MUSIC MADE EASY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 8

MUSIC MADE EASY

Jfn Gcorgo Kyme, « Fellow of tho London College of Music, interested a fairly largo audience in St. John s Schoolroom last evening, in what he calls "the lightning method of teaching music,” had as demonstrated by the inventor the jmeltHod certainly inculcates a simple and ingenious way of removing many of the complexities attendant upon a thorough understanding of the elementary forms of music. It is just as efficacious in the case of adults as children, but Mr. Kyme emphasised its value in the latter case particularly as the mind is plastic and tho memory is acute in earlier years. Mr. Kyme has wedded to the sol-fa eystem of letters a series of signs or note-shapes to signify the notes of tho scale, as for example a solid triangle Indicates "doh,” a cup-shaped sign "re” a square ‘Ta,” and so on. _ Then for ocular demonstration he has invented a hand-sign, also to represent this or. that note in the scale so that choirs of children havo been taught to sing tunes by merely watching the teacher’s hands. From’ such a basis, he has devised a card, emblazoned with tho signs to fit exactly at the back of the keylxiard of a pilanoforte. and by simple moving the card one way or tho other, scales in the various keys may be memorised mid played or sung, and the arpeggios allied to each key developed. The speaker urged his method as one which might bo” adopted by the Sundlay schools to teach the children how to sing music at sight, have a knowledge of time (tho value of notes), and give thorn not only the ground-work of music in the conarete as well as the cibetract. but tho means of "making music.” Referring to a hymn-book, he flaid that probably not. one of the hundred of hymns in it had been composed in Now Zealand or \ustralia, but most of them were "made in America,” [where hundreds of thousands were “made" every year, yet. New Zealand, and Australian brains were not inferior—rather Hie reverse. He would have children taught music as they wore taught English, so that they cenld write it as well as they could English words and phrases. His method, tho speaker- declared, ;w-as going to make New Zealand "the most efficient musical country in the world.” Mr. Kymo also said that he taught singing "in tho Gnrriso fashion.” Unfortunately ho was too old when he learnt it. Had ho been a« young as some of those in the audience he might havo Men another Caruso. He demonstrated: the Caruso vibratory method, and also showed profifienov on the mouth organ, and mentioned that his method of notation was applicable to the violin and brass instruments as well as the pianofore. The chair was occupied by the Mayor /.Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.)., and at the conclusion of his ndjrees Mr. Kyme was given a hearty vote of thanks.