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500 BCE
Athens, Greece
The Greek education system emphasized music and poetry. The purpose of education was to develop citizens capable of actively participating in Greek society. Major instruments: the lyre and the aulos -
Period: 878 to 1050
The Middle Ages: St. Odo and Guido d'Arezzo
St. Odo of Cluny (878-942) presented a systematic use of letters to represent musical pitches. Guido d'Arezzo used the syllables from a familiar hymn to create a standard notation, which was the beginnings of the modern solfege system. -
1517
The Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five thesis. Luther was musical and advocated for the teaching and singing of instrumental music. -
1523
Cortez Conquered Mexico for Spain
Cortex brought a music teacher, Pedro de Gante, to Mexico to convert the Native people. He tauht them to read, write, and sing European music, copy Franco-Flemish polyphony manuscripts, and build violins and organs. -
1540
Coronado Conquered the Area that is now New Mexico
He brought the music teacher Juan de Padilla -
Period: to
Seventeenth Century Realism
The newly emerging middle class needed to be educated. John Amos Comenius of Bohemia wrote "The Great Didactic," in which he discussed the teaching of music. -
Period: to
Music in German Schools
In 17th century Germany, elementary students learned music principals by rote and sang by ear. Prussian music education became the model for American schools in the early 19th century. -
Pilgrims and Puritans arrived in Massachusettes
in 1620 and 1630 -
First Book Printed in the English Colonies
The Bay Psalm Book. The first edition to contain music was the ninth edition in 1698. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony Passed Laws for Education
The colony passed laws requiring towns to have schools. The colony believed in Universal Education. Music was not included, but rather taught privately in singing schools. -
Iroquois Received Permission to Celebrate Cervices in their Native Language
The French brought Christianity to Native people in North America through music -
Tuft's Singing Book Improved Singing in Congregations
Reverend John Tufts wrote and printed the first American textbook, called "An Introduction to The Singing of Psalm-Tunes), which helped to improve the terrible singing in New England congregations -
Walter's Manual on Singing the Regular Way
Reverend Thomas Walter published his book to help singers read standard notation. -
Period: to
William Billings' Life
Billings was the best known of the Yankee composers. His most memorable composition, "Chester," became the battle song of Washington's Army during the Revolutionary War. -
Period: to
Pestalozzi's Life
Pestalozzi changed the way people viewed Elementary education. He believed education was the only means to elevate Swiss peasants in a feudal society. Dignity through education. His methods replaced discipline and traditional memorization to one based on love and understanding. -
100,000 People in Pennsylvania
William Penn held the charter to Pennsylvania, and gave the land to anyone who sought religious freedom. By 1776, more than 100,000 Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans, Mennonites, Pietists, and Quakers lived there, bringing their European musical traditions. -
Period: to
Theodore Thomas' Life
Violinist born in Germany. Founded the Theodore Thomas Orchestra and directed the Cincinnati May Festival -
Mason Began to Publish Children's Music
Beginning with The Juvenile Psalmist and The Juvenile Lyre -
Elam Ives Divided Instruction
The teacher divided music instruction into three "departments" -- rhythm, pitch, and dynamics. -
Woodbridge's Speech
William Channing Woodbridge delivered a speech to the the American Institute of Instruction called, "On Vocal Music as a Branch of Common Education" -
The Boston Academy was Incorporated
One of it's objectives was the introduction of "vocal music into schools" -
Mason published his Manual of Instruction of the Boston Academy of Music
Mason published his "Manual of Instruction of the Boston Academy of Music, for Instruction in the Elements of Vocal Music on the System of Pestalozzi" which became the handbook of singing school teachers throughout the country. -
Mason and Webb Convention on Teaching Methods
Mason and George Webb held a convention on teaching methods: psalmody harmony, voice culture, and discussions of problems. By 1836, the convention was ten days of lectures. The students unanimously approved ten resolutions. (The photo is George Webb) -
Music Becomes a Curricular Subject in Boston
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Elam Ives Jr. Concert at Constitution Hall
Elam Ives Jr. established the Philadelphia Music Seminary. At this concert, he announced that he planned to establish a new musical Seminary in New York. -
Stowe's Paper on Teaching in Prussia
Calvin E. Stowe presented a report which drew three conclusions: All men can learn to sing, vocal music is of benefit as a school subject, and teachers must be qualified/ -
Music Taught in Cincinnati Schools
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Normal Schools Began in Massachusetts
They played a major role in professionalizing teaching in the common schools. People who finished high school could go to normal schools to learn how to be teachers. -
The Academy Convention was Renamed the National Music Convention
It continued to attract skilled musical leaders. -
Period: to
Middle of 19th century: Instrumental Music in Schools
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American Association for the Advancement of Education Founded
Horace Mann was the first president -
1850's- Schools Systems Created the Title of Music Supervisor
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Reverend Hanks- Singing School for Black Americans
In Wilmington, North Carolina -
State Funding for Music at the Texas Institute for the Blind
First time there was state funding for music in schools rather than local funding. -
Period: to
American Civil War
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First Graded Music Series
Mason's "The Song Garden" was the first graded series, where students learned to read printed music before they sang songs. -
George Loomis Published First Steps in Music
The three-volume series introduced music reading by placing notes above or around a single line. -
The National Music Course was Published
Published by the Ginn Brothers of Boston. It was a graded series of 7 books. -
First American Kindergarten
The first American kindergarten connected with a public school system was established in St. Louis. The Kindergarten Songbook and Songs for Little Children contained music for those classes. -
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
The first permanent association of musicians in the United States. -
National Education Association Created
NTA, AAAE, and two other organizations merged. -
Period: to
The Great Immigration
From 1880-1920, a huge influx of people from Eastern Europe came to America to escape poverty and political and religious persecution. -
The Normal Music Course was Published
Written by Hosea Holt and John Tufts. Focused on sight-signing. -
Department of Music Education Collected Data
...on music instruction throughout the United States. The responses indicated that music instruction had increased since the 1886 survey. -
National Society for the Student of Education (NSSE)
Formed at the meeting of the National Education Association -
Marching Bands
Austin A. Harding became the director of the University of Illinois Bands, where he founded the Department of Bands -
Music Supervisors National Conference (MSNC) Founded
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Frances Clark Speaks on Victrolas in the Classroom
Frances Elliot Clark described the use of victrolas in her music classroom to the Wisconsin Teachers Association -
High School Orchestra
...Recognized as a curricular subject in Cincinnati -
Earhart Became Director of Music for Pittsburg Schools
...and prepared four books in a series titled "Master Musicians" -
MENC Published "Outline...
of a Program for Music Education." Five basic music activities (singing, rhythmics, listening, playing, and creating) were recommended for the elementary school. -
Period: to
World War I
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Kent's "Music For Every Man" Speech
Willis P. Kent. -
National Association of Secondary School Principals
Several issues of the Bulletin have been devoted to music education. -
Damrosch Uses the Radio for Music Ed
Walter Damrosch introduced millions of children to classical music through a radio broadcast of the Mountain King, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and The Flying Dutchman -
"Liberty Edition" of Patriotic Songs Published
It included a singable version of the National Anthem. -
Military Band Leaders Transfer to Civilian Life
After the war, military band leaders became school music teachers, vaudeville musicians, and radio bands. -
MSNC Established committee to develop supervisor training
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MSNC Created A Standard Course Of Study
...for the first six grades. Standards were agreed upon in 1921. -
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
Founded in 1920. Provided a forum for music educators to promote music for younger school children. -
Creation of the Committee on Instrumetnal Affairs
...after Joseph Maddy's Richmond High School Orchestra performance at the 1922 MSNC meeting. -
"The Universal Teacher" was Published
The best-known method for teaching several instruments in one class. By Joseph Maddy and Thaddeus Giddings. -
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
Founded in 1924 to accredit all music degree programs. -
Albert G. Mitchel Published "Violin Class Method"
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Period: to
Revelli leads Hobart Band
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Randall J. Condon and the National High School Orchestra
The concert was the first exposure that most of the superintendents had had to excellent music performed by students. -
Music Educators National Conference
MSNC renamed to MENC -
Revelli joined UM Faculty- Wind Instrument Department
William D. Revelli joined the University of Michigan faculty and established a Wind Instrument Department -
Period: to
World War II
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MENC's New Contituion
MENC adopted a new constitution and became a department of NEA -
Code of Ethics
Created to stop the exploitation of school performing groups for commercial purposes. -
1950's- MENC Moves to Washington
In the 1950's. -
NIMAC Manual by the NSBOVA
National School Band, Orchestra, and Choral Association merged and became the National Interscholastic Music Activities Commission. -
Sputnik
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Woods Hole Conference
It's purpose was to discuss the problems of science education and recommend solutions. Federal Government was deeply involved in education in the 50's and 60's -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1959
Funding for schools and music education specifically. -
Young Composer's Project
Part of the Contemporary Music Project established by the Ford Foundation -
Published: Foundations and Principles of Music Education
by Charles Leonhard and Robert House -
NEA Produced "Music and Art in the Schools"
...which provided a clear picture of the status of the two disciplines -
The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
Independent federal agency in the executive branch -
Tanglewood Symposium Founded
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USOE Arts and Humanities Program
48 sponsored research projects in music including the Yale Seminar, the Juliard Repertory Project, and the Manhattanville Music Curriculum Program -
The Goals and Objectives Project Began
The project began to implement the recommendations of the Tanglewood Symposium. -
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
Founded in 1952. In 1970, it became the "sole agency" for teacher and administrator accreditation. -
Kenedy Center established the Alliance for Arts Education
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Special Research Interests Groups (SRIGS) Formed
Formed at the 1978 MENC convention to serve music educators who share similar research interests. -
Period: to
Research Symposia
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First Grammar School Orchestra
At Nathan Hale School in Connecticut -
National Coalition for Education in the Arts
It's mission was to develop and monitor policy affecting education in the arts -
National Commission on Music Education
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New Horizons Organization
For adult music education. By 2006, there were 130 New Horizons organizations -
Publication of The New Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning
Edited by Richard Colwell, this handbook contained 55 chapters by scholars and researchers. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The act was intended to level the field for all children, especially the underprivileged who were served by Title I. The arts were identified as core subjects. -
The MENC Centennial
In 2007, MENC celebrated the centennial of its founding and sponsored a Centennial Congress in Orlando, Florida. -
Vision 2020
The Housewright Symposium on the Future of Music Education
