Montgomery County Sentinel

Stronger Music Program Is Urged

(Seventh in a Series on Study Group Reports)

Music is as important a subject as science and mathematics and its place in the school should be greatly strengthened, according to the report of a special Montgomery County curriculum study group.

To do this, the group urged that all children, regardless of their musical talents, receive sufficient training in the classroom to involve them emotionally and intellectually in musical activities.

In addition, the group recommended that school officials seriously consider permitting students possessing unusual abilities and interest to take music as a major subject in senior high school.

Music is not a "frill," the report insisted, and should be taught as a "serious subject." At the same time, there must be more intelligent understanding of the place of music in modern culture and in public education by both the community and school authorities, the report contended.

While the number of music courses compares favorably with other subjects, the study group said, the equality of the courses is inadequate.

This is true particularly in elementary schools, where the study group found the musical program "extremely weak."

Many elementary school teachers don't have the background or training to teach music, the report said, while the number of music specialists is "far below that required to produce even a minimum of attention to the musical needs of the elementary schools."

The report also criticized the wide variation in the musical experience and understanding which children are supposed to acquire in any given grade. Much of this, the study group said, stems from lack of liaison or agreement among music teachers.

To correct this, the report recommended uniform curriculum guides and objectives, along with a variety of materials. Also, teachers who are deficient in musical training should be required to take intensive in-service courses.

"One cannot teach what one does not know," the report remarked pointedly. "It does not appear likely that great harm would be done if music education standards at many teachers' colleges were raised."

In other phases of the music program, the study group called for immediate action on two fronts:

1. Bring school facilities up to acceptable standards. This includes enlarging the central library of choral and instrumental music and increasing the number of orchestral instruments.

2. Construction of strategically located auditoriums for secondary schools.

"The value of a properly designed auditorium far exceeds its use for music purposes, and the present situation is a disgrace to the county," the report declared.

"In all of Montgomery County, there is not a single room properly designed for performances, musical or otherwise. The visibility, performing space and acoustical quality of school gymnasiums are atrocious."