New England Conservatory of Music - Neume Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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S[ratmng nf Army m h Naity fflanbsmnt at t{}t (!Ionaentatori| Toward the end of the school year 1917-18 the Management of the Conserva- tory offered to the Commanding Officers of the Northeastern Department and of the First Naval District to place at their disposal, without cost to the Government, the facilities of the institution and the services of such members of the Faculty as might be required, for the specialized training of Army and Navy band-leaders and bands- men under their jurisdiction, during the summer months. Upon the acceptance of the above offer, classes were at once formed and carried on until the reopening of school last September; in harmony, band instrumentation and conducting for band-leaders (under Mr. Gallo ' s instruction), and for bandsmen in practically every band instrument, under Conservatory teachers, or when these were not available, others specially secured. Many men were able to study all sum- mer, while others came for shorter periods; notably men from the Naval vessels tem- porarily in port, who were eager to take advantage of the opportunity for even a few lessons. During the whole period upwards of ten bandmasters and over two hundred bandsmen received instruction which certainly helped to increase their efficiency when they returned to their respective units. Thus the Conservatory was able to utilize its facilities at a time when they were peculiarly available namely during the summer vacation — in rendering real service to the Government by helping to raise the standard of the music which has meant so much to the officers and men in the Army and Navy. Its effort was well repaid by the enthusiasm for the work shown by the participants and the cordial appreciation expressed by their commanding officers. With the opening of school in September, a class for civilian candidates for commission as band-leaders was organized, and the class for Navy bandmasters continued. Had not the signing of the Armistice in November caused the War De- partment to abandon the execution of carefully prepared plans for similar training upon a large scale throughout the country, it is probable that the Conservatory would have had an important share in the work, which would have been carried out on much the same lines as the vocational training of enlisted men in many scientific schools and colleges. WALLACE GOODRICH.

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WALLACE GOODRICH Dean of the Faculty

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RALPH L. FLANDERS General Manager