Music Teachers National Association Approves Group Instruction

WHILE there has been in this country a tremendous increase in the number of listeners to music in one form or another, listening will not in itself make us musical either as individuals or as a nation. Active participation is essential.

Appreciation, advancement and achievement in music come from a love and understanding of it that may be developed in various ways. But while the ways have become easier and more inviting there is yet no royal road to musical knowledge and attainment; no buttons that can be pushed nor dials turned that will take the place of personal study and application.

Marvellous as the radio and modern methods for recording music have become in supplying music demanding little if any mental effort in return they can satisfy only partially the musical wants of the nation.

Those concerned in this subject have long recognized that learning to actually play some musical instrument, whether organ, piano, wind or string instrument of any kind, affords one of the surest avenues not merely to a keener appreciation of music but to a deeper enjoyment of life itself.

The achieving of such a personal accomplishment transforms the passive listener into the active participant and often reveals the possibilities for high performance and distinction.

It has been noted that parents and others responsible for the educational opportunities of the rising generation are giving increased attention to music study and to the progress that has been made in what has come to be known as group instruction.

There seems to be little doubt that within capable hands the group method of instruction up to a certain point can accomplish a great deal that was formerly left to private individual instruction even when it concerns the playing of some particular instrument.

The results already shown in connection with many of the public schools have been so encouraging that the Music Teachers National Association at their recent annual meeting followed the action of the Music Supervisors National Conference in their full endorsement of group piano instruction.

This action is significant coming as it does from thousands of piano teachers, many of whom had for a time feared that group instruction could not provide sufficient opportunity for individual expression.

They find now it admirably serves a real purpose in connection with the elementary work and creates a greatly increased number of interested students for advanced and individual instruction.

The plan to thus supply the early ground work for musical training through group instruction is by no means confined to school rooms and educational institutions nor to any one instrument. It is being fostered in various forms by music organizations, civic officials and by thousands of individuals who have at heart the advancement of music study along lines affording widest opportunity and incentive.