Dear Mike, Peggy et al
Just one example of a poor sense of pitch which passes for singing
was the performance of one of the 5 finalists on the Today show a few
days ago. The young lady sang all of the expected roulades and
ornaments of the melody in her short 32 bar allowed performance. One
of the judges, who were asked for comments only, had the honesty to
say the girl had to pay better attention to singing in tune and them
ameliorated that comment by saying that it was, perhaps, caused by
the cold weather in NYC that morning. Matt and Katy were shocked by
her remark and immediately attempted to smooth everything over. It
was refreshing and shocking to hear a judge who not only could hear
the difference but was willing to comment on it.
As a former music educator who taught both elementary and jr-sr high
music in the public schools, I must also comment that in many parts
of the US today there is no elementary music education singing
program that attempts to teach each child to sing. A majority of
elementary music education programs today seem more concerned with
teaching listening but not individual singing. This is the opposite
of the goals of most music education programs during the 1950's-60's
and earlier.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson
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