"How to grow a thousand dollar band": History of the Joliet Grade School Band, 1913-1927

Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Winter 2003 by Hash, Phillip M

The ideals leading to the formation of school bands in the United States during the first decades of the twentieth century were both practical and philosophical. From a practical standpoint, bands were more suitable than the already established school orchestras in providing music for numerous school assemblies, athletic events, parades, outdoor concerts and other civic activities. In addition, orchestras were often seen as elitist, performing music for the few, while bands, playing mostly, marches, waltzes, light overtures and other popular styles, appealed to the growing number of middle-class individuals now included in the educational process.1

Philosophically, bands satisfied many of the goals established by the progressive education movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centurie, including the development of character, teaching of healthy leisure activities, and the socialization of America's youth.2 Also important to progressive educators, bands promoted democratic values and citizenship through the performance of patriotic music and participation in civic events.3 Finally, bands were likely seen as a way of keeping young boys away from a life of delinquency by occupying their time in productive activities and by providing them with a way to make an honest living.

Although several were organized prior to 1920, the proliferation of school bands did not occur until shortly after the First World War. Patriotic fervor, the public display of hastily organized military bands, and the inauguration of military training in the schools all influenced the development of school bands during this period. Furthermore, the army draft and training of military bandmasters at government expense provided a whole new corps of teachers who, upon return to civilian life, devoted themselves to these newly organized programs.4 In addition, the music industry, in an attempt to open new markets after the war, aggressively promoted instrumental music education using company representatives to organize school bands, and sponsoring contests at the state and national level. These circumstances, as well as changes brought on by progressive education, all led to the rapid growth of bands in the public schools.5

The first school band on record originated in 1857 at the Farm and Trades School of Boston Harbor. Though started as a recreational activity, school authorities quickly saw the educational value of the band and by 1859 had provided the ensemble with good teachers, rehearsal time, and funds for instruments, music, and other equipment.6 While it is difficult to determine which band was the first to be established in a public school, the Greenville Public School band of Greenville, South Carolina, is the earliest on record. Considered a progressive educator, Superintendent E.L. Hughes organized this ensemble during the 1893-94 school year.7

Following the turn of the century, school bands formed sporadically all over the United States. In 1903, Captain S.H. Wolfe organized a high school band in Minot, North Dakota, consisting of twenty students, some playing instruments borrowed from the city. Following a performance in 1905, Governor E.Y. Sarles claimed that the Minot band was second in the state only to the high school band from Lisbon, suggesting there may have been several high school bands in North Dakota by this time.8

Within the next ten years, school bands were organized in many other states as well, including California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa.9 In Connersville, Indiana, Supervisor of Music W. Otto Miessner organized a band in 1907 in order to maintain the musical interests of boys whose singing voices were not reliable. Membership increased from twelve to thirty-two musicians within the first two years and included students from both the elementary and high school levels. In 1908, the band performed for a meeting of the state teachers' association, no doubt inspiring the formation of other school bands in Indiana.10

The first school band in Illinois was organized in the fall of 1897 at Galesburg High School. Original membership included seventeen boys instructed by two teachers once or twice per week. Although most were beginners, such progress was made that the Board of Education paid the band to perform at graduation exercises the following spring. By 1899, the band had grown to thirty members, several of whom also performed in other groups throughout the city.11

John T. Haight, a teacher of commercial subjects and a former cornetist from Wisconsin, organized a nineteen-piece high school band in May of 1907 after Superintendent P.R. Walker enthusiastically loaned three hundred dollars for the purchase of instruments. Although not an experienced bandmaster, Haight's diligent, but often misdirected effort, and iron discipline prepared the group for their first performances given in the fall of that same year.12 Shortly thereafter, school bands were also organized in Chicago, at Lane Technical High School (1909), Ottawa (1910), Blue Island (1912) and Joliet (1912).13