Evening star., 1948-04-04
|Pianists Show
The Way for
Talent Growth
BY Alice EvsrsmoM

BY Alice Evsrsmon
No group Of musicians in the
country has taken such care Of
their own kind as the piAr1ists. Not
only has this been true Of the ex.
ceptional talents that seem to spring
up in this division Of music cul.
ture. but also for the ordinary stu.
dents, down to the serious begin.
ner. The piano Is q popular in.
strument necessary also to string in.
strumentalists and to vocalists. Yet
neither OF these groups has given
thoughtful care to the direction ana
encouragement Of study and. for thu
most part study has been depend
ent on the ambition and gifts Of
the individual student. While spe.
cial cases can be pointed out, where
3 systematic plan has been fol-
lowed. 1t has not been 50 general
IS that given the pianists.
Now comes the announcement Of
the Nationwide National Piano
Playing Additions to be held In
Washington on May 9 and Q at
Holton Arms School and at Sid.
well Friends School on June 5, 8,
II and 20. Judges for the local
affair will be william o'Toole Of
Trenton, N. j., and Lewis Lane OF
New York. approximately 600 stu.
dents are expected to take part In
the local additions.
At the same time something like
as 900 pianists viii be doing likewise
in 800 centers throughout the coun-
try. The hearings are private and
the ratings are individual. Certif-
Gates and suggestions on how to i'm.
prove their work will be given to all.
These include 81 phases Of piano
and Interpretation agreed
upon by 100 judges. For those who
can be placed on q professional
level, cash prizes amounting TO
$500 and New York appearance
will be distributed. High school
graduates will have the opportunity
Of gaining . scholarship In order to
study for degree.
Started In 1929.
All Of this started In 1929 when
the additions were thought OF BY
Irl Allison. president OF the national
guild, as the best and most intelli.
gent way Of supervising progress.
Any piano teacher in good standing
can become q member, and the
guild now has centers from coast to
coast and from Hawaii to Cuba.
The judges, rarely local musicians,
are chosen for their understanding
and sympathy with children and
come from university faculties, radio
networks. the concert and musicolo-
gist fields. They have found in the
past that q great deal of talent
exists In small towns. although ths
big centers such as New York, whers
30 judges. including La Sale Spier
of this city, will devote Q week TO
the task, have enrollments going
well into the hundreds.
The fact that these are not com.
oetitive tests is Of great Importance.
It removes the exciting circum-
stances that often prevent worthy
talent from showing to the best ad-
vantage. 1t amounts to the receiv-
ng of advice from qualified and
musicians designed 10
oe helpful. Thus the personal ele-
nent Ia eliminated and 4 student
Knows just how he appears to less
biased judges than the teacher,
family or friends.
Ho Yocalists Need Plan. .
The vocal neld IL particularly In
nsed Of such direction but instru-
mentalists could profit As well. Tha
number Of students and the caliber
Of talent In other instrumental
divisions are more limited but next
70 pianists. or even superceding
hem. are the vocalists. There has
never been an agreement on the
OF vocal training and
many sins both Of commission and
omission have been prevalent In this
field. Something could be done
about 1t and the pianists have
shown the way.
A listing Of the published works
,f r. Deane shure has recently
come to this desk. II represents an
output for a composer who
has also led a busy life a. minister
Of music of Mount Vernon Placs
Methodist Church. He has written
i've symphonies which have been
played by the National Symphony.
the Rochester Civic Symphony,
Harrisburg Symphony, Chicago,
and the stokowsh
Youth Symphonies. There are A
church anthems. seven cantatas and
eight choral numbers besides seven
secular choruses and songs. Organ
solos and suites number 2l with
IL works for piano. For the violin,
Mr.. Shure has written three selec-
tions and his white spirituak are
IA. This Is q notable
to music, especially to
that OF the church, and Is o credit
to this city which has encouraged
Its composers 30 that this particular
branch of music In the Capital can