Flower Arranging : Page 10

There are certain schools of thought which do not agree with any set ofprinciples. They claim that " principles " make arrangements all lookalike and that design becomes stereotyped. I disagree, for the teaching ofcertain principles (principles which flower arranging has in common withmost graphic arts) is really only " the drill ; " they are the A.B.C. fromwhich greater things emerge. At school we are all taught to repeat in amonotone the multiplication tables, or with similar precision to play scalesat the piano. This is only the training in the beginning, we obviously donot all remain at the same level of instruction, we develop individually. Iam a firm believer in clear instruction in the beginning. Of course, a personwith a natural flair for the subject does not need this, but just as a novicecannot be taught to play the piano by listening to the rendering of an overtureby an expert, neither do I believe that a prospective flower arranger canhope to learn by constantly admiring the designs of an expert. This lattermethod rather encourages the beginner to copy, which leaves her ratherhelpless when she attempts self-expression, whereas if, by instruction, she canrecognise Wry "and how it was so designed, her advancement is quicker and she,in turn, by her own artistry, soon conceals the methods of early teaching.