History of Music Education

The Schola Contorum of Rome

400

Established by Pope Gregory the Great, Trained Papal Choir, Singing Schools, Instruction in chanting and rendering music for the church. Differentiated the idea that music is a personal hobby, to a professional goal.

Gregorian Chant Developed

800

Western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries. Although popular legend credits Pope St. Gregory the Great with inventing Gregorian chant, scholars believe that it arose from a later Carolingian synthesis of Roman chant and Gallican chant.

Guido d'Arezzo Develops Musical Notation

1000

991-1033; Invents the first concept of musical notation.

Hildegard de Bingen

1098

1098-1179 Sets up the first "school" for music. Teaches sacred music within her monastery, but also begins incorporating secular music within the realms of the church for the first time. Begins demonstrating instrumental music within the realm of sacred music.

First Public School

1635

Boston Latin School, both the first and oldest existing school in the US.

First University

1636

Harvard University. Claims to be the oldest institution of higher education.

The Introduction of Secular Music to the Puritans

1650

Instrument Business Booms

1712

Instrument sales are up, as a result of popularity increase. Nationwide increase an instrument creates a need for teachers and education in music.

First Singing Schools created in American colonies

1717

Boston,MA

Introduction of Lowell Mason to the music scene of Boston

1720

"Father of public school music teaching"

First Introduction of Songbooks with Musical Notation

1721

First private music lessons taught

1760

Philadelphia

Establishment of the Boston Academy of Music

1833

Manual of the Boston Academy of Music published by Lowell Mason

1834

Lowell Mason appointed superintendent of music for the Boston school system

1838

Music declared a regular subject in the public school system

1838

"The Young Choir" first "tunebook" is published

1841

William B. Bradbury

Crane School for Music is founded

1886

One of the first institutions in the country to have programs dedicated to training public school music teachers.

National Federation of Music Clubs formed

1898

Promoted the arts by supporting many schools and music organizations.

Introduction of the Suzuki Method

1898

Shinichi Suzuki creates the method, aimed at creating an environment for learning music which would parallel linguistic elements of learning a language.

Dalcroze Approach Developed

1900

Early 1900s, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze develops this approach to music education. It enforces an understanding of music, its fundamental concepts, its expressive meanings, and its deep connections to other arts and human activities. Through ground breaking techniques incorporating rhythmic movement, aural training, and physical, vocal and instrumental improvisation.

Joseph Maddy becomes first Supervisor of Instrumental Music in the US

1918

Rochester, New York

Orff Approach developed by Carl Orff

1920

Conceived during the 20s and 30s. Based upon the importance of rhythm and movement, in culmination with music, drama, and speech.

Foundation of the International Society for Music Education

1943

Hungarian Government begins implementing the Kodály Method into its public schools

1945

First public school in Hungary, in which music is taught daily, is opened.

1950

Kodály's methods presented to the international community.

1958

Conference of the International Society for Music Educators, held in Vienaa.

Creation of the National Endowment for the Arts

1965

Edwin Gordan develops Music Learning Theory

1970

During the course of the 70s, Gordon develops MLT while he is serving as a professor at Temple University. He develops concepts such as audiation, aptitude, etc.

First Symposium dedicated purely to Kodály Method is held.

1973

Oakland, California; Inaugurated the International Kodály Society

Introduction of National Standards for Music Education

1994