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Singing Schools in Crittenden County
In the 1900s, singing schools were a significant part of American communities. These were essentially short, intensive courses in music instruction, usually lasting for a few weeks led by itinerant "singing masters."
Singing school was a brief course of musical instruction devoted to the teaching of note-reading and sight-singing, with a focus on sacred music. The primary purpose was to improve congregational singing. Printed manuals, or tunebooks, containing instructions, scales, etudes and sacred choral music were used as teaching materials.
Singing masters taught basic musical literacy and the mechanics of singing. This often involved the use of shape notes, a simplified system of musical notation where different shapes represented different pitches, making it easier for those with limited musical training to read music. (This sounds difficult to me, but I never was able to carry a tune, even with music. I can’t imagine trying to sing a song by just looking at the shaped notes.)
Generally these schools lasted two weeks. The opening night would see the school divided into two groups. The beginner's group would be instructed in note reading, singing the scale and then singing by note. The advanced group would be composed of those who could do the above. They would be instructed in harmony and in "singing by parts", tenor, bass, alto and soprano in their individual classifications. The results accomplished were amazing.
Singing masters went out to train people how to sing and to encourage young people to further their education. What these persons learned by the end of the school remained with them and enriched them for the rest of their lives. They knew the rudiments of singing. They taught others. The elementary training continued to bear fruit and help church singing wherever they went. They could get a few people together, select those with a little talent and soon had them singing as a choir.
Singing schools were more than just music lessons. They were important social gatherings that brought communities together, providing opportunities for interaction and even courtship.
From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can re-visit some of these musical affairs from the past.
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August 9, 1917 A Big Time At Shady Grove
The singing school convention at Shady Grove, Sun. July 29, under the management of Guthrie Travis was a grand success.
Although the weather was uncomfortably warm there was a large crowd gathered early in the day. there were six choirs present, Shady Grove, Blackburn, Cave Springs, Enon, Crewswell and Beckner’s Chapel.
Dennie Hubbard leader of the Shady Grove Choir, in his welcome address, made us feel like we had come to the right place. And James Canada, from Walnut Grove in a few well chosen words, made responses to Mr. Hubbard’s hearty welcome.
Then we had singing by the different choirs, and at the noon hour after we had refreshed ourselves by eating dinner, we spent the remainder of our intermission in having a good time speaking with our friends.
In the afternoon we had more singing by the different choirs interspersed with some special singing and then general discussion of the singing convention. After this all the choirs joined in singing that grand old song, "Sweet By and By," then we were dismissed and all went home with gratitude to Mr. Travis and the good people of Shady Grove for the nice time we had enjoyed.
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Guthrie Travis
Guthrie Wynn Travis, the leader of these Singing School Conventions was the 3rd child of W. C. M. and Georgiana Travis. He was born at Bells Mines in the year 1871. In his later years he and his family lived at Blackford and Providence, KY.
He taught how to read music and also trained many choirs in Crittenden and adjoining counties. He also wrote music for several songs, some of which found their way into books used in Sunday schools and church work. Guthrie Wynn Travis died Nov. 22, 1963 at the age of 92. He is buried at the Blackford Cemetery in Webster Co. KY.
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