Edward Bailey Birge (1868–1952) was a founding member of the Music Supervisors National Conference, which later became the

Music Educators National Conference The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States. Founded in 1907 as the Mus ...

(MENC). Birge served as president of the organization from 1910–1911, and also as chairmen of the editorial board for the ''

Music Educators Journal The ''Music Educators Journal'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers in the field of education. The editor-in-chief is Ella Wilcox, and the Academic Editor is Corin Overland (University of Miami). It was established in 1914 and ...

'' for many years. He originated the "MEJ Clubs" on college campuses that made possible student memberships. Though the clubs, the ''Journal'' was used in classes with prospective teachers. This greatly increased the circulation of the magazine. In recognition of his long service to the ''Journal'' and to the Conference, the MENC board of directors named him chairman

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

. Birge is also remembered for writing the first history of American

music education Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do origina ...

. He was a member of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...

fraternity for men in music, initiated with Paul J. Weaver and Clarence C. Birchard in April 1924 at the national convention of MENC held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

References

Mark, M.L. and Gary, C.L. (1999). ''A History of American Music Education.'' Reston: National Association for Music Education.

External links

Edward Bailey Birge Papers
- Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland *MENC Presidents Projec

*MENC Founders Projec

1868 births 1952 deaths American music educators {{US-edu-bio-stub