Evening star., 1922-10-22

Apropos Of the present extensive
agitation for the licensing Of music
teachers. an editorial writer in a re-
cent issue of the Etude sends out a
clarion cry Of warning as to some Of
the pitfalls into which the promoters
OF the movement may unintentionally
be betrayed unless on tho alert spe-
cidcally to avoid them. He Is appar-
emily not exaggerating the situation
when he says. MANY teachers are
just waking up to the fact that a
tsp trap has been set in many parts Of
the country which appears to num-
bers Of those who have studied the
situation like q huge conspiracy to
induce teachers organizations in Diff
ferent states to indorse monopolistic,
autocratic proprietary musical meth
% oas OF aggressive publishers. pre-
senting their schemes under the
guise Of providing the only logical
credits
How would this work out Of it
were to be successful? The teacher
,Yh VINO had spent lifetime in master,
ing World-famous methods, sponsored
by the greatest masters of the past
and present, would be discredited and
paced at disadvantage. not because
or lack of worthiness to teach, but
largely to pay tribute into the cof-
lers OF firms seeking by hook or
crook to create musical educational
monopoly. But the teacher body
throughout tho ecountry is not to be
Iooied by any such plan. In many
states the teachers have risen in
arms arms against such impositions and
nave held fndignation NEE .lngs. IN
otner states established teachers, per-
suaoed to take up such methods. sold
under such. conditions, have realized
the character of the undertakings
ana nave seen fit to plan their work
aiong other lines. abandoning the enor-
nously no expensive proprietary meth
ods. which would prove a tax upon stu
dents and parents
The trap Of trying to fool or coerce
the teachers organizations into in
dorsing the methods Is not in the
least different from an attempt to
induce the state medical board to
compel all the doctors to prescribe
Bing's Emulsion Of Rabbit Oil or the
Dodo Cure for Tired Jaws. 1t is un-
ethical and smells Of graft" He then
relates how, the states Of Virginia
and Kansas have just dealt with such
q situation. THE Kansas State Music
Ieachers' Association does not recon-
meno the exclusive use Of q course Is
sued by any publishing house, society
or oeher organization which publishes
music as basis for credit in applied
music, on the ground that the exclu-
sive use of such courses works a hard
ship on other publishing houses. lin
It's the field Of material used and
binds the teachers to course of
study which is necessarily restricted
The following letter from Ernest H.
CfOS0y. ~ hn frt
State Music Teachers Association,
says: with reference to standardiza-
ton OF teachers of music in Virginia.
matter which Is sponsored by our
state board of education. l beg to
state that my committee has offered
its suggestions. which were adopted
by the State Music Teachers Associa-
tion. but we fully determined not to
recommend any particular work.
quirements were laid down and teach
ers are at liberty to use any material
that will assist them in preparing for
certiflcation by the state board of
education"
Unique among musical events of
the week was the period recital given
Wednesday evening at Ingram Con-
gregational Church ny Meta Craig.
soprano. assisted by Charles G. Ferry,
organist and composer. under direc-
tion of Mrs. Henry Hunt Mckee.
MISS Craig was in excellent voice
and divided her program into groups.
Italian. Russian. eighteenth century
songs of France. Ireland and England.
and French, English and American
songs from the modern school. At
tired In the costume appropriate to
the song period. she made a charm
ated by her characteristic interpreta-
tion OF the various numbers. each in
the native language. While each group
was rewarded with repeated recalls
it was in the Italian group that she
met with most pronounced favor. to
tional number, "cflromelba." by ST.
bella. and after the modern group,
when she sang Come to the Wood
land" by Mr.. Ferry. Mrs. Bertram
Trennis. who accompanied Miss Craig
at the piano. proved at all times most
efficient support.
The instrumental features of the
evening consisted Of organ and piano
solos by Mr.. Ferry, who is a recent
acquisition to Washington musical
circles. Except for one number. AL
legro Cir Moto." from Grand Sonata"
bers were all his own compositions,
some Of them still in manuscript.
They are notably unpretentious hut
delightfully."- characteristic Of modern
musical unconventionality. He made
an excellent impression both as COM
poser and as executant on the two in
struments. playing with intelligence
and clean technique. The remainder
Of the program consisted of the Ital-
ian songs, "Se Tu Miami" (Pergo-
lesD, "Chi Vuol la Zingarella" (Pai-
siello), 20 Del MILO Amato Ben" (Don-
andy). "Sulla Lagun" (Buzzi-Peccia):
organ solo. Allegro Con Motto" from
Grand Sonata" (Ferry); Russian
group. Barge Song" (Old Russian), i,
None But the Lonely Heart" (Tschai-
kowsky). "slumber Song Snow
"Nocturne," Prelude in c Minor"
France. Ireland. England. "Begere Le-
Fillette." tBergerettes, old French; ar
Mevourneen- told 1rishl. "oh. No.
nance" "Humming Birds" (Ferry);
modern songs. French and English,
lie Printemps" (Ferrier), "Nuit d.
Etoiles" (Debussy), II Wait for Thee"
(Fisher), Crimson nor Yellow Roses"
(Ferry).
Cornelia Black. who sustained the
contralto part last season in the quar-
tet Of the Mount Pleasant Congrega-
tional Church, will sing today at the
Church Of All Saints. at Chevy Chase.
RESORTS.
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