THE CRAZE FOR CERTIFICATES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 3

THE CRAZE FOR CERTIFICATES.

' _ When I consider How;' the lives of "all the little Floras_ arid Olgas. are spent nowadays practising /pieces',from- morning -to night on ■ an .unoffending piano,' my anger is intense (writes.-VCristina"). Oh, that the supposed /"talent" ; to.play, were lodged with them use-, '■less/ How :much;better tor themselves, and ,tho world generally, if. the-hours they spend indoors trying, to: play difficult-etudes, farir:. tastic fantasias, with.theirs unendurable and obvious variations,, 'were giyen .up. to playing '. of/|doors'.-: Then' 'the' families/in -the neighbotUhobd would not be driven .to the .verge of distraction by'the ex.c'ruciating. torture of- listening, -.willy-nilly; to" thei .eternal/bahgihg'/an.d thUnirang.' A.^list ! as'--lprig'as- one's, arm 'lias : jus't ::; :ueen.published, as year by year it is published; in the-Sydney 1 papers (and,: no,.;doubt ,„Melbourne,-.-Adelaide, ■and 1 Brisbane bubble over, iii'the. same way), ■6fj the .names, of "the :,Btu'dents '.who ..have ;p_assed: ill:yaribu.s;grades./o.f .ipianoforte. exflr-: ?cisesW".-lii- :tho^pleme'ntaTy_, 'section' thesecare .counted'by the.'score.''Higlier-'?up they 'grow,: ?les's. and less, '.until -in the advanced, grade : ■they, ard but ;fe\v;; - The gods'. be Ithanked > for this. Some check is thus placed on the. piano-•■ playing madness. But this goes to.prove that, /■even mediocrity is difficult, of attainment, and. what'^s'/'it'all for? " ,Why ; .does every school--girl .waste hours''-and hours .off. her precious ■life over an instrument,...her parents must ■know that she,will quit as soon' as she puts;, ■her hair up,-''perhaps before.; "But every /girl' ,is 'ffo /her- parents a* potential ..Carehb.''. vb'r iPaderowskiv'. ':--':•--->■ ■';:;■;;■ >' : v .:' .:->-■' ._-*.'. - '>..-r*.'" : " --vj ' : Sir Frederick 'Bridge, by. his'straightfor-' /• ; .ird. denunciation of the examination. sys'lem (continues; "Christina") may" have helped;: moroi/thanheiknows, to Crush-the' desirel'so' .•rampant".to.'play' the ..piano. '../It is ■:not.'the Spiano the'-childrenflove, it is. the' certificates 'and. .the diplomas..' They look so - grand when /framed on /the. wall. Sir; Frederick; though /'distributing awards ■at the'tirrio. in his capac[ity; as chairman of Trinity .College, London,' for /some .examination; several hour's.a;day.fbr six months did'tho -pupil no good musically,:;and j; was a :.tbrment, to ./all. right-minded //people, l' learning "to rattle .oyer the keys-, like.' greased ■ lightning" was not a'bit of use. -What.piano playing required-was -. brain -work'.'first, arid | execution o'f.'the inspired, r nyusioians. England' has/ produced ,'were; , degre'e" l' : nieh'.. .-Elgar, Sullivan,' /and Coiyen jiad this-/ :* degree ...of./. upon/.; thoni. They.'/'did ■•not.!;"p.iss". ! .in! tho'; ordinary.'."ac-" ; ■ceptance.of parch'-; '.ments,'according to' Sir: Frederick', is the bane ''6i inodern .musical, study. :...'.,: '~■'^.-:"./.; . .;.,'■, ~: