The development of musical education in the public schools from 1840 to the present day

Abstract

This thesis takes as its definition of a public school one whose headmaster is a member of 'The Headmasters' Conference’ (HMC). An attempt is made to discover the influences on the development of the subject, and some description of the methods of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century public school musicians takes place. Aims, objectives and justifications, as far as they can be ascertained, of headmasters and directors of music for musical education in the public schools are assessed along with the role played by the subject in projecting the schools' image. Because it is a predominantly boarding education that is being portrayed there is much discussion of the function of extra-curricular activities, some of which are described in detail. A whole chapter is devoted to vocal music, tracing the development of chapel music, choral societies, school songs and unison singing. Another charts the evolution of instrumental music and the final chapter evaluates the place which music has taken in the curriculum, especially at the present time. Some comparison is made with the provision for music in the elementary schools during the nineteenth century and with the secondary schools this century. Although there is no attempt to prove that one system of musical education is better than another, the thesis shows how each has had an influence upon the other. There is also some discussion of the development of music in the preparatory schools and the effects this has had upon public school music. It is intended that the thesis should be useful to those interested in the history of education, and more specifically the public school ethos, as well as musical educators. The thesis is therefore descriptive and analytical of developments and hopes to furnish the reader with an accurate picture of public school music.