TMEA History
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE TENNESSEE MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
by T. Earl Hinton, 1998
Prelude
The 1873 revision of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee
stipulates that the General Assembly will provide for a system of free
public schools. The General Education Fund of 1921 authorized a Department
of Education, a State Board of Education and a Commissioner of Education.
(1)
In Tennessee as in other states, formal-institutional music
instruction was occurring long before anyone ever attempted organizing
professionals into associations. Private colleges and a land-grant
university had been established and the state Legislature had placed
"Normal" schools - teachers colleges - in cities across the state by 1909.
Some form of class instruction in music was offered by these first state
colleges and in the newly established public schools. Middle Tennessee
State Normal School founded in 1911, for example, offered two courses in
music as it opened: "Course I. Public School Music. The art of teaching
music...The course will embrace sight-reading, including the principles of
scales, meter, keys, and rhythm." [sic.] Course II. Piano and Voice (no
content description). (2) Professor Max Schoen, while a faculty member
from 1914 to 1919 at East Tennessee State Normal School in Johnson City,
developed a model music instruction program for rural life (schools).
Forerunners of both the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and
Music Educators National Conference (MENC) were drawing attention from
private music teachers and college and school instructors as early as the
1910s. (3)
Happily, it is not the purpose of this brief written history of the
Tennessee Music Educators Association (TMEA) to give an accounting of music
education in Tennessee, although that would be interesting. But it should
be acknowledged that the beginning of the organization could not have
happened without music teachers in the schools and colleges and antecedent
associations caring deeply about the status of music instruction,
particularly in the public schools. Sadly, some of the names of the
individuals and organizations who charted the course are buried in history.
Southern Section (Division) MSNC
With the formation of the Music Supervisors' National Conference
(MSNC) in 1907, interest in organizing apparently gathered some momentum
among Tennessee music educators. The Conference held a meeting in the
South for the first time in Nashville in 1922.
Paul J. Weaver of Chapel Hill, N.C., writes in the Music
Supervisors' Journal, "On Friday (March 24) "after the last session of the
Nashville Conference, the Southern members formed a new conference and
elected me to the presidency of it for the coming year." In the same
article Weaver wrote "that the new organization exist purely as a branch or
section of the National Conference, and be articulated with it in all
possible ways as definitely as possible." The following states took part
in the organization of the southern section conference: Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, North and South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia. Except for
the first three, the same states currently make up the Southern Division of
MENC. (4)
The MSNC meeting in Nashville that March had occurred under the
presidency of Frank A. Beach. The site was chosen in response to an appeal
from the "big city in 'Dixie Land'...to come down and help us." (5)
D.R. Gebhart, director of music a George Peabody College for
Teachers, was largely instrumental in securing the location for Nashville.
Sessions were held on the campuses of Peabody, Ward-Belmont College, Fisk
University, at the Ryman Auditorium, the Hermitage Hotel, and Hume-Fogg
High School. Tennessee musical groups and music educators and notables on
the program included the first Nashville Symphony, conducted by Frederick
Arthur Henkel; Gebhart; Milton Cook, Supervisor of Music, Nashville City
Schools; Bruce R. Payne, President of Peabody; Tennessee Governor Alfred
Taylor; P.P. Claxton, then Provost of the University of Alabama and former
faculty member of UT Knoxville and US Commissioner of Education under
President Wilson, later President of Austin Peay State College,
Clarksville; and the great violinist Erika Morini.
Under the leadership of Weaver and Gebhart, the Southern Music
Supervisors' Conference wasted no time in inaugurating meetings, its first
being planned and implemented that year in Atlanta, December 14-16.
Gebhart had become president. (6)
It would be interesting to know who from Tennessee joined the
Southern section of MSNC beginning in 1922 and until 1945. Biennial
conventions of the section continued and Tennesseans are named in the
programs. For example, the program of the 1935 New Orleans conference
lists E. Mae Saunders of Murfreesboro as state chairman. (Miss Saunders
was the sole faculty member when Middle Tennessee State Normal School
opened in 1911, and had recently retired when I came to that institution).
Catherine Warren, cited below as an officer in the Middle Tennessee Vocal
Association in the '40s, is listed as state chair in the MENC Southern
Section program of 1943.
Founding
No part of the Tennessee Music Educators Association's history has
been more intriguing but elusive than the facts surrounding the
association's formation. Try as I have - names, dates, places - the
scenario, the factual chain of events has not been forthcoming. Perhaps
when and if this accounting is read, someone will come forward to fill in
the much needed details of the association's "birth."
All evidence available indicates that the Tennessee Music Educators
Association (TMEA) was officially formed in 1945, thirty-eight years after
the organizing of the Music Supervisors' National Conference, and
twenty-three years after the founding of the Southern Section Conference in
Nashville. One can conclude that factors contributing to the delaying of
Tennessee's organization would include the dominance of rural life in the
state, the Great Depression and World War II. Later on I list the founding
dates of some of Tennessee's sectional instrumental and vocal associations.
Two (probably all three) of the instrumental groups had been formed prior
to the war. One would speculate that these fledgling groups and their
officers began at some point in early 1940s to discuss the concept of a
state-wide association. Concurrently, and for some years, the Tennessee
Education Association (TEA) had sectional music organizations - but not a
state-wide one - on which it had depended for music, particularly for
presentations at its regional conferences. For example, The Tennessee
Teacher of 1945 lists as Departmental Officers for music for its Middle
Section: Guy L. Hague, Chairman, Department of Music, Austin Peay State
Normal School, Clarksville, President; E.B. McDowell, Nashville, Vice
President; and Julia Harwood of Nashville, Secretary. There is no evidence
that any of these were ever TMEA members - but they could have been and
certainly could have been among those who helped form the association. (7)
The MSNC was originally composed of individuals - supervisors of music, not
teachers in the field. Members of forming state organizations were not
necessarily members of the MSNC or vice-versa. The state of Maine, in
1916, was the first to establish a state association with four state MEAs
being formed in the 1920s, sixteen in the 1930s and twenty-six, including
Tennessee, in the 1940s. The Music Supervisors' National Conference
changed its name to the Music Educators National Conference in 1934.
Federated state units of MENC were begun in 1941 with national, divisional
and state dues combined for those units then affiliated. Even as interest
in a state organization rose in Tennessee in the late 30s, World War II
probably caused all inclinations to go on hold. (8)
Tennessee (TMEA) appears for the first time in the Music Educators
Journal (MEJ) masthead as an "affiliated state unit" in Vol. XXXII, No 1,
Sept.-Oct., 1945. "Tennessee has up and affiliated themselves, too. So
bring out the welcome mat and say hello to Tennessee Music Educators
Association. Maurice Haste was elected president, and the general
understanding is that Tennessee's activities are worth observing." (9)
"Maurice Haste has excellent news about the Tennessee Music
Educators Association. Seems there are three education sections in
Tennessee and each one of them officially adopted TMEA as their music
section. People like Catherine Warren and Anita Gann Jones are already
sending in the memberships and things are clicking along." (10)
The March 1946 The Tennessee Teacher carried an article (without a
by-line) congratulating the TMEA on its recent organization and MENC
affiliation. "For its first major activity, the Tennessee Music Educators
Association will sponsor the music for the 1946 meeting of the Tennessee
Educators Association in Nashville...Active in the TMEA's organization and
affiliation have been many, too many to mention. From the ranks have been
elected the following: Maurice Haste, Humbolt, president; O'Dell Willis,
Fountain City, vice president; Hobart Davis, Murfreesboro, vice president;
A.E. McClain, Bartlett, vice president (three of them!); and Wilson Mount,
Memphis, secretary-treasurer." These, we must assume, were the first
officers. (11)
First Constitution
A copy of the original TMEA Constitution and By Laws has not been
found. However, a printing that we may assume is accurate appeared in The
Tennessee Musician Vol. II, No. 2, November-December, 1949. That issue
also carries a notice about a proposed amendment dealing with board
membership. The notice does not state what the original wording was, i.e.,
from - to. Excerpts from the document include: Section 2. The Object
[sic] of the organization states "It shall be (the) mutual helpfulness and
the promotion and advancement of music through the instrumentality of
school and other institutions or organizations". Affiliation. From its
inception, the TMEA was to function "as the music section of the Tennessee
Education Association and as the state unit of the Music Educators National
Conference." Relationships. Declares a close relationship with the State
Department of Education, the TEA and the educational institutions of the
state, with MENC and with the National School Band, Orchestra and Vocal
Associations. Membership. Individuals could join either as Active or
Sustaining members. Dues for active members (state and national we
presume) were set at $4.00 payable to TMEA or to MENC. A 1949 issue of The
Tennessee Musician listed the names, with cities, of eighty-four members.
Board of Control. Article III. "Officers and Government" established that
the association would consist of three divisions corresponding to the grand
geographical divisions and as prescribed by the TEA organization. Each of
the three divisions would elect a district committee of five
representatives, "at least one from instrumental, choral, college and
elementary music interests of the division, and one of whom shall be
chairman of that division." This division chairman was called president of
the section. The five members of the three division committees then would
make up the board and it would elect its officers - a president, first vice
president, second vice president and secretary-treasurer. Perhaps the
first board members were representatives or officers of the music sections
of the TEA and/or of the already organized instrumental and vocal
associations, we don't know. How they came to be elected or selected is
also not known. Officers. All officers would serve for a term of two
years and no person could be elected to fill the same office for more than
two consecutive terms. No record of the makeup of the original board or
officers has been found; only the officers given above that are recorded in
The Tennessee Teacher. (12)
The officers in 1948 were: Edward Hamilton, Knoxville, President;
Tom Hewgley, Columbia, Vice President; Gaston Taylor, Memphis, Vice
President; and N. Taylor Hagan, Nashville, Secretary-Treasurer. The roster
does not state which vice president is first or second. But in Vol. II,
No. 2, Hagan is named as first vice president and he became the next
president. Ralph G. Hale of Memphis is then listed as second vice
president. When Hagan became president, Ed Hamilton became first vice
president. One concludes that the vice president position did not
necessarily lead to the top post. Meetings. Would be held in conjunction
with the TEA annual meeting or a call from the Board. (13)
So TMEA was originally conceived to become a part of the Tennessee
Education Association (TEA) as was the case for the national organization
(MSNC/MENC) and its relations to the National Education Association.
Throughout its history, off and on again, TMEA has claimed affiliation with
TEA. In its early years, its conferences (convention) were held as a music
section of the TEA convention.
Early Initiatives
In Vol. II, No. 2, January-February 1949, The Tennessee Musician
editor J. Clark Rhodes writes that a purpose of TMEA was "to promote and
activate a useful and broad program of music education in the schools..."
In October, 1948, the association established, in conjunction with the
State Department of Education, a "State Program...to help rural and
classroom teachers with music." The program called on college music
education departments and city music supervisors who were willing to
volunteer their services to organize workshops for teachers in their
respective geographic areas. Under the leadership of State Department of
Education (SDE) Director of Public Schools (elementary) R. Lee Thomas and
TMEA President Hamilton, Gladys Tipton was designated as State Music
Consultant. Although early issues of The Tennessee Musician refer to
Tipton with this title, the relationship of this position to the State
Department remains unclear. The position may have been official but more
likely in name only in as much as Ms. Tipton was a professor at The
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (14) The May-June 1949 The Tennessee
Musician headline read "Approximately 150,000 Children Reached Through
State Program." In the fall of 1950, Education Commissioner J.A. Barksdale
formed a state Music Advisory Committee. TMEA President Hamilton was a
member. Lester Bucher and Erwin Schneider and later, Alfred Humphries also
from The University of Tennessee joined Tipton listed as state consultants.
The Music Advisory Committee was expanded in 1951 when President Taylor
Hagan appointed a TMEA Projects Committee with emphasis on elementary
school programs. In the late '50s, all four-year colleges governed by the
State Board of Education would be asked to provide a portion of one music
professor's load as regional consultant. This plan of action continued
through two decades and, under it, part of my assigned teaching load was
designated when I was appointed as Instructor at Middle Tennessee State
College in 1960.
Elementary music instruction, of course, did not dominate the
interest and affairs of the new association. Articles in the earliest The
Tennessee Musician volumes are replete with news of high school
activities-festivals, personnel, trends and pictures of performing groups.
The back pages of Vol. 1, No. 3, has a photo of an All-State Chorus, John
Raymond, Conductor, in Knoxville, March 1949. (There must be five-hundred
high school singers!) The journal has consistently carried news and
articles about college music departments and MENC happenings. It is
difficult at this juncture (or at any time) to judge the composite interest
of the association and in this brief history to report many important
recorded events.
President Selection
The 1960 Constitution prescribed that officers would be elected by
the board from the membership of its outgoing or incoming members at the
spring meeting on even years. The 1978 revision established the office of
president elect, set up a nomination committee (appointed by the president)
for this purpose that would nominate two candidates for the post, and thus
changed the old office of second vice president and making the past
president vice president. This revision required that the election of the
president elect would be made by mail vote of the full active association
membership.
In 1990 the board inaugurated a standing committee called "Da
Capo," which is composed of past presidents. This committee has a
continuing responsibility: the nomination of two candidates for president
elect. During its first term the committee also proposed and the board
adopted an "Awards Program." Awards would be bestowed on association
members 1) completing twenty-five years service and continuous membership
and 2) forty years service and membership. Additionally, an "Outstanding
Administrator Award" was established.
Presidents, Years and Annual State Conference Locations
For much of its history, the organization has placed strong
emphasis on its state conventions. President Carolyn Travers McCalla and
the board set the association's first stand-alone convention for November
8-9, 1954, in Nashville, on the campus of George Peabody College. State
conferences have with a few exceptions been held alternately in Nashville
and then rotating each second year to a West and East site; in the East,
either to Knoxville or Chattanooga, in the West, to Memphis. The board, in
1997, adopted a resolution to keep the convention in Nashville.
Year President Conference City
1945-'46 Maurice Haste
1946-'47 Wilson Mount
1947-'51 Edward H. Hamilton '49 Knoxville w/TEA '51 Nashville/TEA
1951-'54 N. Taylor Hagan '53 Nashville/TEA
1954-'56 Carolyn B. Travers '54 Nashville '56 Chattanooga
1956-'58 Charles L. Gary '57 Nashville '58 Murfreesboro
1958-'60 Marie Hutchinson '59 Knoxville '60 Murfreesboro
1960-'62 Howard F. Brown '61 Cookeville '62 Clarksville
1962-'64 O'Dell Willis '63 Nashville '64 Chattanooga
1964-'66 Thomas W. Cowan '65 Nashville '66 Memphis
1966-'68 Lawrence P. Cooney '67 Nashville '68 Chattanooga
1968-'70 L. Howard Nicar '69 Nashville '70 Memphis
1970-'72 John R. Bright '71 Nashville '72 Chattanooga
1972-'74 Jay M. Craven '73 Nashville '74 Memphis
1974-'76 W.J. Julian '75 Knoxville '76 Knoxville
1976-'78 Larry Volman '77 Memphis '78 Nashville
1978-'80 T. Earl Hinton '79 Nashville-w/SD '80 Nashville
1980-'82 Joe W. Giles '81 Nashville '82 Knoxville
1982-'84 Nancy Ferguson '83 Memphis '84 Nashville
1984-'86 Solie Fott '85 Chattanooga '86 Nashville
1986-'88 Charles H. Ball '87 Memphis '88 Knoxville
1988-'90 Ray Bell '89 Nashville-w/SD '90 Memphis
1990-'92 Jo Ann Hood '91 Nashville '92 Chattanooga
1992-'94 Patricia Brown '93 Nashville '94 Nashville
1994-'96 Mary Ann Moses '95 Nashville '96 Nashville
1996-'98 Bob Lee '97 Nashville-w/SD '98 Nashville
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
The position of Secretary-Treasurer was established in the
organization's Constitution. The office gained the name "Executive" during
the presidency of L. Howard (Zeke) Nicar and while Ruth W. Brandon held the
post. Whether or not the name change came about by constitutional change
or simply by board action is not known. The 1978 version of the
Constitution reflected this new wording. Some extra duties began to be
assigned to this office. That revision changed this office from one of an
elected post to one appointed by the board. Appointments would be made at
the spring meeting on odd-numbered years. The position would have no vote.
The following have served since 1948.
1948 - N. Taylor Hagan
1950 - Carolyn McCalla
1954 - Ruth Emmert Watts
1955 - Marie Hutchinson
1958 - Mary K. Hartsfield
1964 - Ruth W. Brandon
1971 - Bobby Jean Frost
1977 - John R. Bright
1989 - Seldon L. "S.L." Valentine
1998 - Frank Hale
The Tennessee Musician
In its third year, the association began publication of an official
magazine. Volume I, No. 1 is dated September-October 1948. J. Clark
Rhodes, Professor of Music at The University of Tennessee, was its editor.
Rhodes served for two years, and as advisor for a decade and again as
editor 1969-70. The first issue was eight pages and carried five
advertisements. Issues carried names and addresses of the officers and
members of the Board of Control. Several early issues printed the entire
membership. Editors since Rhodes' first term have been appointed by the
Board.
Editors of THE TENNESSEE MUSICIAN
1948-50 J. Clark Rhodes, Knoxville
1950-51 Erwin H. Schneider, Knoxville
1951-52 Vernon H. Taylor, Nashville
1952-53 Floyd H. Rodgers, Nashville
1953-54 Arthur F. Klein, Nashville
1954-56 Floyd D. Funk, Nashville
1956-58 LaRue V. Pryor, Clarksville
1958-67 Carolyn M. Scruggs, Clinton
1967 Ruth W. Brandon (acting), Nashville
1967-69 J. Clark Rhodes, Knoxville
1969-85 Lawrence P. "Pat" Cooney, Memphis
1985-89 Cynthia R. Curtis, Nashville
1989-94 Carl H. Kauffman, Nashville
1994- F. Michael Combs, Knoxville
The magazine has traditionally had four issues per volume-year -
two each in the fall and spring. But apparently Volume IV of 1951-52 had
only two issues - No. 1 January-February and No. 2 "Winter." The first and
second volumes were probably printed by UT Knoxville. Printer locations
have in general followed editors. Beginning in 1967 and continuing through
1985, Al Chiarmonte of Tampa, Florida served as advertising coordinator
working with the editor. Financial affairs of the journal were probably
shared between Chiarmonte, the editor, and the association's
secretary-treasurer. During the editorship of Cynthia Curtis, the
Executive Secretary-Treasurer was officially recognized as the Business
Manager. This practices has continued.
All-State Festivals
In early years, All-State groups performed at TEA conferences;
all-region groups were presented at TEA sectional conferences. The TEA
provided funds for the support of these groups. During the 1940s and
before TMEA was formed, festival concerts and clinics, were sponsored by
the various sectional groups. All-State festivals sponsored by TMEA and
assembled by the east, middle and west instrumental and vocal associations
began in 1950 with the TEA convention in Knoxville. In 1964, TMEA began
having All-State - band, chorus and orchestra - in conjunction with its
discrete annual convention. In the '70s, jazz band was added. As the
sectional associations became officially a part of TMEA in 1978, regional
festivals and clinics continued to expand.
All-State Performance Locations
1949 - Knoxville with TEA, Chorus - Murfreesboro, Instrumental
1950 - Knoxville with TEA, Chorus and Orchestra; Band in Memphis
1951 - Nashville with TEA
1952 - Nashville with TEA
1953 - Nashville with TEA
1954 - Nashville with TEA
1955 - Nashville with TEA
1956 - Chattanooga with TEA
1957 - Nashville with TEA
1958 - Nashville with TEA
1959 - Nashville with TEA
1960 - Nashville with TEA
1961 - Memphis with TEA
1962 - Nashville with TEA
1963 - Nashville with TEA
1964 - Chattanooga and thenceforth with TMEA's own convention
Throughout its history, the association has successfully engaged
conductors with national reputation for its All-State groups.
In State Affiliated Associations - Origin Dates
The East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (ETSBOA)
was organized in 1939. Its first four presidents were: M.E. Butterfield,
Wilkes Bobbitt, Hollis Cross and O'Dell Willis. I was unable to gather
information about the formation of the ETVA.
The Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA)
was formed in 1938. Its first four presidents were: L.H. Snavely, Jack
Hamilton, C.N. Martin, and C.B. Hunt, Jr. The Middle Tennessee Vocal
Association (MTVA) was formed in 1944. Its first four presidents were:
Viola Boekelheide, Helen O. Mackey, Catherine Warren, and W.C. Campbell.
I was unable to get the formation dates or officer names of either
the West instrumental or vocal association.
The three Elementary Music Associations were formed in the mid-1970s.
Constitution Changes 1959
By 1960, several changes had occurred. Principal among those were:
Government and Officers. "The State unit shall be divided into three
divisions corresponding the East, Middle and West Tennessee Education
Association" (still connected to TEA's setup). "Each instrumental and
vocal association shall elect three (members to the board) representing the
elementary, high school and college level, to serve for a term of two
years. These shall include the presidents of the division instrumental and
vocal organizations..." The board was additionally enlarged to include
representatives from principals', supervisors' and superintendents'
organizations. It is interesting that still at this point the names of the
sectional instrumental and vocal associations are not spelled out. (15)
Constitution Changes 1978
Substantial changes occurred in this revision: Object was changed
to Objectives, and there were several - a complete rewording. Membership.
Active membership dues were redefined. Dues would be set by the board and
ratified by a majority of the membership voting. "Active members shall
also hold membership in an affiliated association and in MENC. Dues and
membership shall be on an annual-continuing basis". This had never before
been so articulated. Representatives from principals' groups, general
supervisors, etc., that had been added in the 1959 revision were eliminated
and in place, non-voting "Patron" and "Honorary" membership categories were
established. Government and Board. For the first time, the document named
the affiliated organizations and the number of representatives from each
that would serve on the board. The three instrumental and vocal
associations would each elect one representative from junior high-middle
school, senior high and college and each of the newly formed elementary
groups would elect one to the board thus seven from each geographic
division, making a total of twenty-one. Officers would not be changed
substantially: President, Vice President (Past President), President Elect
and Executive Secretary-Treasurer, with the representatives making a total
of twenty-five. The By-Laws were completely revised and defined duties of
officers, expenses, publication, committees, voting, accounts and assets
and so forth. (16)
Constitution Changes 1982
This revision dealt largely with By-Laws clearly explicating
financial arrangements, particularly as they relate to All-State events.
But a change was made regarding the board membership. Each of the three
instrumental associations would elect an additional representative to the
Board of Control, thus each sending four. This change gave the board a
total of eight members from each geographical division, plus the four
officers (the Executive Secretary-Treasurer not voting) for a total of 28,
its current number. (17)
Constitution and By_Lays Changes 1992
In this revision, another rewriting of the By-Laws occcurred.
Principal among the changes are: an expansion of the Executive Committee to
include presidents of three of the twelve affiliated associations on a
one-year rotating basis, duties of this committee and the officers, and
expense reimbursement guidelines for officers, board members, and
committees.
Handbook
The first association Handbook was written in 1963 during O'Dell
Willis' presidency. J. Clark Rhodes assembled the material. Copy
inclusions dealt principally with festival procedures including All-State
and annual conference responsibilities. I recall that several revisions
have been attempted but I have not been able to locate these if they were
ever printed.
Emphasis and Activities
Although a number of college and university teachers have belonged
and been active in the association, elementary and secondary instruction
and instructors have remained center stage, and a majority of members have
come from these teaching levels. Secondary vocal and instrumental teachers
have shown particular interest in All-State activities and these affairs
have occupied much of the board's time and energy and have often dominated
The Tennessee Musician copy. But in a broader sense, beginning with the
early initiatives of the "State Program" cited above and continuing to the
present, elementary "school music" instruction has been very important to
the membership and the Board of Control. Music has been a required
offering of Tennessee public elementary school instruction since 1917. (18)
For decades, State Department of Education rules stipulated that a
minimum of sixty minutes of instruction per week be provided for elementary
grade students. Department frameworks have long listed music as an
elective for secondary school students. But frustration has continued as
to the enforcement of provisions and standards. In recent years,
legislative reforms, federal programs such as Goals 2000, and the printing
and dissemination of the National Standards for Arts Education (MENC, 1994)
lend hope for realizing substantive instruction for all students at all
levels.
Unity
Throughout the TMEA's existence unity has been a concern. Numerous
campaigns have been mounted to enroll all levels of music educators.
Despite these initiatives, the association has not been very successful in
getting private teachers and, to some extent, college teachers to join; few
beyond those teaching college "music education" or those directly involved
with college performing organization have consistently belonged.
With the increased placement of certified elementary music
instructors across the state and following the formation of elementary
music associations, the board inaugurated positions for these
representatives. But as stated above, teacher-directors of performance
groups in the secondary schools have not only produced most of TMEA's board
members but because of the requirement of the association that one must be
a member before ones' group or before any student can participate in
regional or state performances, most secondary "directors" belong. Even
with the increasing number of elementary music positions there are by far
more secondary positions state wide. And, the board's structure simply
allows a larger number of members to come from secondary school ranks.
The "sectionalized" structure of the association with considerable
autonomy in the twelve affiliated organizations has perhaps contributed to
some lack of unity. State wide programs except for All-State and annual
conferences have earned only mild support. Unlike many other states, TMEA
has never, except for All-State, sponsored state-wide festivals or
contests. Each sectional vocal and instrumental association programs its
own festivals. Contests are left to special interests or schools. A
number of proposals have come to the board relative to state-wide events
but none has been approved.
State Arts Consultants
The association has always tried to have a close relationship with
the State Department of Education. Gladys Tipton's position was unique and
was eventually replaced by the regional college consultants. Following
Tipton and associates and after local regional colleges assumed some music
consulting responsibilities, Tennessee had no one designated as an official
arts consultant for nearly two decades. In 1962, under the tenure of
Education Commissioner Joe Morgan, the State Department of Education
officially established the position of State Arts Consultant (often
referred to as Supervisor, now called Director of Arts Education) with the
appointment of William Graves. Morgan had appeared on the program of the
TMEA convention in Cookeville in 1961, and spoke on the importance of music
instruction. From the beginning the position has been responsible for all
the arts. Effectiveness of the office has varied considerably as has its
relationship to TMEA. The association at first designated this position as
"other representation" on the Board. With the appointment of the current
Director, Joe W. Giles, the department allowed and began greatly increased
operational practices and effectiveness. The current TMEA Board designates
the Director as a committee chairman.
State Consultants: 1948 - Gladys Tipton and others
State Supervisors: 1962 - William Graves
1965 - Robert Daniels
1976 - Beasley Overby
Director of Arts Education: 1984 - Joe Giles
The Tennessee Arts Commission
The 84th General Assembly formed the Tennessee Arts Commission
(TAC) in 1967. The commission is composed of 15 citizens appointed by the
Governor - usually for three-year terms - representing various arts
interests. Its original funding was approximately $50,000. Through the
years the commission has served as a grants-making group both for state and
federal monies, has sponsored special projects and an annual "Governor's
Conference," and has been a service unit. The first commission had three
musician members: Newman Leighton of Memphis, Harry Neal of Paris, and
Neil Wright of Murfreesboro. The commission has had four Executive
Directors: Norman Worrell when it was organized, Thomas Bacchetti in '76,
Art Keeble in '79 and its current director, Bennett Tarlton, who was
appointed in 1984. From my perspective, TMEA has never had many direct
relations with the commission. Perhaps both organizations have been remiss
in this vein. But the TAC has promoted many music projects through the
years and its work has enriched the musical life of the state.
The Association and Divisional or National Office
*The association's third president, Ed Hamilton, 1947-1951, was
elected president of the Southern Division MENC, 1952-1954, and brought the
Division Conference to Chattanooga in April, 1953. "Pop" Hamilton, who
died in 1983, was a guiding force in the emerging TMEA. A tribute
appearing in the March 1973 issue of The Tennessee Musician which was
dedicated to him said "it is largely through his efforts that music now
enjoys a respectable position in the total curriculum that otherwise may
not have been realized."
*Irving Wolfe, former Head of the Division of Music of George Peabody
College for Teachers, served on several MENC committees in the 40s and 50s
and was a guiding hand in a number of state, division and national
projects. He also was an unsuccessful nominee for the office of president
of the Southern Division in 1961.
*Charles L. Gary chaired the Music Department of Austin Peay State
College in Clarksville beginning in 1947 and served as TMEA president,
1956-1958. In 1958, Gary became a member of the staff of MENC and the
National Executive Board (NEB) appointed him Executive Director of MENC in
1968. He resigned from this post in 1976.
*Gene Morlan, while earning a degree at Peabody College in 1955, was
appointed to the headquarters staff of MENC. Morlan served in several
positions at national MENC from then until 1984 including assistant and
associate executive secretary and director of professional programs
responsible for national and divisional conventions.
*Robert E. Bays, former Director of the School of Music of George
Peabody College for Teachers served as President of the Southern Division
of MENC, 1968-1970. Bays hosted the Division's Mobile conference in 1969.
Your author was privileged to be elected president of TMEA, 1978-1980,
and president of the Southern Division MENC, 1988-1990. During my tenure,
the Division's single focus conference on technology was held a Nashville's
Stouffer Hotel in 1989. It should be noted that the Division also held its
conference in Nashville at Opryland in 1979 when Robert F. Shambaugh of
Louisiana was division president, and TMEA joined with and presented its
All-State groups there.
*Joe W. Giles, Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Department
of Education, was TMEA president in 1980-1982 and served as president of
the Southern Division MENC, 1996-1998. Giles hosted the division
conference of 1997, once again held at Opryland.
*Tommie Pardue of Memphis, who is currently the state chair for Arts
Oversight Committee chaired two national MENC committees: Music In Our
Schools Week, 1980-82, and Government Relations, 1984-86.
Vignettes
*As early as 1952, the association advocated writing improved
standards for teacher certification in music. Edward Hamilton and Maurice
Haste along with Irving Wolfe, presented greatly improved standards that
were adopted by the State Board of Education. (19)
*President Hamilton, in Vol. I, No.2 of the magazine, began a column
called "Pop's Palaver" - commentary on many and varied topics. Taylor
Hagan continued this column for part of his tenure but in 1952 began "From
the President." Each president since has penned a letter in each issue.
Columns by the executive secretary-treasurer and various standing committee
chairs have been standard since the 1980s.
*The Tennessee Musician has published both the association's
happenings, activities of region groups, individual school and college
programs-activities and personalities and matters of concern to the
profession. For a period in the '60s and '70s the magazine also carried
news of the work and affairs of the Tennessee Music Teachers Association
(TMTA).
*Since the late 1950s instructional movements, approaches and methods,
such as Orff, Kodaly and Suzuki, have drawn members' attention and these
and persons involved with them have been well publicized in the journal.
*Projects involving members such as the federally funded (1969-71)
Implementing Elementary Music Improvement (IEMI) program located in Maury
and adjoining counties, have seen coverage.
*During President Craven's tenure in 1975, MENC instituted "Music In
Our Schools Day" (MIOSD). (Craven appointed me the first state chairman
for this emphasis). MENC expanded the project in 1977 to a week and in
1985 to a month. At that time MENC also began an event called "The World's
Largest Concert," a nation-wide broadcast by radio and television of
students from across the country.
TMEA's stand-alone conventions began in 1954 and have been
well-supported by music merchants. These fine friends have displayed
instruments, materials and goods and have contributed to the festivities of
the events and greatly assisted in needed financial support.
**********
This history writing project is spearheaded by James McRaney, MENC
Southern Division past president. Each of the division's eleven states is
submitting its own copy and these along with a history of the division will
become a publication. Dr. McRaney asked that each state accounting be
limited to approximately ten typed, double-spaced pages.
The writing of this brief history of TMEA has been a labor of love.
One of the greatest pleasures has been perusing the editions of The
Tennessee Musician. Articles and pictures bring back fond memories. As
expressed above, it has been frustrating not to locate certain early
documentations. It is important that we continue to preserve the records
we have.
*****
Addendum
Regarding the origin of The Tennessee Musician: J. Clark Rhodes
wrote as part of an Editorial in Vol. I, No. 1: "The Tennessee Music
Editors' DOWNBEAT was discontinued by the Board of Control...at the spring
board meeting in Chattanooga (1948). Publication policies were formulated
and THE TENNESSEE MUSICIAN was named by the Board of Control at its meeting
in Gatlinburg in June." I did not notice this part of that editorial until
after the "History" was finished. This indicates that the association had
an earlier journal! In making a cursory examination, I've found nothing
further to validate this position--no copies, no one who remembers anything
about this. Did TMEA sometime in its first three years have its own
"Downbeat"?
I've alluded to the hope that "lost" elements of our organization's
history will surface. It would be appropriate for each of us to be on the
lookout for any addenda, needed corrections, omissions. Please let me hear
from you if you find such. TEH
Notes
1. P.L. Harned, Commissioner of Education, Public School Laws of
Tennessee, Tennessee State Department of Education, 1921, p. 21.
2. Bulletin, Middle Tennessee State Normal School, Murfreesboro, 1911-1912.
3. William R. Lee, "Music Education and Rural Reform, 1900-1925". Journal
of Research in Music Education, Vol. 49, No. 2, summer 1977.
4. Music Supervisor's Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 5, April, 1922.
5. Frank A. Beach, "President's Corner," Music Supervisors' Journal,
October, 1921
6. Music Supervisors' Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 3, February, 1922.
7. The Tennessee Teacher, Special Edition, October 1945, p. 4.
8. E-Mail from Marlynn Likens, MENC, September, 1997.
9. Music Educators Journal, Vol. XXXII, No. 1, September-October, 1945.
10. Music Educators Journal, Vol. XXXII, No. 2, November-December, 1945.
11. The Tennessee Teacher, Vol. XIII, No. 7, March 1946, pp. 51-52.
12. Ibid.
13. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. II, No. 2, November-December, 1949.
14. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. II, No. 3, January-February, 1950.
15. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. XIII, No. 1, October, 1960
16. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. XXX, No. 4, May 1978.
17. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. XXXIV, No. 4, May 1983.
18. P.O. Harned, Public School Laws of Tennessee, p. 33.
19. The Tennessee Musician, Vol. V, No. 2, December 1952.