International Conference on the Role and Place of Music in the Education of Youth and Adults; Music in education; 1955

Mpisic education in socicly

the pupil derives from it. First, he will get the feel of harmony and
understand musically the difference between the subjective polyphony
and plain song and will come to know subjectively what the movement
of music is meant to express. He also has the experience of playing an
individual part in a greater whole and learns to fit into it by spontane-
ously accepting its laws and requirements, and to adapt himself
smoothly to the collective character of the voices.
Without seeking to undervalue the actual quality of the voice, this
becomes less important when compared with choral singing conceived
in these terms. What matters is the immaterial beauty of the voice,
musical understanding and real feeling for what is sung.1
Thus the breaking of the voice and similar troubles are no obstacle
to the use of singing for adolescents. Practised with restraint it will
serve to exercise the vocal cords. It will likewise allow the period when
the voice is breaking to be put to good use by restraining the adol-
escent’s propensity to mere volume in favour of musical expression.

To impart a true musical education, certain precautions are necessary.

Acczlrate knowledge of the natare of song. It is of capital importance to

arrive at a just appreciation of the exact nature of any school activity

that deserves to be called a discipline.

Music in general, and song in particular, appeal to the emotional

element of the psyche; not to an untidy sentimentality but to a human

responsiveness directed by the mind and controlled by the will.

Any music activity which does not take the pupils’ capacity for

emotion as its starting point is liable to go astray and become a mere

technique, both musically and educationally valueless. But if the true

nature of music is kept in mind, progress is certain and the formative

effect will be valuable.

Our age more than any other is dominated by technique-to such

a point that man is becoming more and more passive and human

activity is menaced in its very essence by an encroaching mechani-

zation which threatens to kill the soul. Appreciation of the nature of

music will counteract this and will assist the attainment of a balanced

personality and a perfect harmony of being.

Respect for children’s mzisicalsense. It is essential to note the way in which

the child reacts to the teaching of music. Formative musical training

1. See the article by Miss Ingeborg Kindem, p. 124.