MUSIC 23241: MUSIC TEACHING AS A PROFESSION
Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, Assistant Professor
Kent State University School of Music
Fall, 2011
CRN: 200910 – Section number: 001 – Class Days: TR 7:45a – 8:35 am - Classroom: SOM E202
Office: Band Office - 330.672.2965 - Telephone: 330.672.2965 (Kent Campus) - E-mail: mneiman@kent.edu
Office Hours: TR 9:00 – 9:55 am (Additional hours available by appointment)
BlackBoard and Text Readings
Submitted by: Emily Young
Submitted for: Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, lecturer
Date: September 8, 2011
Bianco, Robert S. (1974). Ohio’s first school band contest.
Triad, April, Pages 16,17,28.
The Ohio Music Education Association celebrated it’s 50th anniversary in 1974. While celebrating, it makes sense to reflect upon the foundations of the association. In this article, Bianco looks back at the first school band contest in Ohio. This contest was held in Fostoria, Ohio. It was organized by, band director, John Wainwright after competing and winning a national tournament in Chicago, Illinois a year prior. Eight High school bands entered to compete in this contest. The 1924 contest was a huge hit for the participants as well as the community. This contest in June of 1924 set the groundwork for many future music contests to be held in Ohio as well as the beginnings of the Ohio Music Education Association.
Today, these sorts of contests are held all over Ohio for high school and middle school music students. However, they are much different today than they were in 1924. Several more schools come to these competitions and each ensemble, therefore, gets much less time in front of the judges. Usually, each ensemble will be given a ten minute time slot to perform for judges, and will also participate in a short sight-reading evaluation. These contests continue to motivate student ensembles year after year.
As I study to become a music educator, I am sure to soon become a member of the Ohio Music Educators Association. It is important for me to know as much as I can about this organization that I will likely be very involved with for many years. Knowing the history of an organization can tell you a lot about who they are and what they stand for. I think it is wonderful that Dr. Bianco shared this story with the readers of TRIAD magazine in 1974. It is my hope that music educators will continue to share the fascinating story of the Ohio Music Education Association and Ohio’s very first band contest.
Great comments here! I like your comparison in the second paragraph, and then your statements of how a historical article such as this can inform your decisions and advocacy of music education as a future educator. Well stated!
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