Waukegan IL Band Director Otto E. Graham Sr. Have Music in our Schools and Our Life
He was known as one of the most outstanding band directors in the United States. He helped organize the Illinois High School Band Association, he was on the board of the Waukegan Philharmonic Society. He was a member of the American Bandmasters Association and well known as an adjudicator, clinician , composer and guest conductor of bands throughout the country.
Otto E. Graham Sr. Band Director
” Music in education is being more surely and definitely established every day. Never before have people realized to how great an extent contentment, faith, hope, and love are cultivated, fed, and warmed through music. It is the expression of the innermost thoughts and feelings. It finds its response in young and old alike. It forms the basis of a common meeting ground for mankind “.
“Music is being brought to all people everywhere. In community gatherings, in the home, and most of all, in the schools, the humanizing, uplighting, cultural influences of good music is being sponsored.“
“Two phases of music education in the schools are of primary interest in the curriculum”
“(1) The appreciative, which develops in the pupil a love for all that is beautiful in music. It is through this phase that the entire student body will be reached. The ultimate plan is that every student will be required to have at least one year of music appreciation toward graduation“.
“(2) The technical, which leads the pupil to read music and to perform. The violin class, clarinet class, band and orchestra are making it possible for students who have ability, talent, ambition, and initiative to reach higher levels of production“.
“In other words, the school would provide for the training of skillful musicians. Music is a vocation, whether it be as a director or supervisor of music or as an instrumental or vocal artist“.
“The Music Department at the High School has made only a start toward the goal which it hopes to reach. Due to the overlap program and to space limitation it has been impossible to carry forward all of the plans of the department“.
Waukegan Township Band 1924
“At present the following subjects requiring preparation are being given: harmony, history of music, violin, and clarinet. In addition to these, other courses, not requiring preparation, are: band, orchestra, chorus and glee club. All are accomplishing good results. No definitely arranged course of study in musical appreciation has been started although some appreciative work is introduced in all of the music classes. An assistant to teach appreciation work only ; reaching every pupil in school is the ideal toward which we are working“.
“In the Music Department at the present time may be found a number of pupils who have ability, talent, and initiative. These students are preparing to become directors of public school music and in a few instances are seeking to become artistic performers. An attempt is made to keep in touch with these students, and to fan that spark of ambition and enthusiasm which may spur some talented young player to attain the level of the symphony orchestra“.
“The ideal or goal of the Music Department may be stated in three general objectives :
1. The enrichment of the mind with the auditory imagery of the great music of the world.
2. The ability, as auditor or musical “consumer” judiciously to utilize music for healthful, abundant and varied awakening of one’s emotional nature.
3. The ability, disposition and habit of participating in home, chorus, or community singing“
Otto E. Graham Waukegan High School Band Director