Evening star., 1937-09-12


" " there are so few really
sound musicians in the
world, one cannot but realize with as
tonishment that music's greatest as
set-its charms the root of all evil.
For through its charm thousands have
decided TO study music and nine
tenths of this number have been hor-
rifled to learn that under this charm
ing exterior is hidden a whole maze
of dry and unwielsy facts that must
be successfully negotiated before one
can enjoy the land of promise. At
this time of the year, when schools
are getting ready for the Winters
work and parents are deciding that
Mary and Johnny, who show such
talent for music, really must begin to
study, this problem of the darker side
of musical education must be taken
into consideration.
Imagine the reaction of child or q
young person who loves to listen to all
the radio music, pick out tunes on
the piano, sing the popular songs, or
listen to the friend from down the
street who can rattle off astonishing
things on some instrument, when he
discovers that there are such things
as five-finger exercises and monoto-
nous scales to be mastered, before he
can even begin to give vent to that
love of music which urged him on to
study.
For some mysterious reason, the
majority of people believe that music,
in whatever stages of advancement
one approaches it, must hold that ex-
hiliarating element that enthuses
them when they hear the finished
product. If they realize the tech
nical drudgery at all, it is something
that need only be endured for a short
time.
WHY child should rebel against
~ learning scales and such details
when he diligently tackles the multi
plication tables is something hard to
understand Nor is he alone in feeling
that something is not right, for par
ents also often experience a sense of
disillusionment unless they are prac-
tical and far-sighted people. And
while sternly insisting that the null
tiplication tables be thoroughly
learned, they will balk at seeing that
their children apply themselves with
equal zeal to learning the funda-
mentals of music.
Something is wrong somewhere and
the result is countless numbers of
musicians who know nothing about
the foundations on which music is
built or style or line in Interpretation
All the beauty in the world, whether
In nature or man-made, is the result
of certain basic rules and the perfec-
tion of line. Music is no exception,
and no one can feel that he has even
touched or understood its beauty un-
less he can resolve it into its primal
elements. This does not necessarily
mean thorough knowledge of har-
mony or the history of music, but
rather the security that comes from
progressing slowly and conscienciously
from step to step so that when one
comes out into the open there is a
NcA-iioA hC0 u cAi W SllON biAC pobA
travelled
I EAVING out the children or the
beginners of any age who cannot
be held responsible for feeling dis
gruntled at the Importance given to
dry fundamentals, there remain the
teachers and parents to deal with.
The teachers have the greatest prob
lem to solve, for they must be true
to the ethics of their profession and
yet sustain the interest of the pupil.
1t is a sad fact that many teachers
think more of pleasing the pupil and
his parents and thereby keeping the
Income intact than of the RESPONSE
bility placed on teachers shoulders
as an instructor in one of the greatest
arts. His responsibility goes beyond
the studio, for he is dealing with a
spiritual influence and he therefore
ranks on par with minister of the
gospel.
This may seem a strong statement,
but when one considers the cheap SEN
timentality that often controls an in
dividuals thinking and which can be
fostered by bad approach to music,
the lack of discipline that grows be-
cause real study was not demanded,
or the dislike that may develop toward