I remember as a young violinist in my youth orchestra listening to Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and thinking how cool it would be to play the piccolo! I always get so jealous when he or she stands up at that precise moment and plays such a fun melody!
So in celebration of Sousa’s birthday on the 10th, here are some fun facts for you to share with your students:
- Born November 6, 1854 and died March 6, 1932
- It’s never too early to start learning an instrument:
- Was trained as a violinist (1) as well as when he was just six, he began studying voice, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn. (2)
- This cracks me up!
- His father enlisted him in the Marines at age 13 as an apprentice after he attempted to run away to join a circus band. (2, 4)
- No pressure:
- Conducted “The President’s Own” US Marine Band and performed for Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison. (2, 3, 4)
- …ok, you know this, but I have to include it!:
- Invented the Sousaphone J
- Played violin in theatre orchestras, including Offenbach’s orchestra (1, 3)
- Imagine a time when ragtime was just coming out…how exciting it must have been!!:
- Formed his own band (1) introducing not only his own music, but the “new” ragtime music
- Wrote an operetta “El Capitan” (4)
- I am always so impressed with men and women who contribute when they have already given so much:
- “During World War I, Sousa joins the US Naval Reserve at age 62. He is assigned the rank of lieutenant and paid a salary of $1 per month” (4)
- Last piece he conducted before he dies was …you guessed it…”Stars and Stripes Forever”!!! (4)
Sousa said it best: “Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains.” (This makes me smile!)
- Norman Lloyd’s The Golden Encyclopedia Of Music
- http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/john-philip-sousa/
- http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1106.html
- http://www.dws.org/sousa/learn/timeline