Evening star., 1938-12-31

Free U. S. Instruction
Protested; Project Aide
Points to Benefits
Coupling praise of free music edu-
cation by Government to the under
privileged with complaints against
infringement by the Federal Music
Project upon the province Of pri-
Vate instructors, State organiza-
ton heads yesterday urged strength
ening Of associations and constant
vigilance upon members OF the
Music Teachers National Associa-
tion at a convention meeting in the
Mayfiower Hotel.
After hearing Charles Seeger, as
sistant director Of the project in
charge Of music education, defend
the Works Progress Administration
activity for having conserved the
talents Of INDECENT musicians and
having brought training to chill
dren and adults not otherwise able
to obtain it, the gathering listened
to Homer G. Move, chairman of
the Council of New York Music
Teachers Associations, charge that
project officials in New York CITY
have permitted many able to pay
for lessons to avail themselves OF
free instruction.
Free u. S. Instruction Hit.
Before they adjourned their meet
ing, the teachers passed a resolu-
ton opposing the passage of any
bill providing free instruction in
! music by the Government. Such
free instruction might, however, be
granted in emergency cases to per-
sons unable to pay for lessons, the
delegates decided.
Another resolution reaffirmed the
groups sponsorship OF the pending
McGranery bill, providing for Fed
eral fine arts bureau in the Bureau
OF Education. The delegates voted
to ask boards of education through
out the United States to give school
credits to students taking music
under outside teachers.
The teachers voted to urge the
directors of the New York and San
Francisco fairs to place emphasis on
music by American composers in
their musical programs.
Charges Officials Deaf"
Mr.. Move charged that w. p. A.
officials In New York have been deaf
to appeals from teacher groups for
investigation of pupils abilities to
pay and have organized house-to
house canvassing in an effort ito
make the project as large as possible
in the hope of having it made a
permanent Government bureau"
In telling of his inability to OBJ
tain cooperation from heads of
the project, Mr.. Move said that
the attempts were made toward
"a political organization that has
It's own purposes in mind"
Don't believe them when they tell
you that they have the welfare of
the private teacher at heart" he
added.
Making his final appearance be-
fore the convention, DR.. Walter
Damrosch, dean of American COM
posers and conductors. asked support
for the bill that he is sponsoring,
designed to create Federal depart
ment OF fine arts, pointing out that,
unlike other similar proposals. 1t
does not contemplate any artistic
teaching by Government agency.
Would Discontinue Activity.
DR.. Damrosch stated that his
measure Is "idealistic" in aim and
cautioned against any proposal
which would perpetuate the Federal
Governments emergency activi-
ties in the arts.
Aims of the bill were discussed
further by DR.. Damrosch's associate,
N. Henry Josephs, New York attor-
ney.
Speaking on Should Uncle Sam
Teach Music?' Dean Rossetter G.
Cole of the Cosmopolitan School Of
Music, Chicago, warned that a per-
manent instruction program by the
Government might threaten artistic
standards through political appoint
ments and would ultimately para
lyze the private music teaching pro-
fession"
Any fine arts legislation should be
scrutinized closely for such provi-
Sions, he stated.
Representatives of several Western
State teacher associations reported
cooperation from w. p. A. authori-
ties, and William c. Mayfarth, an
administrative assistant of the Fed
eral Music Project, promised that all
specific complaints" would be in
vestigated and conditions involved
corrected.
Hughes Is Reelected.
Edwin Hughes of New York was
reelected president of the associa-
ton with Warren D. Allen, STAN
ford University, vice president; D. M.
Swarthout of the University of Kan
sas, secretary, and Oscar w. DENIM
Ter of Pittsburgh, treasurer.
DR.. Harold Spivacke, chief of the
music division Of the Library of
Congress, was elected to the Execu-
tive Committee of the association.
DR.. Spivacke was local chairman of
arrangements for the convention.
Others elected to the Executive Com
mittee were Rudolph CAM, presi-
dent of the Chicago Musical College.
and Homer G.. Move, chairman of
the Council Of New York Music
Teachers Associations.