Music Education in The United States - Music Educators in The Community

Music Educators in The Community

As America became involved in World War I, music education was important both for the troops and the American citizens back home. Peter W. Dykema, who started the Music Supervisors' Bulletin, believed strongly in the power of community sings. He proposed that a small number of songs be selected and that music educators should focus their teaching on this repertoire. The 55 Songs and Choruses tune book contained many songs that could easily be sung by people of all ages, such as Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Early to Bed (song). The book also included patriotic songs, such as America, as well as popular favorites by Irving Berlin. The publication was immensely popular, and the songs were taught in schools and also sung in various events throughout American communities. Song leaders even encouraged factory workers to sing during their breaks to boost morale and unite people behind the cause. Even after World War I was over, many music teachers continued to use Dykema's song book as the focus of their school's repertoire.

In 1942, after America had begun fighting in World War II, the Music Educators National Conference published a statement urging music educators to be active leaders in their respective communities. The bulletin specifically called teachers to harness the power active community leaders by organizing singing events for all ages and to help train other song leaders. In addition to the public community singing events, there were many radio broadcasts designed to encourage families singing together at home, such as the Indiana State Teachers College Music Department's "I Hear America Singing." As the war progressed, the Music Educators National Conference began giving out awards to honor those who had used music to support the national war effort on the home front. By December 1, 1945, these awards had been given to musical organizations, school music departments, and over 100,000 individual citizens across the country.

In more recent years, community singing events have been gaining popularity once again. Many towns and cities across the United States are now organizing these events to encourage community spirit through the performance music.