Evening star., 1927-09-25


and what Joyous, care-fre
days school days can be! Es
pecially kecnly one remember
the pleasure with which in pas
school days the boys and girl
looked forward to the hours devoted
SO rarely during the week TO music
clay-modeling and later painting
and reading out loud" The art:
as studied in public schools in those
days were rather carelessly and
specifically handled, it is true, but
even then these studies did not seem
the dry, monotonous work that
arithmetic. grammar. history dates
and spelling seemed to involve. The
music hour was much more like
play. Children naturally lean to-
ward music-just as naturally as
green plants i'll their growth lean
toward the sunlight. How ultra
important then that the foundation
III music be accurately. firmly and
thoughtfully laid Preparation for
glimpSes into the most beautiful OF
music by teaching the rudiments aud
appreciation through graded courses
has no such fertile ground or logi-
cal place as III the public schools
1t is in the schools that the great
average OF future concert and opera
audiences get their first impressions
OF the arts, as we'll as the facts and
sciences of life. Real corporation
between public school music teachers
and the private teachers of spe-
eialized musical lines holds the key
note for really making America
musical.
The phonograph in its earlier days
and now, again, after rather
lengthy hiatus caused by CONNER
cialism in cheap records which the
companies thought would pour the
shckels into their Golfers, and which
did until the radio, with its free,
dartlng shafts of sound through the
ether punctured that balloon with
the monographs now dedicated to
revivals of the masters and cen
tenaries of great composers" they
are doing fine work bringing musi-
cal appreciation to those who missed
the ground work in school and never
had special, private instruction.
The radio, with its shifting of great
masses of musical material and per-
tormances for programs, is doing a
hne test work that should mean
much in development of musical in
telIigence in this country.
But most satisfactory of all is the
personal contact of teacher and pupil
IN lmpfantlng along with scales and
melodies the richness of individual
experience, kindness of interpreta-
ton which can prepare a soil for
healthy growth in tolerance, appre-
cation and love of beauty.
*x
0NE OF the most practical phases
~ of the cooperative spirit in Civ
ing music to children in the schools
is annually called to ones attention
in Washington by the unlagging,
earnest efforts of brilliant woman
and sincere musician who has done
much constructive work along these
hnes personally in the National Capt.
tai-Mrs. Martin A. Morrison, wife
of former Representative Morrison
of Indiana. Again she suggests:
How many high school students,
their parents or their music teachers
know about the major music credits
granted by our local high schools for
the outside study of music:
with the Fall opening of the pub
Tic schools, parents of children tai
ented in music should inform them
selves in regard to the provision
made by the above to encourage the
continuance of serious music study
with outside teachers of recognized
standard. By meeting certain re-
quircments (for which apply to high
schools for the bulletin), a course of
music study may be. enjoyed stimuli
taneously with the high school
course without undue mental or
physical strain on the young student.
Music does not have to be taken as
an additional subject, but may con-
stitute one of the regular. accredited
subjects in normal course of four
major subjects semester.
Prior to the Inauguration of this
major music credit system in 1913
the entrance into the high school
often marked the parting of the
ways to the student, for the high
school course is generally considered
too strenuous to admit of an addi-
tional outside study, and a choice be-
tween the two had to be made. The
gifted student, expecting to special
ize later in music, dared not neglect
his art during four years vital to it's
highest technical development. In
most instances he was forced to
forfeit the high school course OF
study. while those electing the high
school course were cut off from one
of the most cultural of all studies
music
Nearly 10 years of concerted ef-
fort was made by Dean Willard S.
Small, former principal of Eastern
High School and myself before a
plan, modelled after one in use in
other cities. was adopted and put
into operation in our Washington
high schools. The plan was greeted
enthusiastically by the general pub
llc. and its popularity has grown
with the years. The supervisors of
Eastern and Western High Schools
have most nearly carried out the
ideals OF the original plan. while
Business High School is following
their lead. Their Semi-annual exami-
nations are becoming more and more
uniform in requirement of material
TO be played, and they are always
conducted by professional musicians
However, it is TO be regretted
that even in the above schools there
has been a tendency on the part of