Other
Ida Carroll
Northern School Of Music (NSM)
1960

This speech was given by Ida Gertrude Carroll in January 1960 at the commencement of the schools spring term.

As with the majority of her speeches it starts with a hymn and a prayer where she gives thanks to the schools founders and for the ability to enjoy all the beautiful things in the world.

Ida Gertrude Carroll then goes on to discuss the two themes of her speech, self-control and spring cleaning, saying she got the idea for her speech from an experience she had in the previous week.

She had taken some of the students to London for the L.R.A.M. exams when one of the students told her just before that she was either going to go home or throw herself in the Thames. However once the student had regained her self-control she played wonderfully and came out of the exam happy.

She further elaborates on the subject of self-control by asking students to remind each other not to practice opera in the ladies cloakroom, where they are “Donning their Glamour”, and not to show off their instrument playing in the men’s room.

Ida Gertrude Carroll finishes by once again reminding students that she is always available to talk with them about anything, before discussing her pride in the Northern School of Music. She says that although the school is the youngest and smallest of only seven schools that teach at its level in England, she wants the whole school to strive to be considered the number one.

“The building may be small, the furnishings may be shabby, but it’s the spirit that counts. Work hard, play hard and you will be happy.”

Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.