Music for Children

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7025, 8 December 1932, Page 9

Music for Children

A PIANIST’S OPINION. Miss Harriet Cohen, the pianist, had an hour’s vivacious talk to the members of the City of London vacation course at luncheon recently. She had invited questions, and answered them, (states a correspondent). “Music,” she declared, “really belongs to the person who writes it. Too much fuss is made of the individual interpreter as against the individual work. I think people are far too keen on the interpreter, and not nearly keen enough on the composer. “There ought to be much more music in tho schools, not as professional, but as an educational subject, and the Incorporated Society of Musicians are getting into touch with the schools with a view to providing them with concerts by first-class artists. It is a pity that children arc made to learn music. If they could only hear it oftcner and be made to learn less frequently, it would bo a good thing, making the good listener we need so much.** “Do you think our present-day music will last long beyond our own day?’’ she was asked, and her reply was: “Music has always been modern, and there wero always great composors and always will be. I think the finest music is being created in England, and people all over the world are becoming interested in English composors, although they are still rather bored by our interpretive artists.” Miss Cohen was asked if she thought children were taking 100 great an interest in danco orchestras, and replied that she did not think they were, although they took interest in all sorts of queer things. “I do wish,” she added, “that people would keep dance music for dances.”

“Do you think learning eortain musical instruments, such as the piano, should be begun very early, say at six years?” was a question. “Poor little devils!” ejaculated Miss Cohen. She thought tho ’teens early enough for the ordinary child, adding: “I presume we all play tho piano because it is tho instrument which makes the largest piece of furniture at home. I supposo if the sideboard had strings to it we would play tho sideboard. If I ever have a lot of children they shall learn any instrument they want to —but only if they want to,”