EDUCATIONAL REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2175, 27 April 1870, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL REPORT.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, — In your paper of the 21st inst. wc have the annual report by the Secretary to the Education Board. By the report there are 2429 pupils learning to sing from notes, and the music master, who has been appointed sub-inspector of schools, cannot attend to these pupils as he would like to do. Now, I would ask, is music of so little importance as to be left almost entirely without a master. I see by recent Home papers that teachers are getting grants for all the pupils that pass an examination in music, as an extra subject. The examination is conducted in the tonic sol fa method of teaching to sing. The London Times says it is the only natiojial and popular system of teaching music worthy the name. Could not our Provincial Government do something in the way of grants to teachers teaching this important branch of education ? Is there no one in Dunedin that could teach this system which is working such wonders in the Home country. Look at the Crystal Palace demonstrations—sooo young people singing a piece of music at first sight correctly, the piece composed by one of the greatest living composers for the occasion. There must be something in it worth taking notice of. The sol fa people issue certificates of merit to all who fulfil the requirements. These are of four grades—first, the elementary ; second, the intermediate ; third, the members ; and fourth, the advanced certificate. Each of those work the pupils up to a certain stage of ipm sical knowledge, so that the teachers know at any time what their pupils can do. I should like to see our Government do some, thing in the matter, and then we might expect to have the people’s service of song in the sanctuary better executed. Could we not get some one in town to teach the method as sub-teacher of music under our music master, Mr Taylor? It is quite impossible that he can attend personally to it, and do his other duties as well. Some of your many readers might give us their opinion on the subject. Trusting you will give the above a place in your valuable paper.—l am, &c., A Lover of Music. Dunedin, 25th April, 1870.