Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01
EDUCATORS EVOLVE
. NEW IDEA IN MUSIC
Listeners More important in
a Sense Than Performers,
N. E. A. Speaker Says.
HIS ADVICE TO TEACHERS
Way Whereby Greatest Number in
Social Group Is En-
listed.
HIS ADVICE TO TEACHERS

1t is of greater Importance to
make active, creative listeners to
good music than performers of. mu-
sic, for it is as listeners that the in
terest of the greatest number in a
social group is enlisted"
This was the keynote of an address
today by Louis L. Mehler of Teachers
College, Columbia University, before
the department of music education of
the National Education Association,
meetlng IN the music room of
Central High School.
ABOUT this idea, he said, educators
were beginning to evolve a new sys-
tenn OF teaching music and to empha
SIZE more the appreciation" of good
music rather than the history, tech
nlque and performance.
Gives Result of Survey,
Charging that a late educational
survey shows that children are not
interested in using the technique
they nave acquired, Mr.. Mehler said
the survey revealed that the masses
type"
Thus. he concludes, the present
status OF music in education indi-
Gates that the past teaching of music
INTO the lives of adults"
Ihe Two phases in musical educa-
ton which have been constant" he
SAID, were first, the teaching of chill
by the use of symbols; second, the
teaching of a technique of playing
upon an instrument. Both have
value, but comparatively small value
do either or both gives narrow out
look upon the art These two phases
are now under criticism by the edu-
Gator, for he claims that through
foo
the subject matter at the expense of
the child.
The phase of music teaching
continued the speaker, that is dis
cussed by the educator today, more
than any other phase, is that which
is called Appreciation The educator
is interested in having children know
music before they are asked to do
music.
Different Systems Explained.
The present tendency and belief
in teaching music is to stress the
synthetic before the analytic. The
present belief includes the ideas that
technique should not be taught I'M
less there is a desire for it on the
part of the children; that children
should be led to enjoy good music
and to establish habits of enjoymen,
which will result in ever-increasine
abilities to participate in music, as
they do in literature; that it is OF
creative listeners to good music thar
performers of music, for it is as lis.
teners that the interest of the great
est number in a social group is en-.
listed.
When children have learned t.
know about music and to enjoy i
they will want to acquire the tech
niQue with which to produce it TIL,
person who has not enjoyed music i:
surely not interested in the history
of it, nor in how it is constructed
So why should he care to make it?
The composer of music is not q
direct teacher, but what he has ere.
ated, and what his creation reveals
Is an Interpretation of the best, as
life should be. Through his sugges-
ton he disciplines the imagination
and ennobles our sympathy. He of
fers the means for an enjoyment tina,
is within the reach of every one. Il
is a type of enjoyment that lasts ane
controls through this life. Through
teaching an appreciation of music
rather than always stressing the teach
ing of the technique Of music. W
create a continuing ability to par
ticipate in the best that has beel
produced in the field of music"