Allen Britton
Encyclopedia
Allen Perdue Britton was an American
music educator.
Through his many passions in life he contributed to elevating the field of music education
to the same stature as the field of musicology
. He developed the doctoral program in music education at the University of Michigan
, where he directed 51 dissertations. He contributed heavily to the history of music pedagogy in early America, especially singing school
s. To combine his two interests of music education
and history he joined with Marguerite V. Hood, Warren S. Freeman, and Theodore F. Normann and created the Journal of Research in Music Education
(JRME).
Less than a decade after developing the journal for Music Educators National Conference
(MENC), he became its president from 1960 to 1962. It was during this time that Russia
had launched Sputnik and the United States tried to counteract that advancement by going "Back to the Basics." This meant that there was little monetary support for music. As the president of the Music Educators National Conference, he took it upon himself to harness the full potential of this organization's political power. MENC, now the National Association for Music Education, has since exercised its influence over numerous political and social actions.
diploma
from Elgin High School, Illinois
in 1933. He then attended the University of Illinois
, from which he graduated with a B.Sc.
in Instrumental Music in 1937, and a M.A.
in English
and Education
in 1939. In 1949, he completed his Ph.D.
in Musicology at the University of Michigan, his thesis
titled Theoretical Introductions in American Tune-Books to 1800.
and English in the public schools of Griffith
, Indiana
, and also at Eastern Illinois University
. He served in the US Army
during the Second World War as a military police
man and a band member. Britton had learned German from his German-born grandmother.
Britton served as professor of music at the University of Michigan from 1949, and as dean
of the School of Music
from 1971 to 1979. He was also a trustee of the National Music Camp
at Interlochen.
of Journal
of Research
in Music Education (JRME), at which he worked from 1953 to 1972. He was also the editor of the textbook
series Foundations of Music Education and the founding editor of American Music.
Britton wrote American Sacred Music Imprints, 1698-1810: A Bibliography with Irving Lowens, American Music Education: Is It Better Than We Think? A Discussion of the Roles of Performance and Repertory
, Together With Brief Mention of Certain Other Problems (which was published in Basic Concepts in Music Education
), Research in Music Education, with Particular Reference to the Historic and Scientific (which appeared in Music in American Schools 1838-1988 from the University of Maryland
). Personal papers written by Britton are part of the University of Maryland's Special Collection.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music educator.
Through his many passions in life he contributed to elevating the field of music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
to the same stature as the field of musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
. He developed the doctoral program in music education at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he directed 51 dissertations. He contributed heavily to the history of music pedagogy in early America, especially singing school
Singing school
Historically, singing schools have been strongly affiliated with Protestant Christianity. Some are held under the auspices of particular Protestant denominations that maintain a tradition of a cappella singing, such as the Church of Christ and the Primitive Baptists...
s. To combine his two interests of music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
and history he joined with Marguerite V. Hood, Warren S. Freeman, and Theodore F. Normann and created the Journal of Research in Music Education
Journal of Research in Music Education
The Journal of Research in Music Education was established in 1953 under the editorship of Allen Britton. At first many of the articles described historical and descriptive research, but in the early 1960s the journal began to shift toward experimental research...
(JRME).
Less than a decade after developing the journal for Music Educators National Conference
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
(MENC), he became its president from 1960 to 1962. It was during this time that Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
had launched Sputnik and the United States tried to counteract that advancement by going "Back to the Basics." This meant that there was little monetary support for music. As the president of the Music Educators National Conference, he took it upon himself to harness the full potential of this organization's political power. MENC, now the National Association for Music Education, has since exercised its influence over numerous political and social actions.
Early life
Allen Perdue Britton was born on May 25, 1914, in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. He was the oldest son of Walter Allen and Mary (Perdue) Britton. The family lived on a farm just west of Elgin for Allen's first six years, then moved into Elgin. Allen married his high school sweetheart Veronica Fern Wallace on August 30, 1938, in Elgin, Illinois.Education
Britton obtained his high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
from Elgin High School, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1933. He then attended the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, from which he graduated with a B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Instrumental Music in 1937, and a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in 1939. In 1949, he completed his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Musicology at the University of Michigan, his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
titled Theoretical Introductions in American Tune-Books to 1800.
Work experience
Britton taught bandConcert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
and English in the public schools of Griffith
Griffith, Indiana
Griffith is a town in Calumet and St. John townships, Lake County, Indiana. It is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 16,893 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and also at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
. He served in the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Second World War as a military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
man and a band member. Britton had learned German from his German-born grandmother.
Britton served as professor of music at the University of Michigan from 1949, and as dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the School of Music
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance is an undergraduate and graduate institution for the performing arts in the United States. It is part of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance was founded in 1880 and is currently headed by...
from 1971 to 1979. He was also a trustee of the National Music Camp
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
at Interlochen.
Publications
Britton was founding editorEditing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
of Research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
in Music Education (JRME), at which he worked from 1953 to 1972. He was also the editor of the textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
series Foundations of Music Education and the founding editor of American Music.
Britton wrote American Sacred Music Imprints, 1698-1810: A Bibliography with Irving Lowens, American Music Education: Is It Better Than We Think? A Discussion of the Roles of Performance and Repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
, Together With Brief Mention of Certain Other Problems (which was published in Basic Concepts in Music Education
Basic Concepts in Music Education
Basic Concepts in Music Education is a landmark work published in 1958 as the Fifty-Seventh Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education. In 1954, the Music Educators National Conference had formed its Commission on Basic Concepts in an attempt to seek a more soundly-based...
), Research in Music Education, with Particular Reference to the Historic and Scientific (which appeared in Music in American Schools 1838-1988 from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
). Personal papers written by Britton are part of the University of Maryland's Special Collection.
Honors and Merits
- Inducted into the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) hall of fame 1986
- Invited to be the closing speaker at the University of Maryland’s celebration of the sesquicentennial of Music in American Public Education Sponsored by MENC-1988
- The Michigan Music Educators Association Award of Merit
- University of Michigan Citation of Merit
- University of Illinois School of Music Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
- MENC’s History Special Research Interest Group Distinguished Service award (1996)
- For American Sacred Imprints, 1698-1810: A Bibliography, was given the Vincent H. Duckles award for the best book-length bibliography or other research tool in music
Articles written by Britton
- Music Education in the Nineteen-Sixties. MUS ED J 47:23-6 n6 1961
- Thank You, Mr. President. MUS ED J Nov-December 1961, 33-36
- Music Education: an American Specialty. MUS ED J 48:27-9+ n6 1962
- The 1962 MENC Program. Port MUS ED J 48:45-8+ n4 1962
- The Development of Courses, Resources, and Activities for Performing Students. MUS ED J 45:42-4 n4 1964
- The General Theoretical Foundations of Music Education. MUS ED J 50:44-5 n5 1964
- Research in the United States. J RES MUS ED 17:108-11 n1 1969
- The Changing Scene. MUS ED J 56:109 May 1970
- La Educación Musical en los Estados Unidos de America. HETEROFONIA 7:13-17 n39 1974
- Keokuk to San Antonio: 75 Years of Change. MUS ED J 68:42-4 February 1982
- Founding JRME: A Personal View. J RES MUS ED 32:223-42 n4 1984
- Keynote Address, Sonneck-Society Liberty Supper Queensborough Community College 29 May 1976 SONNECK S 5:17-19 n3 1979
- The Sonneck Society and American Music. Port CHORAL J 28:28-9 n3 1987
- Research in Music Education, with particular Reference to the Historic and Scientific The How and Why of Teaching Singing Schools in Eighteenth Century America. CRME n99:23-41 Winter 1989
- MENC: Remembrances and Perspectives. QUARTERLY J OF MUS TEACHING 5:6-15 n2 1994
- In Celebration of 100 Years: The School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Reminiscences: Musical and other delights at Illinois, 1933-1938. CRME n125:9-19 Summer 1995
- Introduction to Twentieth-Century Brass Soloists: Bio-Critical Source Books on Musical Performance by Meckna, M. SONNECK S 21:29 n3 1995