Evening star., 1925-06-11
PIANO PUPILS SHOW|
MUSICAL PROGRESS
Students Give DemonStra-
tion in Thomson School of
Success of System.

UNIQUE program for public school
children and one that establishes a
precedent in the progress of musical
education in Washington was given
yesterday afternoon in the basement
of the Thomson School, Twelfth and
L streets, when a large audience of
parents and those interested in musi-
cal development listened and watched
as more than $50 children appeared in
a public demonstration of the success
achieved in this, the first year of the
classes in fundamental piano instruc-
ton, held in the schools under the
direction of DR.. E. N. G. Barnes.
During the program, DR.. Barnes in
a short address stated clearly that
the plan of the course was to assist
parents in ascertaining at small cost
the aptitude of their children for one
musical instrument or another before
going to the expense of buying the
child a really fine instrument to con-
tinue with if, in the space of one
years intelligently arranged instruc-
ton, he proved sufficiently talented
to warrant such expense. DR.. Barnes
also showed clearly how much pre-
1iminary training in the public
schools need not interfere with the
work carried on by private music
teachers, but. on the other hand, had
proved definitely profitable to such
with genuine talent and interest in
their particular branch of music for
thorough continued training.
Gives Good Training.
Another valuable aspect of these
chsses in chord construction, note
reading and rhythmic training is the
fact that it gives these children sound
basis for developing musical apprecia-
ton, so that in adult years they will
go to the concert hall and be intellt-
gent listeners.
The method used for these classes is
that devised by DIR. w. Otto Miessner
of Milwaukee, long associated with
the problems of music in the public
schools.
: The demonstration yesterday con-
sisted of glimpses into the workings
of actual classes, where paSteboard
keyboards combined with real piano
and construction of simple songs on
these chords and scales make music
study fascinating and a competitive
game for the small folks rather than
solitary drudgery under a tutor well
enough fitted as musical instructor
perhaps, but not possessing the innate
knack of handling children just above
kindergarten age, as do the young
women who are assistants to the SUI
pervisor of this work, Miss Edith B.
dancing games showed the uncon-
scious sense of rhythm in some of the
children and emphasized the need of
its development in others.
The transposition work in different
keys and both vocal and piano solos,
as well as the ensemble work of sew
eral tots at the pianos accompanying
the hundred, cd others in clear child
ish song, were all interesting fea-
lures. The accuracy and each with
which the children took part spoke
eloquently for the success of this first
year of such work.
Teachers who assisted Miss Athey
in the demonstration were Herminia
Ellis, Edith NJ. Haring, Lillian Karn,
Amelia Grimes and Ellen Stuart.
Children taking part in solo or
small group work included Hilda
Levin, Elizabeth Long, Marguerite
Teachum, Margaret Tolman, Eliza
beth Acker, Rachel BloSe, Ruth Con-