Science Offers A Guide To Musical Capacity

Radio Record, 15 July 1938, Page 6

Science Offers A Guide To Musical Capacity

rl OW many children, with absolutely no talent for music, endure years of drudgery at lessons when they would be better occupied indulging a useful hebby? This article by Eric Baker gives an account of an interesting system, perfected in America, by which the unmusical geats can be divided from the musical sheep.

as OUNG lady, refined. musical, seeks friendship of musical gentleman. Genine." Have you ever seen one of these intriguing little "‘advts."’ in your daily paper? And have you ever thought how much lies in that -final word with the

eapital "G’’? It should be possible to-day to determine a person’s musical potentialities with accuracy; to single out from a bunch of towsled toddlers almost anywhere in New Zealand, the future Taubers and Grace Moores-and those who can never aspire, however hard they work, to rise above household virtuosity. It’s a pity we’re so far removed from the amenities of civilisation. Special schools for music tests, such as a visiting American told me the other day now exist in the United States, would have a tremendously beneficial effect on New Zealand home life, and save hundreds of children from hopeless musical drudgery. On the other hand, they would prevent the one great musical tragedy which is worse-the neglect of children who are potentially great. Educational authorities in New Zealand are rapidly realising that music is, of course, not only for the talented. | Everyone should play some musical instrument. But, certain it is that a concert pianist’s training need not be wasted on someone who can never do more than amuse himself!

An American psychologist, says a writer ina famous musical publication, began experimenting with music tests 30 years ago. After developing his procedure, during which he examined thousands of children, he was ready for the bigtest. Could he really predict success or failure in music, not

only in isolated instances, but in the overwhelming majority of cases? Only recently were the results of the "measuring" of more than 10,000 people, from nine to 66 years of age, made known, and the records are said to abound in exciting case histories. When the tests were first begun, an 11-years-old boy was singled out from the crowd. His parents were not in the financial position to encourage his desire to become a violinist. But the tests indicated exceptional merit and lessons were begun immediately. Now, still in his twenties, that man is conducting a symphony orchestra. In New Zealand, just as in any other country, there are people who often "feel a hankering to write down melodies that flit through their brains.’"’ But, they don’t take themselves seriously enough to find out how to go about it. In a*parallel case in the United States, an inherent talent of this nature was discovered in a young girl, and since then she has had many compositions published. ° _ On the other hand, there was Clara who, by the time she was 19, had waded through five years of piano practice, just because (Continued on page 30.)

" Guide of Science © eer ~ SPECIAL ARTICLE {Continued from page 6.)

her ambitious but misguided mother was bent on making an accomplished musician out of her. ‘Tests revealed that she had no more talent for the piano, or any sort of music, than an oyster. Mother gave up the fight and Olara became a highly efficient confidential secretary. It is amazing how many Claras have been, and still are, being made to crash along the keyboard somehow, and how many fond parents are literally breeding "inferiority complexes" by their persistence in what is a cruel mistake. You only have to look in on a backblocks concert in New Zealand during your holidays, or go to a home party or two in the city to realise that! Here is where the proposed Conservatorium of Art would be a great boon to New Zealand. The importation from America of a "vocational psychology" expert would be well worth a purse or two out of the fund. built up by listeners’ fees, We know, from recent experience, that when young genius is discovered, there is generally a move to raise cash to send him or her for overseas’ training. But, when it comes to determining whether a person has any musical talent at all, a "tests" department could quite well be part of the conservatorium, Obviously, however, no two cases for diagnosis can be exactly the same. But only recently I heard of a case in

Christchurch which may be of interest ‘to those performers-and there are many of them-who can manage 4 piano, keyboard very creditably "hy ear.’ ot A young man, who had been playing in this fashion ever since he could remember, wanted to learn sight-reading. He proved to be a hopeless duffer. His wise teacher said, after a few lessons, "I’m afraid you’re wasting your money and my time. You play amazingly by ear. Stick to it." He did.and, such is his knowledge of the keyboard and his ability to retain a melody, that he is warmly welcomed in musical circles. That’s "a gift." He ‘knows he could never learn to sightread, so is putting in all his spare time to perfecting his style of interpretation. Naturally, a love of music does not always go hand in hand with tajent, though people low in the scale of talent ean learn to sing and play for their own amusement-when the rest of the family is out. And so, if little Jennifer shows a purning passion to negotiate "Rousseau’s Dream" on the front-room upright, there is no reason why she should not be assisted to get all the fun she can from it. But, if the said little Jennifer makes a mess of the simplest pitch test-and I am sure there are many people in New Zealand even now capable of giving them-don’t, for Heaven’s sake, tell her she’s made for the concert stage. All of us may derive pleasure from listening to music, and this pleasure can be enhanced by a study of musical appreciation. As a famous musician once put it, "Although every child cannot make a contribution to music, music can make a contribution to every child." That goes for adults, too,