The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-05-28

fore it can talk. Students Of nnu-
Dic-teaching know that q large per-
Centage OF children under year
and half can carry q tune. In
deed, little Princess Margaret Of
England, grand daughter OF King
George, was able to hum q conn
p1ete nursery tune ait the age Of
seven months.
All normal children seem to be
stimulated by music and II at ma
turity ability to enjoy music seems
dimmed or lost, It is probably no
fault of the Individual. Unsyrn-
pathetic environment or poor rnu-
steal teaching often destroy all in
terest in music for Fundamentally
talented persons. Few indeed are
the children who cannot march to
q spirited tune and who are not
emotionally stimulated by it. Many
parents realize too well the delight
q small boy can take In pound
Ing q drum; in thus drumming the
boy Is showing his innate response
TO rhythm, which is the root Of all
music, good or bad. This is almost
automatic; If child can be stirred
In any way by music. with sym.
pathetic guidance he can be
taught to play an instrument wen,
or, at least, to understand music
and enjoy it.
Theory Before Instrument.
In these days Of changing edu-
cational methods, the field OF mu-
sic has seen many new ideas spring
up as to the ways Of imparting
painlessly, certainly. and pleasur-
ably the germs of music appre-
citation and the elements Of in
strumental playing. Many musical
educators believe now that chill
dren should have a groundwork
OF theoretical music before at
tempting the study Of an instru-
ment. At the Hartford school Of
Music. for some years, groups of
children. from four years old up
ward have been taught, by instruc-
ton that makes the whole business
o wonderful game, rudiments OF
musical theory and appreciation,
by being stimulated to express
their own musical natures rather
than BY having been consciously
taught. The work, although good
fun, is really most intensive and
requires concentration and quick
accurate thinking every instant.
After season or two Of such in
struction children can sing: extern
poraneously little tunes of proper
" balanced phrases, have learned
most of the rumiments of musical
notation, and not infrequently
have developed that Invaluable
sense Of ..absolute pitch, whereby
the fortunate Individual can recog-
nize Eat sight, so 20 speak, any
tone on hearing it.
Something TO BE Enjoyed
These new ways Of presenting
music give the children the proper
idea OF it; that music is something
to be enjoyed. These children
never associate music with drudg-
cry because their whole approach
to It has been fun, and fun Is moth
ing TO flee from, according to the
childish mind.
If it is necessary to have the
approach te music pleasant one
before beginning the study OF an
instrument, 1t is even more neces-
sary afterward. Now everything
depends on the teacher and his
wise and sympathetic guidance.
The child Is no longer playing
games in company and competi-
ton with others his own age. He
must be led to understand the in
tricacies Of an instrument and to
gain easily and pleasurably a
technic that will allow him to ex-
press the fine musical feeling that
Is within him.
Technic in itself is nothing. The
wise teacher realizes this and
avoids giving q child the idea that
acquisition Of adequate technic rs
an odious, but necessary chore IL
one is ever to be able to play well.
The child must be convinced and
shown that the things to be done
to and with an instrument are a
pleasure; that they are easy If
properly done and most important
OF all. that they produce something
beautiful to hear. For example,
believe that more talented chill
dren are driven from studying the
piano. by being allowed to produce
unmusical sounds than are taught
to enjoy It.
Ears sensitive.
Children's ears, their entire be-
ings, in fact, are unbelievably sem
sitive and responsive. If little
children are allowed by poor and
lackadaisical teaching to make nm
musical sounds with what should
be musical instruments, It Is no