Prelude

The 1873 revision of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee stipulates that the General 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 Education 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 Education 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 Education 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, Chair, 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.

A list of TMEA Presidents may be found at http://tnmea.org/History.aspx

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
2004 - Mike Combs

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
1997 - 2006 Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium with TMEA Annual Conference
2007 - 2008 Nashville's Laura Turner Concert Hall, Schermerhorn Symphony Center with TMEA annual Conference
2009 - Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium with TMEA Annual Conference

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 Laws Changes 1992

In this revision, another rewriting of the By-Laws occurred. 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
2000 Jeanette Crosswhite

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.