Methods and aids in music educationconcerts given by nationally and internationally known artists. The
CBC Opera Company gives eight full-length radio productions each
year. In a country where national opera does not exist and where the
public concert field is yet undeveloped except in the few large centres,
the significance of these functions is, I think, quite obvious.
Encouragement and assistance is given to the Canadian composer.
For example, 10 works were commissioned this year. Performances
are given in our regular broadcasts together with works of foreign
contemporary composers. The International Service of the CBC does
much toward the dissemination abroad of Canadian music through its
music transcription service.
I could cite many more examples of the role that radio is playing in
Canada in the development of all forms of music for all sections of the
country. But I would like to take a moment to tell you a little of what
is being done to introduce our younger people to good music through
radio.
For more than 10 years the CBC has presented special school broad-
casts for in-school listening. These school broadcasts are a joint pre-
sentation of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Depart-
ments of Education of the 10 provinces of Canada. Each province has
its own separate schedule of school broadcasts, planned to tie-in with
the local curriculum of that province. And, in addition, all provinces
co-operate in planning what are known as ‘national’ school broad-
casts, designed to promote a sense of unity and common citizenship
among our growing generation. All programmes are heard over the
facilities of the CBC-the provincial broadcasts being heard regionally
four days a week and the national broadcasts going coast-to-coast once
a week.
Music appreciation is a regular feature of the school broadcasting
schedule of each province. Usually the courses are given at three
levels-primary (for children between the ages of 6 and 8) ; intermediate
(for ages 9 to 12); and senior (for students in high schools above the
age of 13).
The form of these broadcasts varies from one province to another
in accordance with local teaching techniques and local musical resour-
ces. For juniors, it often takes the form of learning and singing songs
already listed in provincial songbooks. For more senior grades, it
usually takes the form of exposing the students’ ears to instrumental
(including orchestral) music of a classical type. Where circumstances
permit instrumental ensembles, individual instrumentalists and singers
are employed in these broadcasts. In some provinces, however, it is