a diploma certifying that he is qualified to teach music or to perform.
This certificate, called nafori, is very difficult to obtain.
As regards the training of teachers in European music, it is the same as
theEuropean orAmerican method; but in Japan teachers are not obliged
to take a State examination, as is customary in some other countries.
Consequently, it is a question of personal talent and ability to teach.
There are many music schools in Japan and a great many teachers
have been taught there. Those who succeed in passing through one
of these schools are generally considered capable men.
There are many music lovers among the young people of Japan;
they not only like to listen, they also want to perform music, and this
is a very good thing. Parents are pleased to see their children studying
music, not only in schools where teaching is less specialized, but also
with a private teacher where they are able to improve their knowledge
of various instruments.
The future of European music in Japan is full of promise. There
were and there still are a great many talented young people, and, as
I have told you, thanks to the development of European music, private
teaching is a highly esteemed profession.
INDIVIDUAL AND
PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION
IN ENGLAND AND WALES
by
I. R. WALTERS, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools in WalesMay I stress at the beginning that though a member of the U.K. dele-
gation I can only speak with any degree of authority on the position
as it is known to me in my own country of Wales, which, as you know,
is but a very small part of Great Britain.
The private music teachers have a significance in our general scheme
of musical education that has never been adequately recognized.
They have been allowed to pursue their profession in complete iso-