Schools of Music 2007

Books for Singing Schools

During the 1930’s and ’40’s Sand Mountain was known for it schools of music — called “Singing Schools” – and the mountain produced some famous singers.  The two closest to The Windy Knoll were Cat Freeman and his sister, Vestal Goodman, who grew up just north of Geraldine.  We were in the same age bracket; however, they lived a long way from me in our growing up years.  Six or eight miles was considered quite a distance when traveling via mule and wagon.  And another thing, those two attended school in Fyffe, while I went to Geraldine.

About this time of year crops were laid by — meaning the soda had been dropped (by hand) beside the corn and it had been plowed for the last time.  Oft times peas would be planted in the corn middles so we would have late peas to enjoy.  By this time cotton was growing on its own — chopping, hoeing and plowing were over and my daddy would walk the fields looking for cotton squares (buds).  His aim was to have such by the Fourth of July and usually he reached that goal.  Anyway with all this done, Singing Schools were taught all over this mountain and attended by lots of young folks.  Instructors such as Dan Shipp, Frank Machen, Johnny Monroe, Enoch Parris, Mr. Freeman and the last school I attended was taught by John Hull, who drove out here from Gadsden — some 30 miles away and with very few paved roads.  Cost to attend the school was three or four dollars, plus we had to purchase a Rudiment  for thirty-five or forty cents.  If the school lasted all day, we carried our lunches, but most times schools were taught in the afternoon only.

Rudiments

You see, this time of year was filled with food preservation and youngsters had to help with that, too. Stringing beans, shelling peas, washing fruit jars, “totin'” in wood for the cook stove and drawing water were jobs youngsters could do.  Another job for young people was peeling apples for drying.  We would peel a bushel of apples, (that is, after we had picked them up off the ground, brought them to the house and washed them) cut slices off the core and then spread them out on a piece of sheet iron (tin) in the hot sun to dry. Of course, if a thunder cloud happened to pop up, somebody had to run put the apples under the shed to protect them from rain.

Usually the singing school lasted two weeks with music theory being taught in the first part and the fun part being held later.  That’s when we’d pull out the newest Stamps Baxter song books and let the rafters ring.  Sometimes the Vaughn book would be used, too. During the first hours we studied from the little books (see the picture) called Rudiments.  We studied about notes, cleft, staff, tones, time and were instructed on how to beat time.  And then we actually led a song or two — putting the “beating” of time into practice.  It was in schools such as these that we learned about Do, Ra, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti and Do; however, I never attended the schools that taught one how to sing by shaped notes.  Wish I had.

Shaped Notes

The instructors tried to have the very best pianist possible — this made the singing even more fun.. My Aunt Vera Shipp McDaniel was called on time and time again to play for Singing Schools all over the mountain. So was my sister, Sis Hulgan — she could make the piano talk — one of the best.  Sis had inherited her musical ability (her Mother was an Arnold and they were known for their musical ability) and my mother (who was a McDaniel) thought I should learn to play as well as Sis. (McDaniels couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket).  No way!  I wish I knew how many miles I’ve walked these hot, dusty mountain roads in the summer on that quest, but it was not to be.  I’ve walked to Skirum week after week, summer after summer and took lessons from Jessie Monroe and/or Maxine Lindsey, but to no avail..  Other teachers were my Aunt Vera, Dena West and Katherine Porter and I’ve performed in recital after recital; however, I could only play what was on the written page, whereas Sis could do it all.  She added all those exra notes that  made her playing so special and then she could change keys and play the song in another key.  Ha, fat chance that I could ever do that.

On the last night of the singing school the house would be packed with listeners, as well as visiting singers.  With no air conditioning  windows would be raised and funeral home fans put into operation, then the fun began.  We would sing almost every song in that old Stamps Baxter book, even singing the most popular songs twice, with a different person leading each time.  These are some of the most precious memories I have of summertime here on Sand Mountain with that style of country living.