The Washington times., 1922-03-30
THE WASHINGTON TIMES PAGE OF MUSIC FOR MUSIC

I do not know nor am or my music
teachers responsible for II, but / do
think that the blame for music OF
"degenerating influence" should be
placed squarely where II belongs. and
! am looking for you to do this in
your paper. Something light" may
be used OF course. and we have that
which Is light and yet Of genuine
worth.
II you could have heard the dis
cussion at q meeting called for an
exchange OF views on this subject,
and heard my teachers champion
high class music and condemn the
cheap In no uncertain terms you
would have been delighted. and 30
would Mr.. Lewis.
The music department OF the pub
lie schools is teaching only the best
and deeply regrets the presentation
of any except tha finest.
Now. please. Miss Mcbride with
a capital P) give good stirring
article defending the director and
his corps and place the blame for
anything less than our standard.
where II belongs.
Miss Bentley. my. predecessor.
knew the worth of good music. and
would not any more than ! tolerate
any such songs as Mr.. Lewis says he
heard at the school center mentioned,
HAML1N coaswELL.
Another public school teacher. Miss
Bernice d. Randall, who ID head OF
the music department at the Wilson
Normal School. writes:
II feel IL my duty ss q tsAchcr VI
music h the public schools To
answer the destructive criticism OF
public school music given N your
paper of Thursday, March %, Music
supervisors and school officials have
certainly no share In cultivat.ns
music of q "degenerating influence. ="
Nor do the public schools miss one
opportunity to acquaint students
with the best in music.
From the kindergnrden to the
normal school. with which am
connected. the teachers Hre daily
standard.zing taste In music through
songs appropriate TO the child's Age.
and through Victor records intel.
points in his educational ca-eer the
child sings and hears the best.
Nor Is his soul starved for tae
melodies of Grieg, Franz, Schumann
and Brahms. They are stIll being
taught. The Two Grenadters' are
still returning to France. No one
feels more deeply than DIR. Hamiin
e. Cogswell. director Of music, the
susceptibility of young minds Tor
good or bad and no one has sought
more earnestly to direct these minds
in the proper channels Of expression.
"The people of Washington have
Just cause to feel proud Of their
public school music-contcnt in
knowing that this most universal
language Is finding its expression il
immortal words of spirit and OF
truth"
BERNICE d. RANDALL.
Enthusiasm for a cause is one of
the most encouraging signs OF its
health and its worth.
Times Prints Programs.
Now as to our recreational music
programs. The Times has persis.
tently--whenever space permitted
printed these programs In full.
They speak for themselves. Thoy
show that the best talent of Wash.
iDgton is represented on them. There
has been a most laudable effort In
tne CITY 10 SiNo hc0iy AhN ~ WI
best.
When the youngsters in the audi
ences become restless, q few mo-
ments are set aside for giving them
a share In the program, and then
they sing songs they know. In that
way getting relaxation. But. N we
have explained, the obnoxious song
was not sung by them!
Yet the fact remains. The raouke
is justified. though all the defen
dants are pronounced mot guilty"
1t Is justified as warning. The
rebuke falls on any possibility OF
teaching--under a school root--mu
sic that is as bad in influence ss
cheap novels would be in a course
of literature.
Care, care for the children-made
audible-will make us inquire what
the young folks are getting.
II we've created q tempest In n
teapot, with a clear record as the
result, we have also found out the
moral as well as cultural worth ol
good music, and the enthusiasm with
which II is sponsored In the National
Capital.