MELBA IN AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 108, 31 January 1919, Page 2

MELBA IN AUCKLAND

ON HER WAY TO ENGLAND. Among the through pssscfcgws by the -Niagara, to .Viiucouvw, en roqte to England, , was Dauie Nolllo lielba, etill thinking of ways aiiii iMWisby which to augment the lied Cress faads (Bays-the "New* Zealand Herald"). In spite of her various efforts in tho past in this direction, ike has lost none of her enthusiasm for tho good cause. Upon her arrival in England, Dame Melba will appear in tho Albert Hall, in aid of the Blind Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund, after, which she will tour the provinces pn behalf v of the Red Cross. Re-, turning to London, she hopes to have a season of opera at Covent Garden during May, June, and July, and expresses tho opinion. that, should peace be concluded in May, this .will. be. one of the most brilliant seasons of her experience. Dame Keiba thinks of touring France and Italy oii behalf of the Bed Cross. Society in the autumn. Recently the talented singer raised .£2125 for Mr. John Lemmone, the wellknown Australian flautist, who brought to New Zealand M. Paderewski.'who has now become the first Prime Minister of the new Polish republic. With Dame Melba is Miss Peggy Center, a young Australian, of whom she has greabhopes. CHILDREN AND RHYTHM , Dll. TROTTER'S SYSTEM. The singing of songs is taught in most if not all schools, but class music seldom in New Zealand' schools, although too much stress cannot be laid upon the value of, training"the ear in time and tone. In this connection it is very interesting to talk to Miss Clere, L.A.8., L.11.A.A1., who has just returned- from England, and who had tho pleasure and privilege of seeing a good deal of Dr. Trotter's system of rhythmic method of teaching. Indeed, she studied it under him for some time. By it children when quite young can distinguish any note that is sounded, and not only any single note, but they can pick out the dominant ndte in a chord. They'learn to express themselves in music, aiid it is all such a natural drawing out of the natural rhythm that is in them that they love it. It follows that what may be regarded as tho drudgery, of music ceases to.exist. Dr. Yorko Trotter, M.A., M.us. Doc (Oxori.), obtains the most wonderful results, and all from class work. The fact is that by having the children (grouped in classes a great deal of this timidity and self-consciousness so often formed in little ones is quite overcome. They become an inspiration to each other; the whole thing is as fascinating as a game, and more wonderful than a fairy story. From the very outset tho children arc composers: They have, a phrase in music sung or playeil to them, and they reply in a .phrase of music. Children who have been -studying for some time will, when {,'iven an entirely new' piece of music, go out of the. room -il'or ■ii little while and conceiilr;(te on it, (juite without any instrument, or any help whatever; they will then hand back the score and play the music entirely from memory, , even, when requested, transposing it—to such perfection has both eye, car, ami touch been brought. Dr. Trotter is surely the Froo■bel of the musical world; Of course, as .in .everything else, some children nre much ([iiickc'r than others, but the beautiful thing is that all children prove to have music in them. Thi'w children are 'in no sense of thu word infant; prodigies, but just everyday little boys and girls. Dr. Trotter every .year gives forty scholarships to children of'the London country schools.. The children attend classes hold in school hours, and the training in music is quite recognised us a part of tho school course. .Miss Clere visited a great many schools, and each one had cither Dr. Trotter's sye'tein or..else fOme system of musical education—really education, in the sense o( drawing out what is in the children. In the course of the training any movements may be made use of, but are in no way essential, aiid the system must not be confnsod with the Dalcimo system of .eurhythmies, which consists in physical, movements to music. Surely fhe dny cannot be far distant when'musical education 'will take its proper placo in tho ourripuluni of every school, when Hie meaning of beautiful music will be understood, not only,by a few, but by'tho masses. '