trying to catch up on scanning, fresh and hot, right of the flatbed!
Juliette Adams [Juliette Graves and known as "Mrs. Crosby Adams"] American, teacher, pianist and composer Niagara N.Y., 25.03.1858 - Montreat, 09.11.1951
Adams Family.jpg
Juliette was raised on a farm near the great river, where she developed her love of nature which became her great inspiration like it was to her idol Edward MacDowell. Seven years old she began studying piano and went on - as a young woman to teach and play organ for church services. In the four years prior to her marriage she was a resident teacher of piano at Ingham University in New York state.
Juliette and Crosby Adams were married on September 18, 1883 in Lewiston, New York. Following their marriage they lived first in Buffalo, New York, and later in Kansas City and then Chicago. In 1913 they moved to Montreat, North Carolina, and there continued with full and active lives rich in accomplishments. Mrs. Crosby Adams was a nationally known piano teacher, composer, author and lecturer. She was best known for her pioneering work in piano literature for beginners. Her compositions for children were widely adopted by piano teachers and became standard teaching material.
Her compositions were influenced by her conviction that beginners needed materials that were suitable for their needs and interests and that were presented in an orderly fashion appropriate to the students' developmental levels. She firmly believed that the most important thing a music teacher could do for a student was to develop in him a cultivated musical taste. Her first published work, Five Tone Sketches, Opus 1, appeared in 1896 and was followed by many piano solos, duets, songs and studies for beginners, including her major work, the Graded Studies. This series in ten volumes was widely used by piano teachers throughout the U.S.
The Crosby Adams Music School, established in Chicago in 1892, helped secure Mrs. Adams's reputation as a respected music educator. The School was distinguished as having the first public school music course taught in America. Mrs. Adams became a sought-after lecturer and her articles on music commentary and criticism appeared in Chicago newspapers and leading music periodicals.
She was recognized by her contemporaries, including Amy Beach and Edward MacDowell.While living in Chicago, Mrs. Adams began the Dolls Musical Festivals which provided a novel way to introduce children to music. Among her publications were two children's books and a number of piano solos about dolls. In 1929 Mrs. Adams' book, Studies in Hymnology, was first published to critical acclaim. It was widely used in seminaries, churches, and music schools and was republished in 1938.
In 1913 Mr. and Mrs. Adams built their House-in-the-Woods in the wild Blue Ridge Mountains, Montreat, North Carolina. The plans for the house was supplied by architect Van Bergen under supervision of Crosby Adams and modelled after MacDowell's own retreat. The house had a spacious music room that could accommodate a chorus and music recitals.
Here they conducted their Teachers Classes every summer. They were in charge of the music program at Montreat Normal School and had a long association with the Montreat College music department. Mrs. Adams taught piano, continued writing about and composing music, and played a leadership role in a number of organizations. Such were their reputations in music circles, that at the age of 90, Mr. and Mrs. Adams were guests of honor at the Chicagoland Music Festival.
Mrs. Adams was granted honorary life membership in the National Federation of Music Clubs and in the Music Teachers National Association and served on the Executive Boards of both organizations. Mrs. Adams was awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of Music from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1932 and from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1945. Mrs. Adams' last concert was given in Asheville, North Carolina on her 92nd birthday. The Crosby Adams memorial building in Montreat no longer exists; however, special collections of materials by and about Mrs. Adams are housed in the Presbyterian Historical Society in Montreat and also in the Montreat College Library.
Op. 28
Adams, Crosby [Mrs.], - 30 Improvisations in all the major and minor keys (c.1915).pdf
(forgive the quality somewhat, this score is beat up to h#@!, edges are disintegrating/falling-apart, no binding whatsoever-remarkable my copy of this found its way to my collection completely intact!-did my best to give the best images possible without further damaging the fragile score).
