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Literary
June 8, 1936
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
This essay by Gamewell Valentine argues that music education is essential for children's intellectual and emotional development, akin to arithmetic, and should begin early. It emphasizes the teacher's greater role over parents in fostering proper study habits, countering misconceptions of music as merely vocational.
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Full Text
Music Lessons
And Your Child
By GAMEWELL VALENTINE
Installment 1
Nearly everyone admits that he enjoys music. But music can not be enjoyed unless one has been trained to enjoy it. There is much talk about the glory and beauty of music, but many of our best minds are not actually sold upon the idea of music study being a great factor in one's life.
Every boy and girl who completes high school wants to go to college. Why? Because he wants to be well informed: how to get along in the world without much friction and to be well polished and capable of enjoying the so-called finer things of life.
The study of music should begin in childhood at the time all other knowledge is begun. Music is not a study to pursue as a vocation or profession, but a necessary part of the equipment of educated people. It is just like Arithmetic, but it is so much more than Arithmetic. Arithmetic is taught among the first subjects to every child. The general public can readily see how futile any education would be without Arithmetic. Without Arithmetic a person would be a perfect "chump". He couldn't count, and would be at the continual mercy of his fellowmen. And no boy thinks when he is studying Arithmetic that he is preparing himself to be a professor of Mathematics. Arithmetic is solely a necessary intellectual study which gives power in all the other things that we participate in from day to day.
Music study, does everything that Arithmetic does as I have partly explained. Music study involves much mental effort and develops habits of alertness, coordination, perception and so forth. But because of the wrong conception of the value of music, it is looked upon as a vocation that can be isolated from living. The child who studies music is usually taught that he is preparing himself to be a professional musician.
There are two main factors that determine the fruitful study of music by children. These are parent and music teacher. If the parent has the proper conception of the value of music study in child life, usually the teacher who instructs this same child does not. It is far better that the teacher know the vital relation of music in the life of a child than for the parent, if such parent is liberal enough to allow the child to study.
Music study involves the intellectual and emotional side of man. A partly developed intellect can never understand the meaning of music. One's understanding determines one's enjoyment of anything. Hence, from the very beginning, music study must be presented from the intellectual side. All children like to learn and they find real joy in exploring for themselves when teachers give them enough to arouse their inquisitive natures. The emotional side will always take care of itself. If a child has been taught and has acquired the habit of studying any subject for the love of it, the same child, if he has only a little musical inclination, will make an excellent music student under a competent teacher.
From my experience in teaching children, I find that those children who have been allowed to "do as they please" about their lessons make poor music students solely because they have not been trained to study, or better, to think. This can be corrected if parent will compel the child to apply himself regularly under competent instruction in all of his studies.
For years and years thousands of children have "studied" music with various teachers only to learn nothing, and to become disgusted with music study. The reaction on the part of these children is only natural. Regardless of how much talent a child may have, he must be properly trained if he is to advance in music study. And no normal child whose mind has been actively trained ever dislikes music when it is properly presented.
The scientific mind is never divorced from music, because music is as much a science as an art. College men and women who have had no extended musical training are not truly representative college folk. Schools of high standing include music study in the curriculum. That is why we have music in our public schools, high schools and it couldn't be conceived that a college did not offer music courses.
In conclusion of this installment, between parent and teacher as two main factors that determine the fruitful study of music study among children, of the two, the teacher is the more important.
Tomorrow: "Parent's Attitude The Balance of Power".
And Your Child
By GAMEWELL VALENTINE
Installment 1
Nearly everyone admits that he enjoys music. But music can not be enjoyed unless one has been trained to enjoy it. There is much talk about the glory and beauty of music, but many of our best minds are not actually sold upon the idea of music study being a great factor in one's life.
Every boy and girl who completes high school wants to go to college. Why? Because he wants to be well informed: how to get along in the world without much friction and to be well polished and capable of enjoying the so-called finer things of life.
The study of music should begin in childhood at the time all other knowledge is begun. Music is not a study to pursue as a vocation or profession, but a necessary part of the equipment of educated people. It is just like Arithmetic, but it is so much more than Arithmetic. Arithmetic is taught among the first subjects to every child. The general public can readily see how futile any education would be without Arithmetic. Without Arithmetic a person would be a perfect "chump". He couldn't count, and would be at the continual mercy of his fellowmen. And no boy thinks when he is studying Arithmetic that he is preparing himself to be a professor of Mathematics. Arithmetic is solely a necessary intellectual study which gives power in all the other things that we participate in from day to day.
Music study, does everything that Arithmetic does as I have partly explained. Music study involves much mental effort and develops habits of alertness, coordination, perception and so forth. But because of the wrong conception of the value of music, it is looked upon as a vocation that can be isolated from living. The child who studies music is usually taught that he is preparing himself to be a professional musician.
There are two main factors that determine the fruitful study of music by children. These are parent and music teacher. If the parent has the proper conception of the value of music study in child life, usually the teacher who instructs this same child does not. It is far better that the teacher know the vital relation of music in the life of a child than for the parent, if such parent is liberal enough to allow the child to study.
Music study involves the intellectual and emotional side of man. A partly developed intellect can never understand the meaning of music. One's understanding determines one's enjoyment of anything. Hence, from the very beginning, music study must be presented from the intellectual side. All children like to learn and they find real joy in exploring for themselves when teachers give them enough to arouse their inquisitive natures. The emotional side will always take care of itself. If a child has been taught and has acquired the habit of studying any subject for the love of it, the same child, if he has only a little musical inclination, will make an excellent music student under a competent teacher.
From my experience in teaching children, I find that those children who have been allowed to "do as they please" about their lessons make poor music students solely because they have not been trained to study, or better, to think. This can be corrected if parent will compel the child to apply himself regularly under competent instruction in all of his studies.
For years and years thousands of children have "studied" music with various teachers only to learn nothing, and to become disgusted with music study. The reaction on the part of these children is only natural. Regardless of how much talent a child may have, he must be properly trained if he is to advance in music study. And no normal child whose mind has been actively trained ever dislikes music when it is properly presented.
The scientific mind is never divorced from music, because music is as much a science as an art. College men and women who have had no extended musical training are not truly representative college folk. Schools of high standing include music study in the curriculum. That is why we have music in our public schools, high schools and it couldn't be conceived that a college did not offer music courses.
In conclusion of this installment, between parent and teacher as two main factors that determine the fruitful study of music study among children, of the two, the teacher is the more important.
Tomorrow: "Parent's Attitude The Balance of Power".
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What keywords are associated?
Music Lessons
Child Education
Music Study
Parent Role
Teacher Role
Intellectual Development
Emotional Growth
What entities or persons were involved?
By Gamewell Valentine
Literary Details
Title
Music Lessons And Your Child
Author
By Gamewell Valentine
Subject
Installment 1 On The Importance Of Music Study For Children
Key Lines
Music Is Not A Study To Pursue As A Vocation Or Profession, But A Necessary Part Of The Equipment Of Educated People.
Music Study Involves The Intellectual And Emotional Side Of Man.
The Scientific Mind Is Never Divorced From Music, Because Music Is As Much A Science As An Art.
In Conclusion Of This Installment, Between Parent And Teacher As Two Main Factors That Determine The Fruitful Study Of Music Study Among Children, Of The Two, The Teacher Is The More Important.