VOCAL MUSIC IN STATE SCHOOLS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 147, 9 June 1892, Page 2

VOCAL MUSIC IN STATE SCHOOLS.

[ 10 THK EDITOR OF THID STAR. > Sir, — I was greatly surprised and grieved to hear that vocal music is not , allowed u y the Department to be taught I at the ."•: ce schools of the colony. It j I car.nut ! j tiue, what more delightful . ! recreation can there be than the practice iof singing ? To see and hear a thousand \ or two of young people so engaged is a " treat and a pleasure. The delight and ■ enthusiasm with which the youngsters ' enter into the task can plainly be seen on • their faces and in their voices. How s i cherry song enlivens labor. What mom. . ones are aroused by listening to an old 1 song. " Home Sweet Home " how thai . song has gone all over the world anc . never has lost its freshness and pathos, ; It is hard and dry work for children engagod in school duties, and so must tht tired mistress and master often fiud li uothing but lessons all the year round with not a note of music from theiryoung and lusty voices joining together in sing' ing some grand old hymn, song, 01 , simple piece of music. In the old country all the public schools commence the day's work by singing a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. At schools where the 1 head teachers are able to tram theii scholars properly the children are taught all the parts so the voices are graceful!? blended. Having lived near a large school I have often seen passers by stop and listen to the singing and go away humming the tune they have heard sung ; 1 you could also notice the freshness of the walking so much does music enhveu the ! dull round of every day life. One afternoon in the week is devoted to singing, on a day selected the children are taken to ! some largo building say the Crystal Palace at Sydenhani, where they meet 1 with other schools and join m consorted pieces. It is a most delightful sight to 1 see 20,000 children dressed in their holiday suits, the girls with colored sashss and the bojs with rosettes denoting the ' parts they are to lake in the proceedings, and when the conductors baton is raised and the great organ sounds, the key note ibe sound that comes from their youthful throats so fresh, crisp, and clear causes a thrill to pass through, you and every one in the large audience is in sympathy with lha singers. Of course in so joung a colony we can only go along slowly and must not expect to do things on so grand a scab but, Mr Editor, what is there to prevent it being done on a smaller one. What harm can there be done in teaching children to sing. It is taught in all the Australian colonies and why not in New Zealand. Mauy children in the back blocks have not the privilege of going to church or place of worship, or suuday school, so how can they know anything about 6inging or the art of music. Who can tell what being taught siuging may lead to, many of our n'uest smgers have come from the rank of their country. Music books are now so cheap that the cost would be a very small sum to provide the teachers with books (the children buying their own same as the other book). I feel sure from enquiries I have made that the school children would be delighted if the Department could see their way clear to give instructions that vocal music should be taught in all schools under their supervision. I am, etc., H.T.B.