Kate Sara Chittenden
Encyclopedia
Kate Sara Chittenden was an American
professor of music, music school founder, and piano teacher. She is best known for (i) originating a form of piano instruction known as synthetic piano method, (ii) serving as the founding dean of the American Institute of Applied Music
in New York City, and (iii) heading the piano department at Vassar College
for 31 years, where, upon retirement, she was awarded professor emeritus status. Newspapers also attribute her as the first woman lecturer employed by the Board of Education for New York City Schools, serving from 1892 to 1919. Chittenden was the organist and choir director at Calvary Baptist Church in New York City for twenty-seven years. One of her notable pupils was the Canadian organist and conductor Paul Ambrose
.
, her parents were United States citizens. She was the daughter of Curtis Strong Chittenden, a dentist born in Shelburne, Vermont
. One of Kate Chittenden's ancestors, William Chittenden (1593–1660), was one of six founders of Guilford, Connecticut
, in 1639; and another ancestor, Thomas Chittenden
(1730–1797), was the first Governor of Vermont
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of music, music school founder, and piano teacher. She is best known for (i) originating a form of piano instruction known as synthetic piano method, (ii) serving as the founding dean of the American Institute of Applied Music
American Institute of Applied Music
The American Institute of Applied Music was a music school based in New York City. The Institute was incorporated in 1900 as an of the following educational institutions:# The Metropolitan College of Music...
in New York City, and (iii) heading the piano department at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
for 31 years, where, upon retirement, she was awarded professor emeritus status. Newspapers also attribute her as the first woman lecturer employed by the Board of Education for New York City Schools, serving from 1892 to 1919. Chittenden was the organist and choir director at Calvary Baptist Church in New York City for twenty-seven years. One of her notable pupils was the Canadian organist and conductor Paul Ambrose
Paul Ambrose
Paul Ambrose was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator who was primarily active in the United States. His compositional output includes more than 200 songs, choral pieces, and works for solo piano and organ. He is particularly remembered for his anthems which have been...
.
Career
- 17 Apr 1861 — began piano lessons with an aunt
- 1865–1870 — studied piano with Jules Fossier
- 1870–1876 — studied piano with Lucy H. Clinton, pupil of Clara SchumannClara SchumannClara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
at Hellmuth Ladies' CollegeHellmuth Ladies' CollegeHellmuth Ladies' College aka Hellmuth College for Young Ladies was a private college for women in London, Ontario. The college, founded by Reverend Isaac Hellmuth, was devoted to the study of arts and sciences. The college was complemented with Hellmuth College , also late of London, Ontario...
, London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city... - 1873 — awarded Lord Dufferin Bronze MedalGovernor General's Academic MedalThe Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
for Art - 5th Jan 1874 — began teaching piano, Hellmuth Ladies' CollegeHellmuth Ladies' CollegeHellmuth Ladies' College aka Hellmuth College for Young Ladies was a private college for women in London, Ontario. The college, founded by Reverend Isaac Hellmuth, was devoted to the study of arts and sciences. The college was complemented with Hellmuth College , also late of London, Ontario...
- Sep 1876 — arrived in New York, became a protégé of Miss Lucy Nelson
- 1878 — Met Antonia Henne, contralto “The most dominating musical influence of my life”
- 1879–1906 — organist and choir director, Calvary Baptist Church in New York City
- 1882–1883 — organist and accompanist at Music Conventions (Summer Normal Schools held at Meadville, PennsylvaniaMeadville, PennsylvaniaMeadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
- studied with Albert Ross Parsons
- 1883 — became a life member of the Music Teachers National AssociationMusic Teachers National Association-Membership:Its membership consists of approximately 22,000 independent and collegiate music teachers. MTNA headquarters are in downtown Cincinnati on the 31st floor of the Carew Tower.- MTNA structure :...
- 1887–1888 — began preparation of Synthetic Piano Method
- 1890–1914 — head of piano department, Catherine Aiken School, Stamford, Connecticut
- 1892 — Joined the faculty of the Metropolitan College of Music
- 1892–1919 — Lecturer, assisted by C. Judson Bushnell, baritone, on the New York Board of Education free lecture courses for adults ... first lecturer on music, and first woman lecturer, on these courses
- 1889 — founder and director of music department in Hartley House Settlement, later incorporated as Hartley House Music School
- 1899–1930 — head of Music Department at Vassar CollegeVassar CollegeVassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
- 1899–1903 — head of Piano Department, Putnam Hall SchoolPutnam Hall SchoolPutnam Hall School is a bygone notable nonsectarian boarding school for girls formerly located in Poughkeepsie, New York.- Founders :Founders of Brooks Seminary...
, Poughkeepsie, New York - 1900–1932 — Dean and head of Piano Department, of the American Institute of Applied MusicAmerican Institute of Applied MusicThe American Institute of Applied Music was a music school based in New York City. The Institute was incorporated in 1900 as an of the following educational institutions:# The Metropolitan College of Music...
, New York, NY, organized as a successor to the Metropolitan College of Music - 1906 — invited to become a Founder of the American Guild of OrganistsAmerican Guild of OrganistsThe American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
and a charter member of the MacDowell ClubMacDowell Club (New York)The MacDowell Club of New York was one of many women's clubs by the same name around the country supporting the MacDowell Colony, the artists’ retreat in Peterborough, New Hampshire... - 1930 — Professor Emeritus, Vassar CollegeVassar CollegeVassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
- 1930–1936 — Honorary Director Hartley House School of Music, Lecture and private teacher
Family
Although Kate was born in Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, her parents were United States citizens. She was the daughter of Curtis Strong Chittenden, a dentist born in Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, United States, along the shores of Lake Champlain. The population was 7,144 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. One of Kate Chittenden's ancestors, William Chittenden (1593–1660), was one of six founders of Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford, Connecticut
Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the coast. The population was 21,398 at the 2000 census...
, in 1639; and another ancestor, Thomas Chittenden
Thomas Chittenden
Thomas Chittenden was an important figure in the founding of Vermont.Chittenden was born in East Guilford, Connecticut and moved to Vermont in 1774, where he founded the town of Williston. During the American Revolution, Chittenden was a member of a committee empowered to negotiate with the...
(1730–1797), was the first Governor of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.