THE PATRICK-CONWAY-MILITARY-BAND-SCHOOL, 1922-1929

Patrick Conway( 1865-1929) was one of America's foremost bandleaders. His professional band was as famous as John Philip Sousa's and, playing throughout the country for state fairs, expositions, and concerst eries. Conway's and also recorded for the Victor and Edison labels and during the late 1920s, was a regular attraction on the General Motors Family Hour radio show. While the Conway Band enjoyed tremendous uccessd uring the 1910s and 1920s, other bands declined in popularity, possibly victims of competition from other forms of amusement like the automobile and phonograph. The incipient establishment of school bands createda great demand for trained band teachers and musicians, yet little formal education for band musicianse xisted. Realizingt his state of affairs, Conway opened one of the first schools for the training of the band musician: the Conway Military Band School. This articlet races the influences and environment that led Conway to establish this institution. Also included is a description of thes chool and its developmend turing thes eveny ears of its existence. © 1992, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.