Mu.& education itz the nirricuhmdevelop their taste in music, to teach them how to interpret a melody,
and to make them familiar with popular, classical or patriotic songs.
They also inculcate a sense of discipline and individual responsibility,
and provide an opportunity for group work. These school choral
groups, membership of which is compulsory for all children selected
by the principal music teacher, perform a very important cultural
function.
In the senior classes of the Lyce‘es, and in the vocational training
schools, the theory of music ceases to be taught; at this stage, it is in
the choral groups and orchestras that music education is continued.
The professional associations of music teachers are insistent upon
at least one hour’s music education per week being included in the
curriculum of the senior classes in secondary schools.
For the training of musical taste, children have an opportunity of
listening to serious music, played to them by the teachers as part of
their lessons; or professional musicians give concerts for them. The
radio also, by broadcasting good music, contributes to the develop-
ment of taste.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF TEACHERSPrimary school teachers receive musical training in teacher-training
colleges, which admit only students showing special aptitude. It is
compulsory for every student, besides learning the theory of music,
to become acquainted with a musical instrument.
Teachers of the senior classes of primary schools and of the junior
classes of &Lees receive their training in the theory division of the Con-
servatoire, at the Music Academy, or in the special branch of the Higher
Pedagogical Institute. They obtain their diplomas from the college
of music, and hold the title of ‘teacher’ or ‘professor’ of music.
There are not enough qualified teachers of music, since the number
of schools has increased very greatly since the end of the war.
Teachers of music have the same rights, and are on the same footing,
as their colleagues who teach other subjects. The compulsory teaching
period is 24 hours per week; work in excess of these hours is paid for
according to current regulations.
The dif3iculties encountered by music teachers in ordinary schools
are as follows : lack of sheet music for children; difficulty, owing to lack
of catalogues, in obtaining foreign music books; shortage of musical
instruments (especially pianos) for practical work.