Orchestral Instruments For Primary Pupils

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 22

Orchestral Instruments For Primary Pupils

Orchestral instruments are being made available to some children in Christchurch primary schools under a new pool system arranged by the Canterbury Education Board. Instruments to the value of £5OO are being bought by the Canterbury Education Board for the pool. It ’will include about 30 violins, four ’cellos, three flutes, three clarinets, eight treble and eight tenor recorders. “The Education Department does not feel the music in a school should be confined to singing,” said Mr H. W. Findlay, senior inspector of schools in Canterbury and Westland.

The Education Board's decision to set up the pool came after a recommendation from 4 recent senior inspectors' conference. A committee, comprising the senior inspector, a representative of the North Canterbury Primary Headmasters’ Association and a representative of the Christchurch Teachers’ College controls the allocation of the instruments.

“We try to ensure that the instruments go where they will benefit the greatest number of children,” said Mr Findlay. So far 12 schools have been issued with instruments. Three Types

Classes for ’children to learn the instrument of their choice were of three types, Mr Findlay said. They could

be in normal school hours with a qualified member of staff, out of school hours with a professional leather taking the class, or Saturday-morn-ing classes at the Christchurch Teachers’ College, which were under the direction of Mr R, Perks. In some cases schools already had several instruments and the issue of one from the pool to a child at a school sometimes meant that a class could be formed, said Mr Findlay. The Education Department will pay for the instruction of children in classes of a minimum number. The number varies for the instrument to be taught. In the case of violin learners, the minimum number for the class is eight. “All of the instruments—except the recorders—are orchestral,” said Mr Findlay. "The idea in this is to encourage children by giving them the chance of orchestral playing." Mr Findlay said there were already a large number of children who had learned to play descant recorders. "We are especially anxious to give those children the experience of ensemble playing,” he said.