Mel Bay's Creative Keyboard® Webzine | Gail Smith - Patriotic Music

Patriotic Music

The cover of this old Etude magazine gives a statement from President Roosevelt on what music meant to him, especially during war time. Do Americans feel more patriotic during a time of war than in times of peace? I have wondered since 9-11 if our country really cares about our patriotic songs and if our schools are teaching our children the patriotic songs. Many schools have cut music from their curriculum, so where are the children and teenagers going to learn our National Anthem and other patriotic songs?

A recent Harris poll came out with shocking statistics that two-thirds of Americans do not know our National Anthem. A great project has begun in our country called, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PROJECT. A group of caring Americans decided to get involved and are calling on organizations to join with the U.S. Congress, American Legion, Girl Scouts of the USA, A&E Networks, and Disney as a supporting organization of the National Anthem project. For additional information you may contact the Project manager, Wendi Cherry Barra at (703) 860-4000 or Wendib@menc.org.

As piano teachers, I hope we all will encourage our students to learn to play the "Star Spangled Banner". You may down load and easy version and more difficult arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner" on this webzine.

Consider having a Patriotic piano recital this year for your students. Combine teaching a little American history and musical information on our Presidents. For instance: start with our first President who was George Washington. Did you know that he played the piano? Yes he did, and often played duets with his daughter.

George Washington served for two four year terms without pay. He and Martha Curtis were the same age (27) when they met and decided to marry. She followed him to eight different military encampments, traveling through enemy lines to be with him. During the winters, she knitted socks and hats for soldiers and took care of the wounded. George Washington was a very popular gentleman, the best dancer, card player, wrestler and horseback rider in the Colonies! The United States would not have existed without him. He led the Army, fed and clothed the Army at his own expense. Most astonishing is the fact that he only had a 6th grade education and was mostly self-taught. When George Washington was just eleven years old his father died and there was no money to send him off to England for his education.

I hope you will make sure you know our National Anthem and encourage others to learn to sing it and play it on the piano. May our nation continue to be "the land of the free, and the home of the brave".

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