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Former Pupil Now Assistant
Supervisor
An interesting sidelight also on the
success of these group piano lessons in
the New Rochel le organization is the
fact that Miss Anna Marie Loretto, as-
sistant supervisor of music, who is
shown in one of the illustrations con-
ducting a class, received her primary
education in music in the group classes
in the school, and was a student of Mis.
Frisch. During this education, a con-
test was held in which the prize was a
scholarship for a music education and
in which the contestants were practical-
Iv all students of private tearhers. Miss
Loretto, after consulting Mrs. Frisch, de-
cided to enter the contest and became
the winner with the result that she re-
ceived a scholarship for a music edu-
cation and is now assistant music super-
visor of the schools in New Rochelle's
educational system.
Mrs. Frisch Presented with
Testimonials
On the night of this festival, the audi-
torium was packed with standing room
only, and not only was enthusiasm man-
ifested through the applause of those
attending, but Mrs. Frisch was pre-
sented with a box containing several
hundred testimonial letters from moth-
ers of children throughout the city ex-
tainly all for more of this throughout
the schools in New York State. It is a
marvelous tribute to Mrs. Frisch and
her associates and just shows what can
be done by persistent effort in teaching
the piano in the schools. Another en-
LUKE BOEVE 14 YEAR OLD ORGANIST
AND PIANIST
thusiast who attended was Bernard B.
Nye, director of music education of the
New Rochelle Public Schools, who
frankly stated that he felt it was Lhe
duty of every school administration to
make it possible for piano instruction
in the schools. "I do not know of any
agency better than that of education
which should bring this type of instruc-
tion to the people and give their chil-
dren an opportunity to learn to play the
LEFT: THE HIGH GROUP AND RIGHT: THE
tolling her wonderful work in promot-
ing the piano lessons in the school. The
presentation was made by Mrs. F. Sil-
verstone. mother of one of the young
men who played with the groups.
State Supervisor Present
One of the most enthusiastic persons
who attended this festival was Joseph
G. Saetveit, supervisor of music educa-
tion of the New York State Education
Department, who came from Albany,
N. Y. particularly to attend the festivi-
ties. He was so enthused regarding the
results that, as the parents left the
building, he would stand and talk with
them and get the first-hand reaction as
to their thoughts regarding the pro-
gram. Afterward he stated, "I am cer-
KINDERGARTEN
CHILDREN.
piano the same as it is being done with
other branches of learning."
Well Balanced Program
To get back to the program, the sec-
ond group of children played "Let Us
Dance" which is explained in the notes
as "a new rhythmic pattern with the
feeling of accents". The third number
was "Looby Loo" a singing game, and
the fourth was the "Fly and the Bumble
Bee" by children of the second and
third grade beginners, presenting trans-
position. It was explained that many
of these children have no pianos in
their homes. "Oh, Susannah" was
played by a small group "having fun
with a familiar tune," on one piano.
These were second and third sraders.
Then came first grade beginners,
first, second and third grade intermedi-
ates who played "Twinkle, Twinkle, .
Little Star" and who gave their own
simple chord accompaniments to this
tune. Several children then played "Pa- '
rade of the Chords", a solo "which is
fun to play on several pianos" and the
notes continue, "Good teamwork at the
piano develops good musicianship."
These were first, second and third grad-
ers. The intermediate graders then
played "The Toy Marines", a duet
which the notes stated "develops an in-
dependence and self-confidence". The
second, third and fourth grade inter-
mediates then played a two-piano ar-
rangement of "Piccolo Pete", and the
second and third grade intermediates '
"March of the Candy Soldiers". They
wore followed by sixth and seventh
graders who began to study only last
year and played "The Country Gar-
dens". Fourth, fifth and sixth graders
with two or three years of study played
"The Norwegian Dance".
High School Students Perform
The final selections were played by
members of the Junior High School
classes, and a member of the Senior
High School. These children have
elected to continue their study in
groups. They have one 30-minute les-
son per week after the school session.
Their experience has all been in class.
Some of this group have performed in
Philadelphia in March at the M.E.N.C.
Convention, a story of which appeared
in the April issue of the REVIEW.
In respect to the groups giving dem-
onstrations, it was stated in the notes
of the program: "Two years ago a
group played at several sessions of the
Eastern Division of the Music Educa-
tors National Conference in Baltimore.
Last spring a kindergarten class gave a
demonstration in Atlantic City at the
Eastern Division of the M.E.N.C. An
intermediate group gave a class lesson
and a Junior High ensemble played at
the New York Piano Teaching Work-
shop which was held in New York City i
in February, 1951, sponsored by the
New York Congress of Piano Teachers.
A group of 15 children from kinder-
garten through Junior High School was
invited to give a demonstration of piano
instruction on different levels in an as-
sembly of the students and the faculty
of the Music Education Department of
New York University in March, 1952.
Many of the children played several
other instruments in bands and orches-
tras of the schools. Piano classes foster
a sense of cooperative responsibility
and arouses enthusiasm, and we do
have fun playing the piano."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JUNE. 1952