The Washington times., 1921-05-29
is First Gala Music Week Endorsed By President Harding
Standardize Music
In The Schools

Not until schools the country over
give greater recognition to music in
the form OF adequate credits for mu-
sic study will there be . higher APP
probation and understanding Of
music. As conditions now are. any
one may teach music and the par
ents know not IL that teacher has
or has not ability. When. however.
the schools have an organized sys-
tenn of crediting music study. We
will know that the teacher has been
DEVELOPED on pedagogical lines and
as it's purely mechanical side. has
been taken care of in his educat ion.
There would be no loss to the stu
dent in putting in his time in music
study. This Is 4 subject that Is men,
tai. physical and spiritual. Mental.
in the mastery Of it's laws and rules:
physical, in the adjustment and ae-
ton of muscle TO the mental image:
and spiritual in Its appeal to the
higher elements. to the soul of man
II. as now. only to the specially
gifted student music is possible, a
change in the schools would make
1t possible for every student to have
the opportunity for musical devel-
opment.
This change would soon make us
the greatest musical nation in the
world. No loss could come to US on
this point, for music is an art with
greater Industrial possibilities than
have some of the other arts. Look
to the great and costly opera houses.
to the making of Instruments, to
music engraving and printing. to
costuming and scenic painting, to
the thousand and one Industries
called into play, with hundreds OF
human beings finding livelihood in
the production OF one opera alone.
Allowing credits for music study
in the high schools would swell the
number of music students. As II Is
now they must. with q heavy study
course, acquire q musical training
in their spare hours for which in
only too many cities no recognition
Is given.s
That these boys and girls might
never be musicians is no Argument
at all. Because every English stu
dent does not become . Shakespeare
has not barred Literature from the
literature and other subjects de-
veiop the student sufficiently to
enjoy a fair measure of their value.
II follows that Music. II presented
and credited in a similar manner.
will develop and repay him for his
efforts both unsteady and culturally
in the same way.
II would give him another lan-
guage, with all the elements the
laws, ,aad the rules that govern
languages. He would gain appre-
citation OF an art that would all his
leisure hours with q subject mex
haustible in point of pleasure. and
unlimited in variety. At the same
time the public at large. By the
system of credits, would be pro-
tected from the incompetent teacher
for the teachers educational ante
cedants could be looked into and
some assurance given that he has
passed a standard satisfactorily.
without this standard anyone
may hang out a shineis and begin
to teach. A countrywide crediting
OF music in high schools would soon
bring about the next step; . degree
in music.
A degree in music IL granted N
a few universities today, but the
preliminary work 10 unorganized
and only the individual who has
all along been directly interested
in music is eligible. This does not
happen in any other subject. for
only q general training Ia Eiven
and expected in the high schools
on all subjects. 1t Is In the uni
versity where the student begins
specialization.
So should the music student be
expected to take his music along
as major subject. with other
subjects. and then in the univer-
sity devote the greater time to his
speciality. Such system OF train
ing along pedagogical lines with
The accompanying school discipline
will make music a real profession
with a recognized degree granted
by universities.
With corp OF teachers who
have a university training we
would soon place music on q plane
in this country that would rebound
to our credit. The student would
get the wonderful development
music offers; the home and hreside
the stimulus OF a charming art;
the industries an increased activ-
ity bringing a livelihood to many
individuals, and the nation the
refining Influence all arts bring
to man.