Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
REVIEW
THE
VOL. LXXXIL No. 11
Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y., Mar. 13, 1926
»l.<£°& e r Y 10
Slng
Cents
Musical Instrument Instruction as
Detroit Schools Offer It
A Summary of Musical Instruction as It Has Been Developed in the Schools of That City During the Past
Two Years—An Address by Fowler Smith, Supervising Instructor of Music in Detroit Schools—An
Outstanding Example of What Music Merchants Should Develop in Their Own Cities
T is the aim of the music department of the and sing, and while the Symphony Hall holds schools. A survey disclosed the fact that there
Detroit public schools that every child learn only 2,200, every fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth was available throughout the city in elementary
to sing, to appreciate a good type of music grader has heard and studied and learned to schools about 700 violins and practically no
and acquire a skill in note reading. Our slogan appreciate the finest type of music. Twenty- other instrument.
is "Music for Every Child; Every Child for five minutes per week is allotted to this work:
To acquaint the pupils with the instruments,
Music," and it is carried out in the courses in ten minutes in the music room and fifteen the J. L. Hudson Co., a department store of this
all our schools.
city, gave us free of charge their
splendid orchestra, composed of thirty
In every school—elementary, inter-
Detroit Symphony men, under the
mediate, and high—music is taught
direction of Earl Van Amberg for
by a special music teacher. Every
thirty concerts. This organization
school is provided with from one to
gave demonstrations of all instru-
eight pianos, according to enrollment
ments in solo capacity by choir and
and the needs. Every school has at
full ensemble.
least one phonograph and records.
Every child for nine years devotes
The advantages of studying wind
F Detroit schools, both elementary and
two half-hour periods a week under
instruments were set forth.
a specialist. He is taught the use of
/
high, have made such progress in offering
A letter signed by Mr. Cody setting
his singing voice. He is given a
forth a plan to offer free instruction
free
instruction
on
musical
instruments
during
great wealth of lovely songs of the
in all the instruments of the orches-
the past two years, why is it similar progress
child world, folk songs, patriotic
tra and band was sent to parents of
songs, art songs.
all pupils who had heard the concerts.
is not being made in every other city of the
A questionnaire was inclosed to dis-
The old, laborious, and technical
country? The summary of this work, printed
cover how many would take advan-
system of do-re-mi syllables, which
tage of free instrumental training.
on this page, is by Fowler Smith, Supervising
often made pupils hate music, has
The return from the questionnaire
been reversed and through contact
Instructor in Music of that city, which was
made it seem advisable to organize
with real music and real song, chil-
broadcast through the courtesy of the Detroit
six centers, in each center six classes,
dren love it and learn to read from
one each of the following instru-
notation. Special training for talent-
Music Trades Association recently in that city.
ments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trom-
ed pupils is a part of the program.
bone, cello, drum. Two lessons each
Boys' and girls' glee clubs and chor-
week after school hours and on Sat-
uses are encouraged as extra curric-
ular activities. The play and operetta take the minutes in the auditoriums of the schools. urday, required twelve teachers. These teachers
place of the old-fashioned school entertainment
At the end of the season, a music-memory were secured from the instrumental teachers
where Johnny painfully spoke a little piece and contest is held, one in each school, and the of the music department of the Cass Technical
Susie sang a little song, to the grief of every- finals at Orchestra Hall. Individuals may win a High School at the rate of $2 per hour.
one but Mamma and Papa. By the use of the perfect score pin, and a school in each district
In the Fall of 1924 extensions were made. For
phonograph, player piano, and a carefully out- may win a banner for the best school score in the second series of demonstration concerts we
lined course in music appreciation, children are his district. The same music memory contest used our own Cass band with Miss Edith
familiarized with the finest symphonic music.
is taken up by the Federation of Women's Rhetts, a lecturer. Beginners' classes were or-
Music Appreciation
Clubs. This is a fine incentive and places a ganized in the same districts. Advanced classes
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Society community appreciation on achievement in were then centralized at Cass High School on
gives to the children of Wayne County ten music, as does inter-scholastic football and Saturday mornings.
concerts annually, which means that 25,000 basket ball in athletics.
The policy now in operation permits the pu-
children hear the symphony every year. The
Our aim then for the mass of children is to pil to take his instruction for the first year in
selections are worked out in joint effort with teach them to sing, to read music from nota- his district. For advanced training, he comes to
the Symphony Society and our music depart- tion, to know much of the world's best music, Cass on Saturday morning.
ment. Only selections are made for which and to have an emotional regard and a scholas-
The development of orchestra and band in
phonograph records can be obtained. These tic respect for the greatest of the arts, as an the individual schools is in the hands of the
concerts then become the basis for our music integral part of their life experience.
special music teacher in the school. An exten-
appreciation work in the schools.
sion course of the Detroit Teachers' College is
First Instrumental Training
For a month or six weeks before each con-
On March 6, 1924, special training in all the offered in school orchestra to train teachers in
cert, records are circulated in the schools, as basic instruments of the band and orchestra was service, to organize and carry on orchestras.
(Continued on page 4)
well as printed themes which the pupils learn begun in a few districts in the elementary
I
Why?