VOCAL AND AUTISTIC TRAINING OF CHILDREN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 9

VOCAL AND AUTISTIC TRAINING OF CHILDREN.

TO the editor of "the pbess."' Sir,—l am emboldened, by a knowledge of your interest in the musical and artistic training of the young, to solicit the hospitality of your correspondence columns, in order to lay l>e. fore your readers a scheme which I

should like to put into operation at once. The new Music in Schools Associa<- j lion ha 6 my warmest approval and ] support, but the scale on which the Association proposes to work i 8 so large that some considerable time must inevitably elapse before all the detaita are perfected. I propose, therefore, rather than lose any more time, to put into operation entirely on my own responsibility a rather more inodest scheme. I fiave just finished the compilation of a book of eighty folksongs and choruses for the use of the student teachers in the Normal Training College—a book which, I hope, will stimulate both teachers and children .to "get the folk-son 2 habit." In addition to English ; Scotch, Irish and Welsh folk-music, the book contains such old favourites as "The Old Folks ;:t Home," Henry Purcell's "Fairest Isle," "Blow, bow, thou wi ter wind," "Sigh no more, ladies," etc., as well as modern pieces like "Admirals All," "Dike's Drum,'' "I/and of our Birth," "The Village Blacksmith," etc. The book is, as I have said, intended primarily for cltss use in the training college, so that the young teachers may go to their schools equipped with a good store of songs, r«; well as witti the ability to teach them. A number of copies will also be available for the use of'the children at the weekly practice which I am proposing to hold. I therefore extend a hearty invitation to those parents who are anxious for their children to receive vocal training, to send them along on Saturday morning next to St. Michael's Church Hall (corner of Oxford terrace and Lichfield street) at ten o'clock. All girls from seven to about fifteen or sixteen, and boy? from seven to twelve, will be welcome. In vocal training, as in many other branches of instruction, the maxim is "catch them young." Then, what becomes too often in the adult subject a matter of "voice-restoration" —the adjustment of dislocate 3 vocal apparatus—is in the ehikl-ivoice merely "voice-conservation,'' the preservation of the pure vocal tone, before a large vocabulary of spoken words is acquired. But there, are other acquirements than correct singing, which it is desirable that children should possess, if their artistic tastes are to be stimulated. There are correct speech, clear articulation; graceful pose and movement, a painless shedding of that self-con-sdiousr.es.; which so grievously afflicts many people when they grow up. These subjects I propose to deal with bv the study and preparation for performance of the children's opera, "Snow White and th€ Seven Dwarfs " The study of such a work combines in an unique manner the various branches of vocal and histrionic training which I have enumerated ; and a fairlv wide experience of such work in both hemispheres has convinced me that there is no quicker nor pleasanter >vnv for children to acquire some of the graces and arts of life than to take part in a ■ work of this Kind. The practices will commence, then, on Saturday morning, Juno 10th, at ten o'clock. No charge will be made for enrolment, but each boy and girl must purchase the book of songs, price one shilling. , . I appeal with the greatest confidence to parents to assist me ,in this undertaking. and T also extend a cordial invitation to them to attend the rehearsals with their children, and so become acquainted with the work at first-hand. L.R.A.M., A.R.C.O. I Conductor R.C.M.S.