MUSICIANS' CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3103, 28 January 1909, Page 3

MUSICIANS' CONFERENCE.

SINGING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCLKAND, January 27. 1 The Musicians' Conference carried unanimously a motion as follows: "That the present system of teach- , ing singing in public schools is hav- ■ ing an injurious effect on children's i voices, and is likely to prove a 1 permanent injury to them in after i life, and this conference recom- ' mends for the present, the placing j of children under specially qualified jteachers; that the conference subi mits to the Education Department j that it is undesirable to continue j vocal music as a compulsory subject I for teachers, and strongly) recomI mends the training of suitable candidates in the subject." The mover (Mr Maitland Gardner, of Dunedin) said children were taught to yell, nut to sing. The injury told not only in singing, but also in speaking. Boys were drilled to sing low, their voices were made rough, and any capacity for singing destroyed. The conference decided to affirm the desirableness of establishing a | permanent orchestra for the Dominion ■ as an important factor in the musical education of the Dominion. The president (Mr Webbe) sug- , gested that they should have an orchestra like that of the Christchurch Exhibition, including the best professional talent in the Dominion.