An Overview of Early Music Education
Prior to European and African settlements in the United States, Native Americans utilized the oral tradition of tribal history and tribal music. The use of drums, the human voice, dances and replication of animal calls and chants were part of this tradition.
The first music schools established in America served the religious community. They were called “singing schools” and were first started in Boston in 1717 with the purpose of helping students develop skills in reading music and singing in churches. Over the next decades, they spread to other colonies. Musical textbooks were published for singing schools which offered instruction on proper singing practices and offered songs suitable for church usage.
In 1833, the Boston Academy of Music was founded by Lowell Mason and his colleagues and was open to a secular population of youth. The Academy promoted not only singing instruction but also the study of music and related theory. In 1837, Mason was allowed to formally teach music to students at Hawes Primary School, marking the start of music education in American public schools. The venture was so successful that in 1838 the Boston school board voted to include music as part of the school curriculum for all ages of students. It was a vote that recognized the musical possibilities inherent in children. In Lowell Mason’s school board proposal, he states, “Let (music) no longer be regarded merely as the ornament of the rich. . . .(When you) introduce music into the common schools (you) make it what it should be. . .the property of the whole people.” It was the first time in American history that music was officially given a place in the school curriculum.
Between 1838 and 1860, 50 other schools followed Boston’s example. Boston’s educational music program became the standard that other cities across the nation emulated. During these early years of music education, classes were taught by a special music teacher. After 1885, the model for public school music education was for the classroom teacher to teach music under the direction of a music supervisor. During the latter 1800’s, teacher’s colleges, then known as Normal Schools, introduced music instruction as part of their training for new teachers.
Violin classes were taught as an after-school class in Boston in 1910. This was the first time musical instruments were used in the public schools. Marching bands and school orchestras became prevalent after this time. Also in 1910, Frances Elliott Clark, working in the Milwaukee School District, won the approval to use phonographs and music libraries in schools. All of the world’s great music was now available to the amateur listener and was used in the teaching of music appreciation classes.
Schools In Las Vegas
The first school in Las Vegas opened in 1905 with sixty-eight students and two teachers teaching all grades. In 1910, the Las Vegas Grammar school opened with more than a hundred students and eight teachers. By the 1950’s, there were staff members who taught music, band, and chorus. Some examples are:
In 1922, Harvey Ross taught music. In 1924, Matt Kelly taught music and band. In 1927, Lewis E. Rowe taught music and art at Las Vegas High School (also known as Clark County High School) and Eldon Larson taught elementary music and art. In 1951, Marilyn LaDuc taught music at Fifth Street School and music in North Las Vegas. In 1952, John Green taught music in North Las Vegas and Paul Bushong later replaced Mr. Green who had been drafted into the army.
“Music has an important place in kindergarten and primary training. Rote songs, action songs, and rhythm games lend variety and give children the “feel” of the music. Little children sing naturally. They show no more embarrassment in singing alone than in reading alone.” Maude Frazier, Superintendent, Las Vegas Union School District-1935 School Report