Evening star., 1949-01-16

A move to revitalize music edu-
cation in the District schools is ex-
pected from Howard Mitchell, new
conductor of the National Symphony
Orchestra, after he takes over the
orchestra from DR.. Hans Kinder
next spring.
Mr.. Mitchell has informed The
Star he considers music a "step-
child" in the curriculum of WASH
ington's public schools and he be-
lieves the community should act to
increase its Importance.
To this end, he has promised the
full resources of the National SYM
phonN. But he also has warned that
the symphony can help only if addi-
tional financial means are provided,
and for this he has in mind a novel
appeal to Washington businessmen.
The 37-year-old conductor, who
last week led the first three of this
winters half dozen children's con-
certs, disclosed his views in an in
terview in which he reaff1rmed the
symphony's interest in multiplying
the special programs it gives for
school children.
Only Six Concerts Scheduled.
A group of educators, including
the music supervisors of the District
schools, a year ago recommended at
least 16 such school concerts for the
current winter. For financial rea-
sons, as in most other years, only
six are being given.
More concerts are impossible with
out more money, Mr.. Mitchell ex-
planned. Despite rising expenses,
the admission price for the student
concerts this year has been cut one
third to 40 cents. The orchestra
association says these concerts do
not pay for themselves.
Mr.. Mitchell now proposes, as the
answer to this problem, that Wash
ington business establishments
sponsor these school concerts as a
good will project, either jointly or
one firm to a concert.
Businessmen should be eager to
undertake project like this" de-
clared the young conductor. 1T
would certainly be the best kind Of
public relations for them
Baltimore Gives $4,000.
Another possibility, explored with
preliminary success a few years ago,
is a congressional subsidy. A $25 900
appropriation was approved by one
subcommittee in 1945. The SYM
phony association has a standing
committee on this proposal. Nearby
Baltimore gives over $4,000 annually
to its orchestra, mainly for this pur-
pose.
Mr.. Mitchell's interest in Wash
ington schools goes much further
than symphony concerts, however.
He is the father of four children.
He is convinced, he said, that school
authorities, whether from inability
or diSinterest, have failed to give
music sufficient classroom emphasis.
Music instruction here is in the
doghouse,'' he declared. Chill
QTeIl Sl1OluQ nave music dS daily
fare, yet in our elementary schools
they have it no more than Is or 20
minutes a month"
District Has Few Teachers.
School music heads, Paul Gable
and Alfred johnson, long have
sought additional teachers. For the
all-important elementary grades, the
District has nine music teachers for
54,974 children. And only rs music
teachers are responsible for the sys-
TENS total of more than 10000 pu-
pills as compared with 1898 teachers
for other subjects.
One activity that feels the pinch
is instrumental instruction. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Gable, only one in
strumental teacher is available for
elementary children and the result
is increasingly apparent in the diff
ficulty in filling the ranks of junior
and senior high school orchestras.
Mr.. Mitchell Is concerned about
this because it means few, if any,
musicians are likely to be turned