The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-22
HarmOnica Recital To Be Pre-
scented at st. Peters School

scented at st. Peters School
At half past seven on Friday night
of this week, one of the first juvenile
harmonica ensembles to be organized
in Garrett county will give recital
at st. Peters School hall in Oakland.
A play produced by the school chill
dren and Sister Augustine's piano
class will also be included in the pro-
gram.
In establishing children's har-
monica orchestra, or ensemble in Oak
land, Sister Mary Loyola, the direc-
tor of the ensemble, is participating
in a nationwide movement for en-
enlargement of such musical express
sion among children. Peter W. Dy-
kema, professor of musical education
at Columbia University, says, "No in
strument is better adapted to univer-
sal use than the harmonica. May the
time soon come when every man,
woman and child will feel it is an i'm
portant part of his equipment" Great
numbers of schools, private and pub
lie, are including as a part of the
regular school program work with
the harmonica. This is on every pub
lie and parochial school schedule in
Chicago and Philadelphia, as well as
in many smaller cities and towns. The
most noted harmonica band is the
Philadelphia Band, in which are gath
cred children selected from bands
over the city. The Philadelphia Band
is entirely supported by public funds.
1t is interesting to note that Mr.. F.
E. Rathbun, superintendent ofGarrett
couny public schools, has recognized
the important place group playing OF
the harmonica takes in musical educa-
ton. With his encouragement, Miss
Karin Stenholm, now Mrs. Edward
Offutt, Jr., organized boys of the
Freshman class in Oakland High
school into a harmonica band when
she was on the high school faculty.
This organization, it is believed, was
the first of its kind to make public
appearance in Garrett county.
There are many reasons why edu-
Gators have come to look upon har-
monica playing as an important step
in musical expression. In his first
lessons, child may use very simple
instrument and be almost immediate
ly repaid for his effort by producing
an effect tuneful and pleasing. He
progresses from one type of instru-
mept to another until finally-after
less than years practice, perhaps
he is ready to use the superchromatic
hArmonica, on which may be played
any musical classic. This natural
progress from very simple to more
complex instruments, awakens desire
to use other instruments more diff
cult to play. During the process a
child also undergoes an unconscious
grounding in fundamental musical
principles.
Not only for it's cultural influence,
but also for its effects upon health,
harmonica playing is recommended by
physicians. A program of regular
practice on this instrument develops
the chest and respiratory organs and
results in better general condition of
the body.
Before she came to Oakland as a
teacher, Sister Loyola was highly sue
cessfull as director of the Harmonica
Band in st. Vincent's Orphanage,
Baltimore. Three years ago this
group of boys won first prize in a
contest sponsored by the Evening
Sum-" and participated in by bands
from many public and parochial
schools of Baltimore. After the sue
cess in its own city, st. Vincent's
Band was entitled to take part in the
national hormonica band contest in