Evening star., 1937-05-29

ment for students and as advertise
ment of schools, but there is deeper
meaning to these local endeavors
which cannot be passed over so
lightly. For, after all, what every
one most desires and works for is that
the Capital be recognized as musical
center, with all that this implies of
increased patronage Of local teachers.
II one is to keep in mind this
splendid goal, certain angles OF local
problems must be brought up from
time to time for further consideration.
First and foremost is the question OF
unity Of purpose between musicians,
a purpose which should include both
teacher and pupils and as laymen, the
families of students and the organiza-
tions featuring musical programs
throughout the year. If such unity
can be attained and preserved, there
Is no need to worry about the future
for there will be readiness to CO.
operate and an open-minded attitude
capable of unlimited results.
ITO ANALYZE the situation, let us
begin with the students, since,
after all, not much can be accom-
plished If there is not the proper
material to work with. Accepting
unreservedly the premise that music
study is not only desirable but abso-
lutely essential for every child, no
matter what the talent, there is the
question of how much encouragement
should be given brilliant pupils to
plan for public work. Mere facility
and cleverness or even Studiousness
will not guarantee the advisability of
q public career. The first ingredient
to be looked for is good health. With
out this foundation the strain of
constant practice and the nervous
dain of concert appearances will
quickly take their toll Following in
the inventory of qualifications are
the intelligence and feeling of the
student
Considering the countless numbers
Of talented musicians in this country
1t is astonishing that the list of great
artists is so small. The reason is
that The cultivation of the things that
make for superior artistry is not suf-
f1clently stressed in the glamour of
picturesque achievement. Thinking
and feeling in the student must be
educated and brought into perfect
balance, so that neither the one nor
the other overflows in too great
abundance. BY reading and the study
of the other arts, the imagination
will be stirred, the feelings deepened
and the inspiration toward progress
constantly kept alive. If student
is not capable of reacting to such
stimuli, he has not the qualifications
to make an artist.
RIGHT here is where the teachers
and parents come in. They are
the ones to supervise and judge of
the character of the reaction, if it be
solely of sentimental character or of
the more valuable type. Both parents
and teachers are prone to wax lyrical
over the ability of some child and
plan in headstrong fashion for
career in manner that may damage
the future musical interest of the
child irreparably. An attempt must
be made to sound the depths, but if
after experiment nothing is discov-
cred it is crime to plant notions OF
musical greatness in the mind of
student simply because he is clever
at musical display.
All teachers have had experience
with demanding parents and many
times are forced to go against their
better judgment in order to pacify
them. No teacher deliberately wishes
to hold back a promising pupil, but