of a special instructor; the institution of a similar supervision over the lower grades of the grammar classes; the progressive continuation of such instruction and supervision through the upper classes of the Grammar department, and the requirement as part of the course of instruction in the High School system, that the pupils shall themselves be thoroughly qualified to teach in their turn. An important point has also been made by the establishment of classes for normal instruction in music among the teachers of all the schools. A definitely arranged programme of the course of instruction, so far as the Primary Schools are concerned, has been adopted and printed among the Rules and Regulations, and a similar programme is in progress for the classes of the other departments of our school system. Measures have been taken, by the careful and extensive examination and collection of material here and in Europe, for the construction of a proper manual of musical instruction, adapted especially for public school use, which when complete shall be recognized and adopted as the uniform text-books of the schools. Pianos, the best of their kind, have been placed in all the High and Grammar School-houses, and, to a considerable extent, in the properly graded groups of the Primary Schools; which pianos are required to be kept in order and in tune, and to be used as aids to, not as substitutes for, musical instruction.* A

* Recently, by direction of the Music Committee, these instruments have been brought to the new "Normal Diapason" of the French.

combination of vocal and physical training and strictly musical tuition has been devised for the younger pupils. A stated and definite time has been fixed, for musical instruction by the regular teachers on each and every day in the Primary and the lower divisions of the Grammar department; by reason of all which, and the kindly co-operation of music instructors, masters and teachers of every grade, it is believed that a considerable degree of progress has already been made in the right direction in this interesting and important element of our common school education.

As we have seen, then, under the votes of this Board, music is now taught in the several classes of all the grades of our Public Schools. The existing Rules and Regulations of the School Committee in regard to this subject are as follows, viz:—

SECT. 2, CHAP. I., provides for the annual appointment of a standing Committee on Music, to consist of seven members.

SECT. 8, CHAP. IV., defines the duties of the Committee on Music in language as follows: "The Committee on Music shall exercise a general supervision in all the schools over that department of instruction; they shall appoint and nominate to the Board for confirmation teachers of music in the schools; they shall examine the pupils in this branch, and shall report as to its condition to the Board in writing at the quarterly meetings in March and September."

SECT. 9, CHAP XV., requires that in the Girls' High and Normal School" such instruction in music shall be given to all the pupils as may qualify them to teach vocal music in the Public Schools."

SECT. 10, CHAP. XII., requires that in the Grammar Schools "vocal music shall be taught by the music teacher in the first and

second classes two half hours each week, and by the assistant teachers in the third and fourth classes, fifteen minutes each forenoon; and it shall be in all respects regarded as one of the regular studies of the schools." SECT. 5, CHAP. IX., also requires that "the afternoon session shall close with appropriate singing."

SECT. 10, CHAP XI., requires that in the Primary Schools, "ten minutes in each session shall be devoted by the teachers to instruction in music; and such further time in each school as the Committee on Music and the District Committee may deem expedient." In SECT. 8, CHAP. XI., it is likewise required that singing shall form part of the opening and closing exercises of every session of the Primary Schools.

a

SECT. 16, CHAP. X., provides that in the Evening Schools " teacher of music may be employed, at the discretion of the Standing Committee, with a salary of two dollars for each evening's services."

SECT. 35, CHAP. IX., requires that "an annual cxhibition of the acquirements of the pupils of the Public Schools in music shall be held under the direction of the Committee on Music, on the Wednesday preceding the close of the spring term."

SECT. 2, CHAP. V., specifies the salaries of the various teachers of Music.

The programme of musical instruction in the Primary Schools may be found under Section 10, Chapter XI., of the Rules and Regulations.

In the High School Department, instruction in music is at present given only in the Girls' High and Normal School and the Highlands High School. It is hoped that the Board may see fit soon to extend this instruction to the English High and the Latin School. The music in this grade of schools is under the care of Mr. Julius Eichberg. The increase in the number of pupils in the Girls' High and Normal School has required more time on the part of the

music teacher than formerly. Eight hours in each week are now devoted to such instruction. The school is divided for this purpose into four divisions, of about one hundred and sixteen pupils each, and the divisions receive their music lessons successively between the hours of nine and one o'clock on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The Highlands High School is divided for the purpose of musical instruction into two divisions, which receive their lessons between the hours of nine, and ten and one half o'clock, on Mondays and Thursdays

of each week.

In regard to the details of instruction in his department, Mr. Eichberg reports as follows:

"The musical instruction given by me in the Girls' High and Normal School, during the last quarter, is embraced in the following programme:

JUNIOR CLASS.

1. Musical dictation of non-modulating phrases, with occasional accidents.

2. Practice of exercises in the major and minor mode, the latter principally.

3. Practice in part singing.

MIDDLE CLASS.

1. Practice of Mendelssohn's Psalm "Ye Sons of Israel," and Psalm XXIII. by Schubert, "The Lord is my Shepherd."

2. Reading at sight.

3. Dictation of modulating phrases.

SENIOR CLASS.

1. Practice of Psalm "Ye Sons of Israel," by Mendelssohn.

"In the middle and senior classes in the Highlands High School we have been practising musical dictation and the theory of scales, most thoroughly, as also part-singing.

"It gives me pleasure not only to testify to the zeal and interest these schools take in the study of music, but also to acknowledge the readiness of Messrs. Hunt and Weston, head masters of the schools, to aid me so far as it is in their power."

In the Grammar Department, musical instruction is given in all the classes of the schools, twenty-nine in number. The instruction in the upper classes is in charge of Mr. J. B. Sharland, assisted by Mr. H. W. Alexander. The time of the music lessons for these classes is set forth in the following table: