ABOUT MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 7

ABOUT MUSIC.

EXAMINATIONS AND THE CONSERVA- ■' ■■■."■.'■ ' ; ■ TORIUM. . i : ..:.:.;...•■ • '.-,, :' ; . ■ MR. MAUGHAN' BARNETT : .'.■:■;::■:■. //; INTERVIEWED; -'.:■]■ ■■;• :\ _ Music'.'in thoDominion and how toimpfbvo ,it was'the subject of in uch discussion at the recent conference of musicians! at.'Auokland, and as it is a matter whioh concerns ■every-' ■onoj ■■■from ■-the parent .whose .children■■"'are' .merely'."turn-tumming"• at' . the .five-finger .exorcise';;to "the;. skilled executant: who delights in : "masses."and fugues and ops;" ..Mr. , Alaughan' Bariiett, .'tho .eminent pianist,';-or-ganist, conductor; and composer was , sought ; out,for his views. '.V " ji'.-■■'■■.•'■:.. '/ "1 regret," said lie, : t"that I was unable"to attend the conference .in Auokland,. as tho subjects for discussion included some in which I am-particularly, interested.. .- - ■ -' '.', - ■'■"'../; Examinations.; '~■■' ■ ''.'To my,.mind, the outstanding feature of the,;conference was. the refusal: by a large majority.of the; delegates,.to pass a motion 'affirming-the value' .to .teachers . and pupils; of tlw examinations conducted in the Dominion ' by tho : .Associated. Board..and Trinity College. .My; views on. this: subject are, I think,, fairly well known, and I'will therefore content" myself iby the': opinion that .'the; present ■ system' of'. oxaminatioh 1 is absolutely opposed to: real artistic progress'. ,Irtrust.the day is not far distant when alii •teachers, will- : refus6 to 'send in their pupils for-these examinations. Some months ago an article on the examination question, by. Professor Marshall Hall,. appeared in one of' tho Melbourne papers. ■.;,. ■~ - - ■;."-.. ■ ,-.'.■'■■■• ': .: '.- ■.:'".. /'■ ;,, . ■■' .. ■.■' ■■• ■'- .:' ' . ; : v : ■■■._;,'•.. Singing In Sohools." -. "Another important, i.matter considered f.ythe.' conference; was the teaching of singing .in our State schools. ■ ' Judging . from . the 'speeohesi.inade-at this and'last year's conferences, it. seems, evident that the musicians, agree that the'.teaohing of singing in these' schools is not conducted in a satisfactory manner.. The valiie "to.'children of ;; a' thoroughly good iri,siiig;ing.is recognised at: Home and on. the Continent. 'Sir John Stainer was for somo.years Inspector of Singing,in. schools' in ; -England, and,ho was sue-: ceoded' by Mr. Arthur , , Somervell,. ; another well-known musician, and I notico that the London County Council has just'appointed a imusical adviser and inspector at a salary of £300 per annum,, the object of the appoint : merit', being the. increase of the musical , effi- ; ,'ciency of the pupils in the council's schools. As far as our schools are concerned,. 1 would l like to see competent professional musicians appointed, either to conduct the singing classes.or, to. thoroughly train ''school '■■ t-oaohers who 'show, signs of musical ability. . . ■~ .The Proposed Consorvatoriums. , ; ■- "The decision of the conference ' that the establishment of a State-subsidised Conse'rvai -toriurai of Music is premature', is one with' .which I .cannot agree; . I" believe that the establishment of' a properly conduoted conservatorium; would Tiave, excellent results, more; especially' in. the direction of giving those who intend to enter-the'profession a broader, musical education than is possible here under- v existing conditions, and consequently: it seenis to; me that' the. sooner the proposal/is carried out tho '. : .. :'.' "-T6..' ; my"' mind; the absence of a definite scheme has led to a good deal.of misunderstanding. , I am inclined to think that an impression y prevails that the fees - would be so. low as to cause serious injury to- ontside teachers, and however interested in.the musical: welfare of. the icommujiity these teachers may be, it is hardly likely that-they can look forward with equanimity to such a possibility; Again, I have heard the opinion expressed that musicians in the Dominion will be entirely ignored in tho matter of ments to tho staff. It seems to me, therefore that the publication of a definite scheme at an early date is advisable. '. ■ ... ThO'Conservatorium and Examinations. .:, " There is one point in connection with the proppsed conservatorium to which I would like to refer. From the reports of the interview which some members of the University 1 Senate had with the Minister for Education I gather that Mr. Louis Cohen emphasised the necessity.of tho conservatorium' bavin" control of examinations. Now, lam entirely in sympathy with Mr. Cohen in his desire to see a conservatorium established, but ; I consider that the good'work which-would be accomplished in many directions by such an institution would be largely counteracted by the ham done if it engaged in and encouraged this .'trade in certificates.' ,It may.not be eonorally known that there are no musical degrees, corresponding to thoso awarded by the, English institutions ■ examining in New Zealand, on the Continent. ' If thev wish to honour a great musician they make him a doctor of philosophy, or he, may obtain a professorship, ,and so become known as a professor. Only that and ;nothing more "