Alisha Reeve MUSE 365 Choral Methods Citation Directing the Choral Music Program Chapter 1: Becoming a Choral

l Music Director Kenneth H. Phillips 2004 Discussion Who is called the father of music education and why? Lowell Mason is credited with being the father of music education. Using the theories of Pestalozzi, he created a method that used sight-singing and singing skills in a sequence. He believed that all children could be taught to sing. In 1837, he spent a year working, without pay, at Hawes elementary school in Boston. He used he sequence and demonstrated his success through a concert. After his success he was named the first public school music teacher in Boston. From Boston, music as a part of the public school system quickly spread, leading to the name the father of music education. Although there had obviously been music in private schools previously, he is credited as the father of music education because he was able to prove that all children have some ability to sing and perform music and that every student should be given the chance. It is important to know about this history of music in schools. Music in public schools is a very new thing in the scheme of things. In the past music was for the wealthy. It is only recently that music has become a subject for all. It is our job as music educators to instill music into our students.