Browsing by Subject "Muisc"

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    Music in Schools
    (1938) Oscar D Wollheim
    South Africa suffers trom a. form of cultural 'dyspepsia induced., as all forms of' dyspepsia a·re, by an unbalanced diet. It is econom.ically impossible to maintain a sufficiency of' soo4 orchestras, operas, ballets and legitimate theatres throughout this eou.ntry with the result that the publiQ has very little outside cultural stimulation. The.re is, fu~hermore, little or no heritage of song, dance and folklore. The public fee l s the need of some emotional outlet and groplta in the dark to find it. To offset this deficiency and, fearful of their cultural ignorance, people clutch at sate conventions, frenziedly clinging to them as a dro.wning Dl&n to a stnLw. Our children must learn to play the piano or violin, take dancing lessons, learn to recite and play games. These little Jllites have emerged from infancy with no background ot legend or tradition peculiar to thea to stimulate thelll to exprcuJs1on and are compelled to struggle teartully with some form ot art, usually in the shape ·or a piano. The foundation upon which to build this experience ia lacking and they give up in despair, baving formed a lifelong repreas1on 1n regard to the arts.