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
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