Notes from a Musical Garden: The Nova Scotia Music Educators Association

Desmond Maley is the music librarian at the J.W. Tate Library,
Huntington College, Laurentian University, and editor of the CAML
Review.

Nostalgic reminiscences and heartfelt tributes predominate in this set
of portrayals of prominent Nova Scotian music educators. Brenda Porter,
herself a retired music schoolteacher, relates the life stories of 11
retired (or deceased) music teachers and administrators from across the
province who raised their programs from obscurity to excellence.

Among the people interviewed are the Department of Education music
supervisor and consultant Paul Murray (who is also an organist), choral
conductor Sister Rita Clare, and band leader Ron MacKay. The narrative
is embellished by reproductions of news clippings, photographs, concert
flyers, and memorabilia, but most of it is taken up with quotations from
the interviewees, who also include family members, colleagues, and
former students.

There are references to difficult working conditions, low salaries,
poor facilities, lack of instruments, sexism in the work place, and
hostile school boards, but these topics are not explored in depth. It
also would have been interesting to know more about parental support
associations, fundraising initiatives, and the experience of touring.
Often the book lapses into cliché, as evidenced in chapter titles such
as “Mae Cameron: In Their Hearts They Do It for Her,” “Sister
Blanche Gillis: A Fireball Remembered Fondly,” and “Chalmers Doane:
The Real Thing.” As a result, while Porter is successful in detailing
the personal and professional qualities of these teachers that enabled
them to develop outstanding programs, the perspective and appeal of this
book remain local.