Luther Anton Richman
President of MENC 1946-48
Work: 1936 – Virginia State Supervisor of Music and Arts
Specialty areas: Music education, administration
Publications:
Richman, Luther A. “The Crisis of
No Crisis.” Music Educators Journal. (June 1946): 7.
-----. “Music Education in the
Southern States.” Music Educators Journal. (January
1942):
19-20.
-----. “Opera and Music
Education.” Music Educators Journal. (November-December
1946):
31.
Professional
Accomplishments:
1936 – First Virginia State
Supervisor of Music and Arts
1937 – Inaugurated the “Virginia
High School Competitive Music Festival”
1930’s and 1940’s - Chairman of
the Virginia State MENC Committee
1937-1941 – President of the Music
Section of the Virginia Educators Association
1939 – Began the first “Virginia
State Music Camp”
President, Southern Division, MENC
1946-48 – President of the MENC
1947 – Code of Ethics, as
President of the MENC, outlined what events were appropriate
for
student musicians
Biography:
Luther Anton Richman has
served as a major force in music education, first as a leader in the state of
Virginia, and later as President of the MENC (1946-48). Richman wrote and spoke
about the special problems of music education in the rural school, and provided
inspired leadership as Virginia’s first State Supervisor of Music and Arts.
“Luther Richman's positive approach to increase and improve music education in
the schools of Virginia encouraged support and assistance from music teachers,
school boards, and school and college administrators.”[1]
While working in Virginia, he encouraged the formation of the Virginia Music
Educators Association, inaugurated the first state music festival, and began
the first state music camp.
As the
MENC President, Richman continued Kendal’s work with the “Advancement Program,”
which promoted relationships between divisional, state, and national
organizations. He also forged an agreement in 1947 with the American
Association of School Administrators, the American Federation of Musicians, and
the MENC that resulted in the publication of the Code of Ethics, which
outlined what events were appropriate for school musicians.[2]
Quotes:
From “This Biennium,” 1948 Music
Educators Journal:
We
continue to look and plan ahead for the advancement of music education.[3]
1938 from a Virginia State
Department of Education publication:
It is
the responsibility of organized education to make experiences in the arts
available for every school child. Music and the other arts, therefore, occupy
an important place in the offerings of the present day school. Since music is
capable of aiding in the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and
physical growth of the child, it must be given serious consideration by every
teacher and school administrator, in order to present a well balanced
educational program.[4]
From a 1942 article
entitled “Music Education in the Southern States”:
The
important place that music holds in building citizen morale is well
established. …
Music teachers must be more sensitive to the whole filed of education and develop a real appreciation and understanding of the other areas of learning, as well as a clear-cut knowledge of their own responsibility to the whole. Too many of us are prone to allow ourselves to be set apart from the total picture, so that we become a twig on the tree of education rather than one of its roots.[5]
Sources Used:
Arneson,
Arne Jon. The Music Educators Journal Cumulative Index 1914-1987. Stevens
Point, Wisconsin: Index House, 1987.
Mark, Michael
L., Charles L. Gary. A History of Music Education. Reston, VA: The
National Association for Music Education, 1999.
Bailey, Theresa.
“Notes.” State
Department of Education. http://www.music.vt.edu/hostedsites/vmea_notes/1990years/1997/no3/State_Dept_of_Ed.html.
Richman, Luther A “This Biennium.” Music
Educators Journal. (February-March 1948):
21.
-----. “Music Education in the Southern States.” Music Educators Journal. (June 1942): 19-20.
Tabor, Betty. “Notes.” The
Virginia Music Educators Association. http://www.music.vt.edu/hostedsites/vmea_notes/1990years/1995/no3/vmea.html
For more information,
consult the following sources:
Bailey,
Theresa. “Notes.” State Department of Education. http://www.music.vt.edu/hostedsites/vmea_notes/1990years/1997/no3/State_Dept_of_Ed.html.
Blasch,
B. Luther Anton Richman, His Life and Contributions to Music Education.
Doctoral dissertation, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, 1972.
Mark,
Michael L., Charles L. Gary. A History of Music Education. Reston, VA:
The
National Association for Music Education, 1999.
Tabor, Betty. “Notes.” The
Virginia Music Educators Association. http://www.music.vt.edu/hostedsites/vmea_notes/1990years/1995/no3/vmea.html.
--Submitted by Diana Hollinger,
December 2002