Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-23

Dr. Hollis Damn, president OF the
Music Supervisors National Confer
once, today characterized As suicidal
and grossly inadequate salary policy
in tho schools that is driving teachers
from tho profession.
He spoke before the thirteenth meet
sng Of the conference at University Hall.
wanamakers. where 12l7 supervisors
are in attendance.
Doctor Damn pleaded for an endow :
ment which would insure a continuation
Of music instruction for the children
~ America upon which. he said. rests
the musical future of the nation.
"Less is paid for the services of
trained supervisors of music than un-
trained uneducated workers in a score
Of industries" he said. Supervisors
sre paid less than the man who punches
their tickets when they come here 10 at.
tend this conference. II has been well
said that lower salaries are paid to
those who train the mind than those
who mind tn" train.
Doctor Damn said that schools cannot
attract and hold music teachers of the
superior type required unless adequate
salaries are paid.
''Thp future of this country is set for
big things in music. he said. This
will be tho result Of n unique and won
derful nart music played In the great
war. The marvellous development of
community music and the widespread
interest are typical evidences Of the
dawn of now era in music.
Upon this conference more than any
other agency rests the responsibility of
making clear to educational leaders:
First. That music is required in all
schools.
Second. That reasonable standard
of musical Quaificat tiOns shall bc re-
quired for supervisors and grade
teachers.
Third That normal schools and
state universities shall make adequate
provision for musical and pedagogical
trimming Of teachers and supervisors.
Somewhere in this richest of all
nations in material wealth. the man or
woman is waiting to endow this orgaui-
cation. Ten thousand dollars. expended
iudiciousiy by this conference in the
cause of community music and music
In the public schools. would do more to
make America musiraI and to make
America contcnted than hundreds Of
thousands spent annually upon the great
orcheStras and upon tho opera -
Doctor Damn pointed out that upon
the musical education of the children of
the country depends the success of these
great organizations later.
The convention opened Yesterday
morning and will be continued through
Friday. '''e"
George II. GartIan. director of pusic
IN the schools of Greater New York do.
ciHred that music is one of the strongest
GO ordinativo influences. and dccricd the
lact mat musical taste is at low ebb
There is. no question but that the
popular taste for music in America is
at ow cbb. he snid. "notwithstand
ing the multitude of musical activities
Euch as the opera, symphony concerts.
recttais and teaching. The number Of
persons really influenced bv these activi +.
ties Is IN the thousands, while the mum p
ber OF those whose real appreciation is
confined TO inferior music of all kinds
IN the nome, the theatre and churches
is in the millions
The reason for this is that one half
= century Of school music has been ded q.
1csted TO tho formal side Of the subject
and has killed real musical apprccia :
ton.
tttack OF Publishers
A sharp attack was led BY Doctor
Gartlau and indorspd BY the conference
through applause, against the music
schools established by music publishing
houses for the training of supervisors Of
music. According TO the explanation
Of Doctor Gartlan. these supprvisors
are trained and sent ont TO positions
with th" expectation that they will
divert trade TO the publishing house that
has trained them
What actually happens, says Doctor
Gartlan, j. that supervisor may Dr.
CmincntIy Su-ccsSful. but will be drop
ped at tho end Of a year for the reason
that she may have ordered music from
another publishing house. Not only do
rho publishers maintain schools but
they also have influence with the super
intendPnts.
Frank Damrosch also referred to tho
practice. We are fast growing out Of
the era of methods. said Doctor
Damrosch. "And whereas the supervisor
"t music Of thirty y"nrs ago frequently
grew from an ambitions but not
especially musical grade teacher by way
nf two or three weeks summer school
generally conducted by the authors and
publishers Of series Of music text
books, be Is now expected 10 achieve far
better and liner results
The old idea that school music need
consisted only Of small rpprrtOry Of
vigorously shouted patriotic songs
DppearS not only inadequate but thor
0ughly objectionable.