Recreation in the Home in Music

Recreation in the Home in Music "The Soul of music slumbers in the shell, 'Till wakened and kindled by the master's spell ; And feeling hearts touch them but light- ly— pour A thousand melodies unheard before!" — Rogers. PERHAPS more vital than any other thing is the social atmosphere born of rhythm. The family which co-operates in planning and saving for the pur- pose of buying musical instru- ments will find therein harmony of spirit and purpose. Young peo- ple naturally gravitate toward mu- sic and dancing. A home in which the family orchestra, phonograph, or radio provides music for danc- ing on floors from which the rugs have been rolled back — or in a so- cial room — the home in which the old melodies are familiar to the children and new songs are sung by the parents — is the home to which boys and girls will turn with love and pride for happy re- laxation. The attitude of par- ents will do much toward making or marring the attractiveness of the home. Listening to fine music elevates the soul. It lends an influence of gentle culture and is a great fac- tor in one's education. TMETICIANS have stated that *7 when the atmosphere of the home becomes intense from fric- tion of one kind or another faulty digestion results. Some have also advocated strongly the use of mu- sic to relieve such tension and to bring about an atmosphere of con- tentment. Is anything more rest- ful to the over-taxed mother or the tired father than good music? A specialist has observed that there would be fewer cases of delin- quency in adolescents if there were more music in the home during childhood. There should be much simple but good music with mark- ed rhythm to which they might play or dance. Many musical stories might be dramatized to the music. Songs should be sung with contents within the children's grasp that they might understand and learn to sing them. Musical activities within the home will lend not only beauty but spice to all home activities. M usic an dD rama A NUMBER of plans have been "**• devised to familiarize chil- dren, and adults as well, with good music. There are several games, too, which give instruction in an interesting and entertaining man- ner. Music Memory Contest 'T'HE music memory contest is a popular means of familiarizing people with the best-known musi- cal selections. A list of fairly fa- miliar compositions on the family phonograph records, with the name of the author and author's nationality attached, may be pre- sented to each member of the fam- ily. On an evening two or three weeks later, each person is given a pencil and paper while one of the family plays the various pieces on the list, either on the piano or vic- trola. As they are played, the oth- ers write down the names of the compositions, composer and com- poser's nationality. The one who has the most correct answers may receive a musical prize of some kind such as a new piece of music or a record. A score is made on accuracy of spelling as well. It is suggested that the correct answer for the composition counts four points — the composer, three — the nationality, two — and the spell- ing, one. The old songs may be used in a similar way, the one at the piano playing three or four lines of each familiar air and the others trying to guess the name of each piece. Songs and Music Composers 'T'HE children may help in mak- *■ ing up this game. Questions about music may be written on small numbered cards such as "Who Wrote Dixie?" "Who wrote the words to Home Sweet Home?" The questions and their answers are then written on a large piece of paper. The cards are dis- tributed equally among the play- ers and the one who distributes them holds the paper with the questions and answers on it. The player at the left of the distributor picks up one of his cards and asks the question written on it. If he can answer the question he may keep the card. If he cannot an- swer it he must sing or whistle the tune. If he cannot do that he must pay a forfeit. Giving Opera With the Phonograph H^HIS is a suggestion which may ^ be adapted to the use of a gath- ering of neighbors. The plan consists in having a narrator tell the story of an opera, the records of the various airs being played in the correct sequence. Boys and girls or other members of the group may assume the leading roles, posing, but not singing or speaking, the chief parts being taken by the phonograph. The plan is described in a pamphlet, Giving Opera with the Phono- graph, which may be secured free of charge from the National Bu- reau for the Advancement of Mu- sic, 45 West 45th Street, New York City. The Radio in the Home "V\7HILE forms of musical activ- ** ities in which children take an active part are to be preferred, the radio is proving a form of home recreation which is signifi- cant. It is the experience of many families that their younger mem- bers can be counted on to be at home when certain features are be- ing broadcast — a story hour, a special musical program or other features which have become popu- lar with them. The radio has taken its place as a feature of common interest to the family as a whole. Spontaneous Rhythmical Expression TN addition to the foregoing, there are features of natural mu- sical expression which are invalu- able. Children love to dance and should be encouraged to move to rhythm. Clapping in time, walk- ing to the music, improvising dances to radio or phonograph, all develop a sense of rhythm, and help to make music a part of the individual. The Toy Symphony 'T'HE toy symphony is one form * of musical expression which can be developed in the home and which will afford much entertain-

The Improvement Era for March, 1930 333 ment for the children. Most of the equipment for this may be bought at 5 and 10 cent stores as follows: two sticks with sleigh bells attached, 20c; three small bells, 30c; one small tin-head drum, 25c; two kettle lids (cym- bals), 20c; small xylophone, 25c; small warbler whistle (water) , 10c. Bars of tool steel or metal triangles, hit with hammers add an interesting note. At a music store two metal tambourines may be purchased at 40c each. The steel bars may be replaced by addi- tional bells of different tones. Some of these bells may be used as tri- angles by removing the clapper and striking them with a piece of metal. It is also possible to use two hard wood sticks struck to- gether to produce a castanet effect. Someone who plays the piano may lead the orchestra. The smallest children can learn the rhythm by first going through the familiar piece selected, humming it and clapping their hands on the beat. Then they may be given the bars and bells to strike or ring on that beat. The songs and instru- mental pieces most familiar to all may be used at first after that, the following are suggested: Humor- esque, by Dvorak; Spring Song, Mendelssohn ; Minuet, Pader- ewski; Minuet, Beethoven; Beau- tiful Blue Danube, Strauss; Stars and Stripes Forever, Sousa; March of the Marionettes. Ukuleles and Harmonicas HPHE ukulele and the harmonica are two very popular instru- ments which are easy to play. Leaflets on How to Play the Har- monica may be secured from M. Hohner, Inc., New York City, and courses in Ukulele playing are to be obtained at music stores. Drama CTORY-TELLING has always *^ been one of the popular pas- times in the home, and drama, which brings imagination and the spirit of play with it, carries story- telling a step further. Play acting is natural to young children and much fun results when the chil- dren dress up and act out such simple stories as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Three Bears and others with which they are famil- iar. One of the first phases of drama is that which every child builds for himself or his playmate. This includes the Backyard Circus, ad- mission one pin, and the highly inventive plays in which dolls and teddy bears are the actors. Chil- dren are always happy when they can have an audience of adults, who will watch them while they do their pet tricks, with one of the children acting as announcer for each act. A curtain which can be drawn between the acts adds great- ly to the fun. r^RESSING up is another phase of dramatic play which has endless charm for children. If the family is fortunate enough to have an attic with a trunk full of old fashioned costumes, the child will find plenty to do on the rainiest of days. It is a good plan to set aside a trunk or a drawer where old clothes, pieces of material and various articles which aid in the dressing up can be kept. A large part of the fun in getting up a show lies in evolving costumes and setting. Here mothers have an ex- cellent opportunity to encourage sewing and handcraft. Mary may hate making dish towels, but she will be enthusiastic over convert- ing a length of calico into an In- dian dress. Children should always have free rein in staging their plays, no matter how extravagant their dra- matic expression may be. Grown- ups must remember that the de- velopment of family dramatics should rest entirely in the hands of the children. The choice of plays, the casting, even the direc- tion should be under their leader- ship, the grown-ups offering no suggestions unless they are urged to do so. HTHE following books contain plays especially adapted to the development of home dramatics. All of them are inexpensive, only one costing more than eighty cents. For Young Children Child-Lore, by Catherine T. Bryce. Folk tales are the basis of these simple plays in which the creatures of field and forest live on intimate terms with child- hood. 27 plays are included in the book. Charles Scribner's Sons, 597 Fifth Av- enue, New York City. Book of Plays for Little Actors, by Emma L. Johnston and Madalene Barnum. 19 splendidly dramatized little plays from 10 to 20 minutes in length. The collection includes Pussy-Cat, Sleep- ing Beauty, Tom the Piper's Son, Abra- ham Lincoln and the Little Bird, The Spider and the Fly and others. American Book Company, 100 Washington Square, East, New York City. Little Dramas, by Skinner and Law- rence. 37 effective dramatizations of well known stories. Easy to prepare and produce. American Book Company. Stories to Act, by Frances Gillespy Wickes. 3 6 plays including The North Wind at Play, The Fairy Shoemaker, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Water Baby. Beautifully illustrated. Rand McNally 8 Co., 42 East 22nd St., New York City. For Children of Ten Years and Older Fairy Plays for Children, by Mabel F. Goodlander, Six familiar fairy tales have been put in dramatic form in this book, The Hlonest Woodcutter, Mistress Mary Gives a Garden Party, The Pine Tree, The House in the Woods, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Snow White and Rose Red, King Midas or the Golden Touch, Snotv White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sleeping Beauty. The book also contains excellent illustrations of scenes and costumes together with music and directions for the dances. Rand McNally 8 Co. Historical Plays for Children, by Grace E. Bird and Maud Starling. 15 little plays written around the incidents and traditions of early American history. The Macmillan Co., 60 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Eight Little Plays for Children, by Rose Fyleman. An unusual collection of whimsical plays dealing with the punish- ment of Darby and Joan, bewitched dolls, kings who grow cabbages, and a goodly sprinkling of fairies to put things to rights. Doubleday, Doran 8 Co., 244 Madison Avenue, New York City. Puppet Shows "THE making of puppet theatres is a project which children greatly enjoy. It may be made a delightful home occupation. The stage may be built on a frame work of 2x4 inch wood, 42 inches long, 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Theatres are usu- ally built on the same size frame work, but any idea may be used in the ornamentation of the stage. Beaver board serves for the sides, front, back and floor of the stage. The scenes, which are painted on heavy cardboard, will depend up- on the play to be suggested. Take a roll curtain, cut a piece of broom handle the size of the space between the two uprights, bore a small hole in the uprights about half an inch from the top and screw in two straight curtain hooks, bending one of them to make a handle. To this fasten a strip of cloth for the curtain and put a small wooden strip across the bottom so it will unroll. A small loop of cord can be fastened to the handle to hold the curtain when it is rolled up.

336 The Improvement Era for March, 1930 The Puppet RAG doll puppets may be made from small children's white stockings with straight legs. The simplest way to make the doll is to turn the stocking wrong side out, cut off the toe and run a gath- ering thread by the open side of the heel, fastening the edges to- gether securely, turn the stocking right side out and fill the heel with cotton wadding to make the head of the doll. As puppets must be limber, there should be no pad- ding at any of the joints. Con- sequently the neck should be sewed between the two thicknesses of stocking below the head. Next, fill the chest, but not too full, and again sew a row of stitches across the body to break it between the legs. The lower part of the body should be stuffed with cotton heavily laden with shots, dress weights and other small weights. A seam should be sewed across the body before the legs are made. The doll must be kept in proportion so the next step is to judge how long the piece of stocking for legs and feet should be. Cut off any extra stocking below the feet and split the leg through the center to the body. Sew up the doll's side and put in the cotton from the bottom. Keep the legs limp without pad- ding at knee or ankle. Run a row of stitching at each of these joints. Weight feet heavily and sew the seam under each foot from front to back to make the length from toe to heel. The arms are made separately and sewed on with the hands weighted and with the usual seam at wrist and elbow, but without cotton in the upper arm. The whole puppet should collapse at every joint. Each doll should be dressed ac- cording to its part in the show and different expressions may be ob- tained by adding lines in the face or building on the nose. The stringing of the dolls is a problem. Strings of heavy black linen thread are sewed in place after the doll is dressed. For women and little girls there are usually four — one attached to the top of the head, one between the back to the shoulders and one on each arm above the wrist. For men and boys, it adds greatly to have the leg strings attached be- low the knees. TN manipulating the puppets, the ■■ strings may be tied to the fin- gers of one or both hands or they may be sewed to the fingers of old cotton gloves. A simple way is to tie the strings to a stick about the size of a foot ruler, which is suspended around the operator's neck, a heavier cord attached to each end. The stick hangs as low as the operator's chest and as he leans over the stage the weight of the doll is supported on this stick, leaving the operator's hand free to move the string as he desires. The lines are usually spoken by the operators who move the mario- nettes about the stage. Animal puppets may be made from material by the yard and the tails are usually made of wire cov- ered with wool or cloth, the bod- ies, heads, legs and tails being made separately and sewed to- gether. Stories which lend themselves readily to use in puppet theatres are The Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, the Ugly Duckling, Chick- en Little, Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and similar stories. Peep Shows A PEEP Show is another de- ^ lightful home project which gives a chance for the young child to express initiative while culti- vating the use of the hands. The material which is necessary consists of a shoe box, or if per- manency is desired a small wood- en box, a little paste, some tissue paper, scissors and drawings, and pictures from magazines. The scene, consisting of draw- ings, pictures and objects of vari- ous kinds such as ships, toy houses, should be assembled in the bottom of the box. The side walls may be painted or colored with cray- ons to provide the setting. After the show has been assembled, sky lights are cut in the cover and colored paper pasted over them so that the right colored light shines on each part of the scene which may be painted lengthwise of the box with three peep holes cut in the side. Characters from the funny papers may be pasted over the cardboard and scenes arranged in sequence in different boxes. Note: A book which will be found very helpful in making puppets, peep shows, and in staging other similar forms of entertainment is the Boy Showman and Entertainer by A. Rose, published by E. P. Dutton and Company. Other Uses of Drama HPHE fact that children respond quickly and completely to the game of make-believe should never be forgotten by parents. Much tiresome preaching and correcting is easily displaced by the more en- tertaining and equally effective method of pretending. The mat- ter of mealtime manners, for ex- ample, can be either a nightmare or a pleasant diversion, according to the degree in which drama is brought into play. The well-known picture of a flurried mother punctuating the re- marks of other members of the family with an unfailing "John, your mouth is too full" or "Mary, where are your elbows," becomes so matter-of-fact to the children that the details of discipline fail to impress them and they subcon- sciously classify the disciplinarian as one who chronically disregards the essentials of politeness at table; for a very young child is able to feel that there is some discrepancy between the theory of faultless ta- ble behavior and the practice of un- interrupted and pointed criticism. On the other hand a little drama can do much to offset this condi- tion. "Let's play that Mother is the queen of England, and we are all visiting dukes and duchesses. Anyone who talks like a common- er must divide dessert with the lordliest among us;" or "We'll all be poets during this meal, and everything must be said in rhyme." These affairs are great fun, one of the most interesting features being the planning for the next one. Naturally this little play would not be presented so often as to be- come tiresome, but when not being done, other devices are plentiful; such as making little assignments ahead of topics to be discussed which would crowd out unpleas- ant features. The Pioneer idea of apple-peel- ing, husking and quilting bees, which mixed work and play with sociability, was one which could well be adopted in every home as a basis of true home recreation. Friendly contests in performing given tasks, interesting diversions to introduce while work is being done, all contribute to the joy of living, which joy should permeate the home, if the home is to fill its rightful place in the lives of its occupants.