Lowell Mason

In the summer of 1834, under the auspices of the Boston Academy of Music, Mason and other instructors held classes for music teachers. After being exposed to Pestalozzi’s work in Europe, Lowell Mason petitioned the Boston school board to include vocal music in its elementary school. This lead to music being taught experimentally in four Boston public schools in 1837 and as part of the permanent curriculum in 1838. European models guided Mason’s preferences, as well as those of other early immigrant composers. Their actions served to spread musical knowledge, but unfortunately also took away appreciation of the power of native hymnody, such as shape-note singing in the southern states and the works of Billings and others. Musical education was limited to vocal music in elementary schools because it was only deemed necessary for children to learn about church and congregational singing. Mason justified the inclusion of music in the school curriculum by his believe that music would help develop the well being of each child.
(Abeles, 1995)

Abeles, H. F.; Hoffer, C. R.; Klotman R. H. (1995). Foundations of Music Education. Belmont, California: Thomson Schirmer.