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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1950)
1 Medford Tribune Second Section MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1950 Pages 1-8 SECOND SECTION FEATURES RADIO CLASSIFIED COMICS Medford Schools' Music Education Said Tops; Program Designed To Aid Individual Youngsters Program Begins in Early Grades, Continues Through High School; Details Told By Bill Force Mail Tribune Staff Writer What kid hasn't, at some time or other, wanted put on a loud uniform, blow a loud horn and march in a band? Whether it is the sheer volume of sound or the stirring rhythm of martial music, a brass band has a strong appeal for almost every youngster, regard less of his musical aptitude. More serious youngsters extend their taste for music to the classical field and can derive immense enjoyment from serious or i x chestral works. A vigorous, active instrumental music department '.'in the Medford public school system gives every youngster, re gardless of taste or aptitude, an opportunity to indulge his musical feelings. The instrumental music pro gram begins here in the fifth and sixth grades, supervised from that level through senior 1 high school by I. A. Mirick. Started five years ago, the pro gram as it is now constituted, developes a huge backlog of musically trained youngsters in the elementary schools who can take up the more advanced musical activities in junior and senior high school with a mini mum of adjustment. Elementary students who got in at the start of this program are now begin ning to form the backbone of the senior high instrumental groups. At the present time there are 50 band and orchestra students in each of the city's four elemen tary schools. Before a youngster in elemen tary school begins his training on his chosen instrument, he is offered a test of musical aptitude that is given with parental per mission. Adapted by Mirick from the Seashore tests of musical aptitude, the testing device scientifically evaluates the stu dent's native ability in the fields of pitch, tone, rhythm and musi cal memory. It will not show that the student will be an un commonly successful musician because that depends on other factors motivation, health, in terest and manual dexterity. But the tests do show whether the child is so lacking in musical talent to make lessons a waste of time. The schools' musical facilities are not denied young sters on the basis of the tests, however. If their interest per sists in spite of the findings of the tests, they are given the same opportunities for training as those who show evidence of . musical genius. The music pro- gram of Medford schools is di rected at every kid fortunate enough to have even a spark of music in him, not just at those who show promise of a musical career. Mirick's aptitude tests, In cer tain instances, will also show which instrument reed, percus sion or string is best suited to the talents of the individual youngster. Before the child is assigned to an instrument, he is first checked for physical char acteristics such as teeth, lips, jaws and dextrality. If his sense of rhythm has been found to be outstanding above other musical attributes he is advised to con sider instruments in the percus sion group; if he is sharpest in the field of pitch and tonal per ception he is told that he would probably have his best luck with a string instrument, and so on. But first and foremost the stu dent's own personal wishes are Portland People Urged Curtail Lawn Sprinkle Portland. Ore., May 27 (U.R) Ben S. Morrow, superintendent of the Portland water bureau, gave residents of the city suffer ing from a temporary water shortage some advice today, v Morrow said if residents of low-pressure areas curtain lawn sprinkling until the pressure builds up there will be little trouble. the principal criteria. For those students whose par ents are unable or unwilling to invest in an instrument, District 49 maintains a limited stock of instruments for loan. The school system has 241 instruments ranging from drums to bassoons that are valued at some $17,463. They are made available without charge as long as the 'supply lasts. In each of the four ele mentary schools there are enough string instruments for a complete string orchestra. With his background in grade school, where he should have learned the rudiments of musi cal theory, the student enters junior high school where a more intensive program is ready for him. In addition to band and orchestra work, Mirick has set up he calls "technique classes.' These are individual study ses sions that give each student as much individual attention as he requires at no cost. Though a course of study and progress is set up, the student pretty much sets his own pace, depending on his skill and interest. His grades, of course, are based on the man ner in which he completes the schedule. Each student gets one of these technique sessions a week. On top of this schedule there are five band and orchestra periods a week in each high school combining individual instruction with invaluable group experience. Considering the comprehensive nature of this program, it would naturally be assumed that the Medford school system has a large staff devoting full time to instrumen tal music instruction and direc tion. Amazingly enough, the en tire program is handled by three very busy people. Mirick, Albert Hunteman and Miss Melba Che hak have about 440 kids on their hands. Ninety of these are in senior high school and 150 in junior high. The work load on the three in structors is shared by assigning Hunteman to the junior high band and to Roosevelt and Lin coln school bands. Miss Chehak handles all string work, direct ing both junior and senior high orchestras. Mirick directs the senior high band and supervises the entire instrumental music department. Next year they will get additional help in the person of Miss Shirley Williams, a vocal instructor who will spend a por tion of her time giving technique lessons in woodwinds. Superintendent E. H. Hedrick says he feels that he has found in Mirick the ideal instructor to carry out a policy of music in struction that Hedrick has fos tered here for years. In the non academic field, he maintains that music should be as import ant in its own right as athletics is in its own right. For the student denied the glamour of the athletic field or the forensic platform, music of fers still another outlet in which he may attempt to excel and gain personal recognition. Mi rick says he has noted improved grades and marked personality U VMM MlzJ U L t33&s GROUP PARTICIPATION This is the senior high band in rehearsal under the direction of I. A. Mirick (at right), supervisor of instrumental music for the Medford school system. These stu dents spend five hours each week in practice session, giving practical expression to the hours already given to individual work. This is part of one instrumental group out of 12 in the entire school sys tem. Bands are under the direction of Mirick and Albert Hunteman and orchestras are directed by Miss Melba Chehak. 31 Students From Jackson County City Seeking Data Corvallis, May 27 Jackson county is represented by 31 stu dents in the graduating class of 1,982 seniors and graduate stu dents to receive degrees at the 81st annual commencement here June 5, Saturday, June 3, is alumni reunion day, while the baccalaureate service will be held Sunday, June 4, with Dr. D. V. Poling giving the address. This is the largest single class in higher education ever to be graduated in this state, and it may hold the record for some years, officials say. Despite the size, the entire graduation cere mony will be held in the new college coliseum, where rela tives of all those receiving de grees will have reserved sections. Degrees Listed Among the degrees to be con ferred by President A. L. Strand, 1,813 are either bachelor of sci ence or bachelor of arts, repre senting four years of study; 169 are graduate degrees also a new record including 149 mas ter of arts or science degrees, three doctors of education, awarded here for the first time, and 17 doctor of philosophy de grees, the highest earned degree in any institution. Following are the graduates from Jackson county by schools: Master of science degree Robert Ashley Corthcll, Ash land, fish and game manage ment. Bachelor of arts degree Sybil Berenice Reames, Medford, busi ness and technology. Bachelor of science degrees: Scienc! LeRoy House, Med ford; Barbara Nan Eliason, Ash land; John William Dawson, Trail. Agriculture Robert Loren Damon, Lake Creek; Murray New Physician To Join Center Staff Camp White. May 27 Dr. Ralph J. Sewall will join the medical, staff of Camp White Monday. The new doctor will practice both medicine and sur gery, and with Mrs. Sewall will live on the station. Dr. Sewall comes to Medford from Portland where he was on the VA staff, in that city. "We feel particularly fortun ate in having Dr. Sewall assign ed to Camp White," Dr. William White, chief of medical services, I said. Alexander Dunn, Medford; John Philip Dube and Donald Keith Nichols, Ashland; Ray mond Chapman Frantz, Gold Hill; Monty Leon Montgomery, Talent: and Walter Eric Rein, Eagle Point. Business and technology Richard Lyman DeArmond, Rob ert Floyd Kyle Jr., Sybil Bere nice James, Alse Weldon Web ber, Medford; Edward Franklin Daron, Rogue River; William Grane Wolford, Ashland. Engineering Donald Lee Dil lon, Ashland; Donald Dale Cob leigh, Phoenix; Richard Frank Hall, Jacksonville; Jack Farley Haclman, Robert Frank Mar quess, John Colby Poage and Ernest Will Templin, Medford. Forestry Jack Ronald Jim erson, Medford. Home economics Retha Irene Brophy and Audrey Ardys Jar min, Medford. Pharmacy Roger Franklin DeShazer, Ashland. The Grange INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION Pictured here are two junior high school students receiving individual "technique" instruction from Albert Hunteman. band instructor at lunlor hiah. The stu. dents shown here, Blake Maddox and Dick Padgham, are two out of several score that the instrumental music department In the Medford school system manages to give individual attention once a week m addition to five band and orchestra sessions a week. These students must complete a semester course of study on scried ule in order to earn top grades. development in youngsters who are given the opportunity to participate in band and orches tra activities. For that reason, Medford school officials cannot be expected to restrict that op portunity and put participation on a competitive basis just for the sake of making good show ings in music contests around the state. It is felt that the mu sic program should be geared to the needs of the child, not to the critical judgment of profes sionals. Extending beyond the limits of the school and into the cul tural life of the community, the instrumental music department offers a program of summertime recreation and instruction that is available to adults as well as students in both elementary and high schools. Beginning June 19 this year, the summer activities of the high school bands and or chestras will include a program of individual technique lessons and park concerts for a six-week period. Mirick says he also hopes to oiler summer symphony con certs that will include adult musicians playing alongside the students. Few school music departments offer a more complete program of service to the community There is hardly a public event in town that doesn't depend on one of the high school bands to fur nish the musical background and any one of Medford's num erous parades would be lost without the support of a uni formed group of school kids with Mirick or Hunteman at the lead Medford's music students are a busy, happy bunch thanks to a program planned strictly for tnem. May Festival Nets ,500 for Club Phoenix, May 27 At a meet ing of the Community club last week, it was announced that a net profit of $2,500 was made on the recent two-day May festival here. Members are well pleased with the result of their combined efforts, plus the help, coopera tion, and "good-heartedness of so many of the outside persons and firms who contributed to make the new building a real ity." Clubs and organizations spon soring the new club building and Youth center include Med ford Trail riders, Phoenix Neigh- bors of Woodcraft and Thimble club. Phoenix Thursday club, Phoenix Grange, Phoenix Home Extension unit, Youth group, High School Student body, PTA, Boy scouts. Girl scouts, Brown ies, Phoenix Garden club. Pres byterian church and Ladies aid, Phoenix city council, Firemen Lions club, Lady Lions, Phoenix Theatre group. Donation of material, time and work involved in the con struction of the building were made by many firms, together with volunteer labor of many of the members, day and night, and were a major influence in the fact that the building is now there, committeemen said. Opie Frazer, chairman of the coordinating committee thanked each festival committee member for the splendid spirit and co operation, and congratulated them on a "job well done." NICKEL SAVES DAY Madison, Wis. (U.R) It was lucky for Tony Genna thnt he had two nickels when he stepped into the drug store telephone booth. The first one he used to make his call. The second en abled him to call police when he came out of the booth and found that the proprietor had closed the store and gone home. Gold Hill HEC Gold Hill HEC held pot luck luncheon at the Grange hall with 18 members and 2 visitors pres ent. A Fuller brush party fol lowed the luncheon. The committee reported cards sent to Mr. and .Mrs. Charles Foote Sr., Loon Wise. Kerd Jones, and Orel Dahl. Mr. Dnhl sent a card thanking the HEC for cards sent him during his stay at the veterans hospital. Guests present were the Kev. Dierdorff, Charles Askin and Carl Sign. 1wr SfiwnJ uk Med j "Lord Cod of Hosts, be with us ' LEST WE FORGET." 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