Charles Leonhard
Encyclopedia
Charles Leonhard was an American music educator and academic. He was one of the first to argue for a focus upon aesthetic education within music education. For most of his career, he was a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
.
, Leonhard was the son of Morris and Dora McRae Leonhard. He was educated at the University of Oklahoma
(Bachelor of Music
in piano) and Teachers College, Columbia University
(Master of Arts
and Doctor of Education
). Many of Leonhard's teachers were former students of John Dewey
, whose ideas influenced Leonhard throughout his career. During his doctoral program, Leonhard studied aesthetics with Susanne Langer
. In 1953, as the music education profession was just beginning to rethink its philosophy, Leonhard published his article "Music Education—Aesthetic Education." In this article, Leonhard urged music educators to eschew the instrumental values of music education and to stress the aesthetic value of music.
While a graduate student, Leonhard concurrently worked as an instructor and assistant professor of music education at Teachers College. He had previously served in the United States Army
during World War II
as a field artillery officer. In 1951 he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
where he was appointed professor of music and education, and chair of the graduate program in music education. He was the primary advisor on nearly 100 doctoral dissertations, including those of Eunice Boardman and Wayne Bowman. In addition to Bowman, many important philosophers of music education can trace their lineage back to Leonhard. For example, Bennett Reimer
was a student at Illinois who worked with Leonhard and Harry Broudy
. Reimer later went on to supervise the dissertations of David J. Elliott
and Paul Woodford.
In 1986 Leonhard retired from his position at the University of Illinois. In 1988 he was appointed the Director of Research at the National Arts Education Research Center; a post he held through 1994. He died in 2002 at the age of 86. He been married to Patricia Hagman since 1950. The couple had two children together.
. Along with his student, Robert House, Leonhard published Foundations and Principles of Music Education in 1959. In 1963, Leonhard and Richard Colwell initiated the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
. In 1964, Leonhard was a presenter at the Seminar on Comprehensive Musicianship
. In the 1970s, Leonhard edited a series of books called Contemporary Perspectives in Music Education. The series aimed to establish “a pattern for music teacher education based on the areas of knowledge and processes involved in music education rather than on the levels and specializations in music education.” According to Leonhard, the “mastery of all of these processes and areas of knowledge is essential for the successful music educator regardless of his area of specialization and the level at which he teaches.” Six titles were published:
) placed Leonhard's name alongside those of William Billings
, Lowell Mason
, Frances Elliot Clark, Karl Gehrkens, Mabelle Glenn, James Mursell
, Lilla Belle Pitts, and Allen Britton
in the MENC Hall of Fame. Mark and Gary acknowledge the importance of Leonhard's contributions to the history of music education in the United States. David J. Elliott
puts Leonhard in the company of Peter W. Dykema
, Karl Gehrkens, James Mursell
, Lilla Belle Pitts, Harry Broudy
, Abraham Schwadron, Bennett Reimer
, and Keith Swanwick as leading thinkers in music education.
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...
.
Life and career
Born in Anadarko, OklahomaAnadarko, Oklahoma
Anadarko is a city in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Caddo County.-Early History:Anadarko got its name when its post office was established in 1873...
, Leonhard was the son of Morris and Dora McRae Leonhard. He was educated at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
(Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in piano) and Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
(Master of Arts
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...
and Doctor of Education
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...
). Many of Leonhard's teachers were former students of John Dewey
John Dewey
John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. Dewey was an important early developer of the philosophy of pragmatism and one of the founders of functional psychology...
, whose ideas influenced Leonhard throughout his career. During his doctoral program, Leonhard studied aesthetics with Susanne Langer
Susanne Langer
Susanne Katherina Langer was an American philosopher of mind and of art who was influenced by Ernst Cassirer and Alfred North Whitehead. She was one of the first women to achieve an academic career in philosophy and the first to be popularly and professionally recognized as an American philosopher...
. In 1953, as the music education profession was just beginning to rethink its philosophy, Leonhard published his article "Music Education—Aesthetic Education." In this article, Leonhard urged music educators to eschew the instrumental values of music education and to stress the aesthetic value of music.
While a graduate student, Leonhard concurrently worked as an instructor and assistant professor of music education at Teachers College. He had previously served in the United States 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 World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a field artillery officer. In 1951 he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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...
where he was appointed professor of music and education, and chair of the graduate program in music education. He was the primary advisor on nearly 100 doctoral dissertations, including those of Eunice Boardman and Wayne Bowman. In addition to Bowman, many important philosophers of music education can trace their lineage back to Leonhard. For example, Bennett Reimer
Bennett Reimer
From 1978 until retirement in 1997, Bennett Reimer held the John W. Beattie Endowed Chair in Music at Northwestern University, where he was Chair of the Music Education Department, Director of the Ph.D. program in Music Education, and founder and Director of the , a research group of Ph.D....
was a student at Illinois who worked with Leonhard and Harry Broudy
Harry Broudy
Harry S. Broudy is a Polish-born educator.Broudy attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University where he received his Bachelors Degree in German literature and philosophy in 1929. From there he went to Harvard University and earned his Masters degree in 1933 and his Ph.D in 1936...
. Reimer later went on to supervise the dissertations of David J. Elliott
David J. Elliott
David Elliott is Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University.Elliott was educated at the University of Toronto and Case Western University...
and Paul Woodford.
In 1986 Leonhard retired from his position at the University of Illinois. In 1988 he was appointed the Director of Research at the National Arts Education Research Center; a post he held through 1994. He died in 2002 at the age of 86. He been married to Patricia Hagman since 1950. The couple had two children together.
Important Contributions
In 1958, Leonhard's essay on evaluation appeared in Basic Concepts in Music EducationBasic 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...
. Along with his student, Robert House, Leonhard published Foundations and Principles of Music Education in 1959. In 1963, Leonhard and Richard Colwell initiated the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
The Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education is a quarterly academic journal covering music education.- History :The journal was established in 1963 by Charles Leonhard and Richard J...
. In 1964, Leonhard was a presenter at the Seminar on Comprehensive Musicianship
Comprehensive Musicianship
In 1965 the Seminar on Comprehensive Musicianship was held at Northwestern University. Its purpose was to develop and implement means of improving the education of music teachers. In 1967 a symposium was held at Arlie House in Warrenton, Virginia to discuss means of evaluating comprehensive...
. In the 1970s, Leonhard edited a series of books called Contemporary Perspectives in Music Education. The series aimed to establish “a pattern for music teacher education based on the areas of knowledge and processes involved in music education rather than on the levels and specializations in music education.” According to Leonhard, the “mastery of all of these processes and areas of knowledge is essential for the successful music educator regardless of his area of specialization and the level at which he teaches.” Six titles were published:
- A Philosophy of Music Education by Bennett ReimerBennett ReimerFrom 1978 until retirement in 1997, Bennett Reimer held the John W. Beattie Endowed Chair in Music at Northwestern University, where he was Chair of the Music Education Department, Director of the Ph.D. program in Music Education, and founder and Director of the , a research group of Ph.D....
- Building Instructional Programs in Music Education by Robert Sidnell
- The Psychology of Music Teaching by Edwin GordonEdwin GordonEdwin E. Gordon, Research Professor at the University of South Carolina's , is an influential researcher, teacher, author, editor, and lecturer in the field of music education...
- Administration of Music Education by Robert House
- The Evaluation of Music Teaching and Learning by Richard Colwell
- Experimental Research in Music by Clifford K. Madsen and Charles H. Madsen, Jr.
Recognition as a Leader in the Field
In 1994, the Music Educators National Conference (MENCMENC: 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...
) placed Leonhard's name alongside those of William Billings
William Billings
William Billings was an American choral composer, and is widely regarded as the father of American choral music...
, Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His most well-known tunes include Mary Had A Little Lamb and the arrangement of Joy to the World...
, Frances Elliot Clark, Karl Gehrkens, Mabelle Glenn, James Mursell
James Mursell
James Mursell wrote extensively about music education and the use of music in a classroom setting. He emphasized the student's role in learning and believed that unless students are intrinsically motivated to learn, their musical growth will be minimal at best...
, Lilla Belle Pitts, and Allen Britton
Allen Britton
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...
in the MENC Hall of Fame. Mark and Gary acknowledge the importance of Leonhard's contributions to the history of music education in the United States. David J. Elliott
David J. Elliott
David Elliott is Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University.Elliott was educated at the University of Toronto and Case Western University...
puts Leonhard in the company of Peter W. Dykema
Peter W. Dykema
Peter W. Dykema was an important force in the growth of the Music Supervisors National Conference and the music education profession. Although he was not one of the founding members of the organization, he attended his first meeting in 1908 and was listed as a new member in 1913...
, Karl Gehrkens, James Mursell
James Mursell
James Mursell wrote extensively about music education and the use of music in a classroom setting. He emphasized the student's role in learning and believed that unless students are intrinsically motivated to learn, their musical growth will be minimal at best...
, Lilla Belle Pitts, Harry Broudy
Harry Broudy
Harry S. Broudy is a Polish-born educator.Broudy attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University where he received his Bachelors Degree in German literature and philosophy in 1929. From there he went to Harvard University and earned his Masters degree in 1933 and his Ph.D in 1936...
, Abraham Schwadron, Bennett Reimer
Bennett Reimer
From 1978 until retirement in 1997, Bennett Reimer held the John W. Beattie Endowed Chair in Music at Northwestern University, where he was Chair of the Music Education Department, Director of the Ph.D. program in Music Education, and founder and Director of the , a research group of Ph.D....
, and Keith Swanwick as leading thinkers in music education.
Further Reading
- Heller, G. N. (1995a). Charles Leonhard and music education as aesthetic education at the University of Illinois. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 125, 32-53.
- Heller, G. N. (1995b). Charles Leonhard: American music educator. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press.