SINGING LESSONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 804, 17 December 1954, Page 5

SINGING LESSONS

Sir -It was with great surprise that I heard over the air that Mr. T, J. Young was no lofiger to conduct the singing lessons with the studio class, As. Chairman of the Kelburn Normal School Committee, the school which over the past eighteen years has provided the children for the studio class, I cannot let the occasion pass without a tribute to the work.that Mr. Young has done. Mr. Young is a first-class musician who has put into the work not only his outstanding ability, but his great interest. Over the years he has perfected a technique which not only. enables pupils with good singing voices to sing better, but enables children whom no one suspécted of having singing talents to sing effectively and well. As all who have heard his broadcasts will know he has a particularly happy manner with children, and speaking of those who know him personally, children regard him with a lively affection. I have been given to understand that now there are landlines from Dunedin the studio class will be conducted from there. While appreciating in full the value of change and variety, may I respectfully suggest that in an age which, consciously or unconsciously, tends to regimentation and bureaucratic control, it would be of value to teachers and pupils to "have the benefit of alternative programmes. The class has occupied one half-hour of broadcasting time once a week at a time when numbers of people cannot listen. Could not two half-hours be spared so that teachers would have the opportunity of making use of either or both the Dunedin and Wellington classes as their timetable or preference

dictated?

M. A.

TILLER

Chairman,

Kelburn Normal School Committee.