The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-09
PROFESSOR JEPSON DEAN
NESTOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHERS.

Recent Death of Professor Hodgden
 of St. Louis Leaves Our Supervisor
 Oldest in Point of Service In United
 Stotes--Noxv Entered on Forty-second
 Year of Continuous SerVice-Pro-
 gramme by 1000 Teachers at Teach-
 ers' Convention.
 The New Haven public schools enjoy the distinction of having for their vocal instructor the dean of public school music teachers in the United States. A few weeks ago Supervisor Jepson received a letter from P. c. Hayden, editor of School Music Monthly (the official organ of public school music su- pervisors in this countrO, informing him of the death of William A. Hodg don sunervisor of music in the St. Louis schools. Professor Hodgdon has for many years been the acknowledged Nestor of public school musical instructors in the United States. His mantle has now fallen on the shoulders of Supervisor l Jepson.
 { In answer to this communication Pro- lessor Jepson sent letter which was printed In the latest issue of the month ly.
 In a brief introduction, which we quote. the editor says: The letter fol- lowing speaks of a lifelong friendship between two men who for fifty years have been an honor to the teachers of America. MT. Jepson remains at his post, now the supervisor of longest ser7 vice in America:
 "'New Haven, Conn.,, Aug, 22, 1906. '''P. c. Hayden, Keokuk, Ia.:
 "Dear sir-I have just returned from my vacation and find in your communi- cation news of the death of my old friend and colleague Hodgdon. l had not heard of 1t. I assure you the an nouncement struck home. Our ac- quaintance began nearly fifty years ago under circumstances thatteventuated in lasting friendship. l shall never for get the time when as perfect stran- ger he took me into his confidence. The occasion was a Fourth of July enter tainment in 1858 at the Mercantile Li- brary hall in St. Louis. He not only in- | troduced me in all the schools, but rec commended the children to join our cho- rus and finally officiated as accompan- ist ct the performance, a Juvenile Cam 1 tata of the Revolutionary War. With the old programme before me l am wondering how many of the partici- pants still survive. The people of St. Louis are more indebted to William A. Hodgdon than they will ever realize. To him they must ascribe leadership in the grand musical results which have made the public schools of St. Louis famous. As one of the fathers of pub lie school musical instruction in the United States, he deserves recognition for fifty years of faithful service, and then to think that he actually died ir the harness. All honor to his memory
 Your statement that his deatf leaves me the dean of public school mu. sic supervisors in the United States gave me a profound thrill, if l may sC describe it.
 "I am still in active work, have en tered upon my forty-seeond year O service, and, barring ill-health, shal expect to accomplish more than in any preceding year of my life. The mos notable event in my last years worl was a sight reading performance of on' thousand children before the American Institute of Instruction at Woolsey hal in this city.
 Respectfully yours,
 "'B. JEPSON.'"
 In his editorial comment on the meth ods of music employed in the New Ha ven schools Editor Hayden writes;
 Benjamin Jepson is now the oldes supervisor of music in America in poin of continuous service in one city, hay ing entered his forty-seeond year o service in New Haven. He has finishe out a great career by producing one 0 the best music courses now offered il the schools of the land. The leadini characteristic of the course is it's adap tion to the various grades in tn schools, worked out as 1t was by Tn Man in the School Room For eac grade just the right material is pro vded. The rhythm difficulties are rec ognized and properly classified, an there are songs and studies in abund ance to allow sufficient practice i reading music containing the rhythr difficulties. Mir. Jepson's plan in thes books is a perfectly comprehensive on, and it has been worked out consist ently."
 In reference to the programme of las July given before the American Inst ute of Instruction, we quote from tn , New England Journal of Education a follows:
 More attractive music, either fror F the standpoint of art or popular effec has never been furnished the associa - tion. The organ in Woolsey hall is on of the best in the United States, and
 was presided over by a master
 Professor Benjamin Jepson occupie an important and interesting place i
 the school music world. He has tn . New Haven public ardently devote both to school music and to his leader ship. There are three great naturs l schemes of public school music teach 3 ing. to none of which he has ever ac 1 knoweldged allegiance. Unde these conditions Professor Jepson ha a notable inning, especially on Wednes day forenoon, when he had a thousan , boys and girls singing for more tha an hour upon the following programme