Evening star., 1938-04-26
.Restfu1 to
Up
The Band
Tired Children Are
Refreshed by Any
Type of Music.
By ANGELO PATRI.

THE school band is an essential part
of school life. Children need
music because 1t is the language of
the spirit, and their spirits need the
communication and the expression
that it affords. Singing together stim-
ulates them profoundly, sets them up
with . sense Of fitness and q desire
to do something to show how good
they feel. Any teacher knows that
a tired class will fail in a test. Given
few minutes of relaxation, a change
of air, and q chance to sing. or march
to music, or listen to it, they will at
tack their task with vigor and success.
Music is tonic to the body and the
spirit.
Healthy children move rhythmical-
ly. Tired children will move abruptly,
jerkily, in broken rhythm, which ex-
presses irritability always The very
best way to calm irritated nerves, to
replace fatigue with fitness is to rest
in an atmosphere filled with the
rhythm and melody Of music. Music
will help nervous children, brighten
dull ones, refresh weary ones and de-
light the eager ones. It must have
a place in the school day.
Certain kinds of music are more
effective for certain kinds Of children
than for others. The band that has
orN ;e
ideal for the gangling lads who are not
doing 50 well in lessons and behavior.
You see, their bodies are growing fast
and their mental operations are slowed
down in consequence. Their nerves
are strained to the breaking point,
which comes oftenest in the silent
assembly, the formal classrooms Give
these boys a chance to whang a drum
or shrek on q f1fe-every day-and
they will be much easier to live with;
and what Is more, they will do better
work and grow more harmoniously.
The brasses and woods are a step
higher. They are more difncult and
require steadier hands and heads than
do the drums The sturdier, more
settled in growth among the boys and
girls do well with them. Blowing hard
is good for growing children. and
blowing toward some musical ideal is
just about perfect for them. The ten
sions Of the classrooms are q severe
strain on the re-adolescent. but the
band lesson soothes and relieves all
strain and sends the children away
rested and content with the world. As
q mental hygiene agent the band is
priceless.
Then comes the school orchestra
Here are gathered the real musicians.
They take their music seriously. The
drums and the tooters are graduated
to the orchestra, when and if they
have the gift. Here are the sensitive
violinists, the temperamental harpists,
the soulful cellist and the fiery pian-
ist. Here, too, Is the orchestra leader
quivering to his finger tips, demand
ing. driving. pulling these musicians
toward tonal perfection and divinity
of expression. A good school orches-
ira Is to the school what good doctor.
and fine clergyman. and q skilled
mental hygienist are to a community
present helps when help is needed
most, towers Of strength when strength
is needed. stimulants to greater, nobler
effort when the spirit falters and
the flesh is weak.
When children are dull, or unhappy,
Of troublesome. strike up the band,
and, better still. let them play in It.
There is an instrument for every one
OF them, and place.
(Copyright, 1938)