Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Historical Research in Music Education
Publication Date
2024
Keywords
twentieth century, music education history, community education, higher education, institutional history, communism, United States
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine music instruction at the California Labor School (CLS), located in San Francisco, California. This institution existed from 1942 to 1957 as a center for adult education affiliated with the Communist Party. Although the curriculum focused on Marxism and labor, the institution also offered classes in general subjects, vocational training, life skills, and the arts to enrich the lives of the immigrants, industrial workers, and people of color that it served. The music program included courses in music fundamentals, appreciation, and songwriting; group and individual instruction in voice, guitar, and piano; and ensembles for singers and instrumentalists. Many people studied music at the CLS for personal growth and enjoyment. Others, however, developed skills useful in promoting the agenda of the Communist Party and the American labor movement. This research focused on music teaching and learning at the CLS in relation to organization, administration, curriculum, ensembles, faculty, and political perspectives. The history of this institution as an agent of social change revealed ethical considerations for music education in modern PK–16 institutions. In addition, the CLS music program aligned with current recommendations for under- graduate study and could serve as an example for curriculum reform today.
Funding Source
This article was published Open Access thanks to a transformative agreement between Milner Library and Sage Journals.
DOI
10.1177/15366006241268645
Recommended Citation
Hash, P. M. (2024). Music Instruction at the California Labor School, 1942–1957. Journal of Historical Research in Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/15366006241268645
Comments
First published in Journal of Historical Research in Music Education (2024): https://doi.org/10.1177/15366006241268645
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).