given us the history and romance of music in Alabama. Mrs. Hundley told
 IS of the ideals the women of Alabama had for the development of music in this state, and offered a helping hand by way of the fedora ton. Mrs. Hagan had given the practical. definite way of going about it.
 There were a few moments Of fm- promptu, spirited discussion and the meeting adjourned to the college audi torium to hear Leroy B. Campbell in his noted lecture, Music in Education and Life" Mr. Campbell is director of War ren Conservatory of Music, Warren, Pa.