SCHOOL MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 745, 18 February 1910, Page 11

SCHOOL MUSIC.

TEACHERS WHO CANNOT SING.

Teaohers' .sirigV.are. rather';seriously; handicapped:,when.-ithe; question Vof;.:.giving'.t'a ;6ingihg: lesson/, in sohool has-to-be considered.': .In sohopls' where the two. or more, the difficulty'cari be'got over',, for, there 'is' generally .'one member: 'of ■'the--'staff -'who.-can sing, with, more or less, success.. In'a sniall country, school," whoro •there is- only, one teacher-in ;charge,*;and the quality of; "sweet song"; ; is: not •■ part of his equipment,-, a.'difficulty arises, for the. children,.are'.entitled.'.to: their,,singing lesson.,:;',■;•■,■.'•.; -■■<■. '- : -;; ;t::. ; ''•'■■- ■ '■■'.'■ ""-The linspeetors'-.confeTence.gave.'.- some serious thoughtto-- this -problem; on'Wed-nesdii-y 'when' the following-motion, subv :-raitted,' by the; sub-*cbmm'ittee.:on '-'Train-' ing,^:.was'debuted:—:':';:,;:.;■'■' ,|i'That, in''-the';.case. of ,;.candidates, for, teachers' certificates:.-who:-:are qualify for .'the' practical - musical, test ■ a reasonable, prbficiehcy''.'.'in.;playing ; ; spine suitable instrument, bo accepted..','.:■ .'....., .- .Mr'.fGoyen aiid'ithat.'he; had visited sbhoolk where he "had.been-'informed: tho children-.had-:never .ten, given pinging ■lessonsi.''.-''-."-' /l .' :;:'.' "'yJ- : ' : ViD'r.'Don said 'that m .Germany; the. substitution of the:violin -or. some other suitable instrument h-i 1 -been tiied.withastonishing, .suooess. •• .;:-,•' '-':',':";, •■'■■ Other ■ speakers; '• argued that ■if .. th!j teacher had.no ear for'music,'it would be hopeless to do anything with them, • so 1 , far as giving singing lessons was iconcerned. The" substitution of the violin' ' or. : some'. other. suitable, instrument :could only be successful in'-the case, of -those-who. had an;-ear. for musib/;but . .had no singing voice/ ■:•' '■.';' i ; :v ,. ! , f ; Mr/'Bakewell: Would the pianola'.'dor' (Laughter.) '-:;;.;;;:.';::;;. ...;■ ".i;"-: . The:„motion-- was earned.. -.'.. , -