Historic and Current Influences Introduction Knowing our past helps us understand why we do what we now do, and it helps us avoid repeating mistakes. Thoughtfully considering the following questions will help guide your decision making. -Where have we been? -Why were we there? -What did we learn? -Where do we go from here? As we look at some of the major events in music education on this continent, it becomes apparent that instrumental music is particularly indebted to: -The Singing School movement of Colonial America -Improvements in instrument design and manufactures -Improvements in methods and materials for instruction -The growth of the curriculum and the extra curriculum -The development of college curricula to train music educators. -The support of the public and of ensemble members We have a musical heritage that has developed into a school music education program considered the envy of most of the world.

Historic and Current Influences Music in the New World  -The earliest known structured music education system in America was that of the Incas, in what is now Peru, around Music was a central part of the four year course of study given in these schools for the children of the nobles and royal family.  -After Cortez had conquered Mexico in the early 1500’s, he requested that school’s be established to educate the sons of the Aztec tribal chieftains. The school was patterned after the cathedral schools of Europe. Students were taught reading, writing, singing, instrument construction, how to play musical instruments and how to copy music.  Music-The French established schools patterned after European Cathedral Schools in the second half of the 16 th and first half of the 17 th century in Canada and northern midwest area of what was to become the United States. These school, with Jesuit priests as teachers, were also established to educate the Indian population and to win converts to the church. The Influence of the Church in Colonial America -The Pilgrims, Puritans and Calvinists who settled in America in were thrust into a completely new environment in this country. The basic problem was survival. Thousands had died within years of arriving. -Instrumental music was rare in the colonies for several reasons. The Pilgrims, did not have room on their ships to bring large instruments to America.

Historic and Current Influences The Influence of the Church in Colonial America -The Pilgrims, Puritans and Calvinists who settled in America in were thrust into a completely new environment in this country. The basic problem was survival. Thousands had died within years of arriving. -Instrumental music was rare in the colonies for several reasons. The Pilgrims, did not have room on their ships to bring large instruments to America. The Puritan movement, rejected the use of instruments in their churches. Also, the scarcity of printed music The German Moravians who settled in Pennsylvania, Penn. Dutch, Lutherans, Pietists. Had a strong tradition of vocal and instrumental music, emphasis on music education. Singing Schools -Began in 1712 by Puritans, designed to teach Singing of Psalms Tunes, exerted an influence on music teaching and learning for almost 150 years. -Schools met two or three times a week for one or two months. Taught by traveling “singing masters” who also sold their materials. Tunes were borrowed from all sorts of music. These times ended with a “singing lecture” and “singing assembly.” The “singing assembly” concluded with a sermon from a local minister.

Historic and Current Influences -Before the Revolutionary War, most bands in America were attached to military units. 6-8 musicians, two horns, two trumpets, 1-2 bassoons a pair of clarinets and/or a pair of oboes. The Work of Lowell Mason and Others -Traveled from Savannah, GA to Boston, MA in 1827 to teach singing school for children. Finally in 1838 music was included in Boston Schools. -Established the Boston Academy of Music in 1833, its mission was to train music teachers. They sponsored music conventions for training sessions. -An important development for bands was the work of instrument maker Adolphe Saxe in the 1840’s. Saxe made important improvements in the valve system of existing conical brass instruments and developed a unified family of brass instruments known as saxhorns that ranged from soprano flugelhorn to tuba. -These instruments were very popular because they had a common fingering system which allowed easy transfer between the various instruments. Were relatively easy to learn and to play, and were louder than woodwind instruments and strings. -Their popularity lead to the formation of brass bands in the late 1800’s. -During the Civil War brass bands were important part of military life. The bands were ceremonial, evening concerts for the men, and parade music. Many of their early instruments were over the shoulder models with bells pointing backward.

Historic and Current Influences The Work of Lowell Mason and Others - Patrick Gilmore was bringing bands in from Europe which had full woodwind sections. Changed the thinking of American band leaders. In 1873 Gilmore was the director of the 22 nd Regiment band in NY. He reorganized the band in the European style which became a model for bands as we know it. -The work of composer and conductor John Philip Sousa ( ) first conductor of the United States Marine Band ( ), and then his own professional band ( ) was highly influential in America. -Late 19 th century to the first part of the 20 th century there were 10,000 professional and amateur bands in the United States. Yet by the end of World War I they had all but disappeared. Sudden decline to three things: 1. Changing popular music styles which called for different musical skills from professionals 2. The decline in the popularity of amusement parks that had provided employment for bands. 3. The severe economic conditions of World War I.

Historic and Current Influences The Growth of Music in Schools -John Dewey, founder of the Laboratory School at the Univ. of Chicago is credited with beginning the progressive Education movement in That movement was to have a profound effect on education, one effect being the inclusion of orchestras and bands in the schools. -With the development of junior high schools and the effect of world war I, bands were needed for a morale purposes, this helped to establish instrumental music in the schools, even though it was an after school, extra curricular activity taught by whomever was available and had an interest in the band or orchestra. -Two very important events in the school band movement occurred in The first National Band Tournament was held in Chicago, national contest, as an entertainment for a convention of music instrument manufacturers, publishers and music dealers. The event attracted 30 school bands from 13 states. The publication of The Universal Teacher in 1923, the first heterogeneous class method, was significant for instrumentalists. It was a melodic approach to instruction that also included several pages of three part harmonizations, the material was simple to teach and learn.

Historic and Current Influences Struggles for the Arts -The Progressive Education movement was never a very well organized reform, and deteriorated to the point that most scholars disassociated themselves from it by 1941.