Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 1973 Page: 4 of 28
twenty eight pages : ill. ; page 16 x 11 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THURSDAY. JUNE 28, 1973 THE RIO GRANDE HERALD PAGE 4
Music Classes
In Schools
Going Modem
KALAMAZOO. Mich.
— Taking Bob Dylan,
the Beatles and rock
music in school0 That is a
dream come true for millions of
youngsters in today's school
music programs
Popular songs, guitars and
electronic synthesizers are
being combined with traditional
instruments in many music
classes, says the American Mu-
sic Conference
A major new emphasis ir
music education is im-
provisation — allowing each
child greater freedom in devel-
oping his own musical interests
and abilities
One teacher in California has
4th. 5th and 6th graders con-
verse with drums The com-
bination of drums and the in-
tensity of playing results in a
spontaneous musical com-
position
The class may be asked to
compose music to a piece of
poetry written by someone in
the group They select the in-
struments they feel best ex-
emplify accent points and me-
lodic lines which best suit the
mood of the poetry
Another teacher, in Florida,
has turned her music class into
a learning center where stu-
dents are free to decide what
they will study for part of the
day The semester s music les-
sons are all on tape and each
child can select the session he
wants Lessons include modern
music rock songs, the xylo-
phone flutes music notation
and vocal music
In Kansas. Maryland. Mich-
igan and dozen of other states
piano students are plugging
into electronic labs These labs
contain pianos with individual
earphones all connected to a
central piano console
The instructor gives instruc-
tion to the entire class Then he
can. by the touch of a knob tune
out the group and focus on indi-
vidual students for additional
assistance He can also adjust
controls to allow students to
hear the others or just them-
selves
New versions of the piano lab
combine a whole range of in-
struments — organs, pianos,
guitars, saxophones and even
strings All youngsters learn
and play at the same time, but
they hear those instruments
their teacher tunes in for
them
Television is also becoming a
useful tool for musical educa-
tion in the classroom, the AMC
finds
Professional musicians are
frequently invited to visit
schools and work with students
When time and distance pre-
vent personal visits by musi-
cians. television films are made
of the performers and beamed
to the classroom. Children get a
close-up view of the performers
in action
Through television students
can attend' outdoor band con
certs or symphony orchestra
performances, see a synthesi-
zer in action, watch instru
ments being made, visit back;
stage at an opera or see what
other youngsters are learning
Many have the opportunity of
"studying with the finest mu
sicians And all this without
having to leave their own cla«c
rooms
Actress Seeks Funds, New Plays
For Children's Theater Unit
NEW YORK
Friends of actress Beatrice
Straight think she is per-
haps just a bit crazy.
She says they've been telling
her so since she got involved in
producing and directing chil-
dren's theater for a nonprofit
company called Young World
Foundation.
With equally well-known ac-
tress Mildred DunnocK. Miss
Straight has been working with
a musical fantasy for children
called Who Am I?", based on
Grimm's "The Goose Girl."
Now they are trying to raise
money for a showboat designed
to go from port to port with
festivities for children — plays,
movies and art activities.
"It's easier to raise money
for anything than for children,"
she said "That should be the
first thing people give money
to, but it isn't. They're support-
ing new approaches, gimmicks
BSBflBaQB«0fl90aBa8B0B B0B
in theater But this is the year
we have to make a go of our
foundation. I know it is a losing
thing, but it must lose less mon-
ey and find an audience," Miss
Straight added
A good dramatic show for
children must be a show that
parents enjoy as well. It must
appeal to people on different
levels, entertaining older chil-
dren with humor and character
development and bringing a
message or moral for younger
children.
"And it must be flexible.
Scenery must be light, mov-
able. Costumes must be believ-
able. They can't lie."
Some people doubt the sanity
of Miss Straight's involvement
with developing new children's
theater Her acting friends do
not.
"There are more people in
theater — more and more —
who would like to act in chil-
dren's plays," she said.
American-born, British thea-
ter trained, Miss Straight is
a.a a.8-BJjJLajUULB.Jl-8_B 8„8. aJ1J1.8 Bfl.a .8
well known for her appearances
in "The Crucible ", "Every-
thing In the Garden," and as
Emily Dickinson in "Eastward
in Eden. "
Last summer she acted in a
play directed by Edward Albee.
attended the American Theater
Conference and traveled exten-
sively, as well as doing some
television
"I can't get over loving to
act, but it is such a demanding
life," said the red-haired, blue-
eyed actress.
Married to Broadway pro-
ducer Peter Cookson, she is the
mother of two sons, Tony and
Gary, both students at New
York University.
She cooks and keeps house
and generally keeps the family
organized along with her new-
interest in children's theater
"I have a very patient fam-
ily," she said "They're all in-
volved in their own projects. In
fact, my husband just sold his
first novel and we're so
OBOBBBBBBBBB8BBflBBfl9 B
pleased "
Now seeking a new play to go
into production, Miss Straight
is hoping for something as good
as "Who Am I?" but different
"Children loved the play
about the girl who thought she
was ugly and wanted to be a
princess, then discovered that
being a princess wasn't so great
after all," she said
"We had them go backstage
after the play to meet the ac-
tors and actresses but when
they saw them without makeup,
the illusion fled The children
were disappointed. Now they
meet the players in their cos-
tumes, talk with them and
they're delighted. It preserves
the dream."
She said a mixed audience of
children, from 6 to 14. is best
because they get so wrapped
up, they lose their inhibitions.
"If the story is really basic,
like a legend or a fairy tale
based on a true moral, that's
what children want and need
B-B.a-B-8.8 fl g.g.B-g.g.g-8. 8 8 B 8 8 B 6JL8 8 i*.
We
re Proud Of
You...
LINO
AND
The Entire KNIGHTS
OF COLUMBUS
ORGANIZATION
Best Wishes From All
Of Us At...
LAREDO FURNITURE
DISTRIBUTORS
300 E. MAIN
487-2440
KIO GRANDE CITY
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Trejo, Raul. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 1973, newspaper, June 28, 1973; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194413/m1/4/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.