J. Chalmers Doane | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Chalmers Doane |
| Born | 1938 (age 85–86) Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Educator, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Trombone, ukulele, piano |
| Years active | 1971–1993 |
| Website | chalmersdoane |
J. Chalmers Doane (born 1938) is a Canadian educator and musician who spearheaded the use of the ukulele for music instruction in the Canadian school systems.
Educator[edit]
John Chalmers Doane was born in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1938. Doane earned his teaching certificate in 1961 from the Nova Scotia Teachers College (NSTC) and then a bachelor of music education from [Boston University] in 1967 studying the trombone.[1] While serving as supervisor of music for the Halifax Regional School Board from 1967 to 1984, Doane changed the school music program when he began using the ukulele as a practical and economical method of teaching instruments and music for both children and adults.[2] This unconventional approach was quickly proven through the success of Halifax school bands and orchestras in concerts and competitions across Canada.[3]
Doane created the Guide to Classroom Ukulele in 1971. The British Columbia schools used Doane's system to teach music and as a result, the Langley Ukulele Ensemble came into existence.[4] He improved on the system and created the Teacher's Guide to Classroom Ukulele in 1977.
After leaving the Halifax School Board in 1984, Doane served as a professor of music education at his alma mater, the Nova Scotia Teachers College until his retirement in 1993.[5]
The best known student to come out of Doane's program is James Hill, who plays the ukulele throughout the world and worked with Doane to revise the ukulele teaching system.[6] Doane and Hill collaborated to create the Ukulele in the Classroom program in 2008.[7][8]
Doane was awarded an honorary doctor of fine arts from St. Mary's University in 2003.[9]
His daughter Melanie Doane is a noted Canadian pop singer and songwriter, and his son Creighton Doane is a drummer and songwriter known as a collaborator with his sister and as a member of the rock band Harem Scarem. Doane himself has recorded a number of albums since 1973, many featuring original compositions or arrangements, mainly featuring Halifax students, but also in the 2000s with his own group, the Chalmers Doane Trio.
Awards[edit]
- 8 February 2005 – Doane was invested as a member of the Order of Canada.[10]
- 2008 – The Learning Partnership honored Doane as a champion of public education[5]
- 2010 – Doane was inducted into the Order of Nova Scotia.[11]
Writing[edit]
- Classroom Ukulele Method (Waterloo 1971)
- Ukulele Encore (Waterloo 1975)
- The Teachers' Guide to Classroom Ukulele (Waterloo 1977)
- Functional Piano (Waterloo 1980)
- Classroom Ukulele Method: Hawaiian Version (Halifax 1988)
Discography[edit]
- Ukulele Yes!, 1973, Audat Records, 477-4012
- Ukuleles on Tour, 1974, Audat Records, 477-4016
- Ukulele Magic, 1975, Halifax School Board C-142
- An Introduction to Ukulele Basics with J. Chalmers Doane, 1976, Wat WR-9
- Ukulele Solos, 1976, Wat CSPS-1015
- Musical Ride, 1978, Wat WR-17
- Halifax Ukuleles and Fiddles, 1979, Wat WR-20
- Ukulele Express, 1979, Wat WR-19
- Ukuleles East, 1982, Wat WR-8025
- Uke Trio, 1982, Wat WR-8024
- Live At The Soho Kitchen, Chalmers Doane Trio, 2001
- Farm Sessions Vol II, Chalmers Doane Trio, 2006
References[edit]
- ^ "J. Chalmers Doane Biography". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ McNamee, David. "Hey, what's that sound: Ukulele. The Guardian, 17 August 2010.
- ^ Dobson, William, "Literature review" Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, U for Ukulele: A New Classroom Method for Young Children, Acadia University, 2003
- ^ "Ukulele Review: Northern Ukuleles". The Jumping Flea – an Apprecitation of Ukuleles
- ^ a b "The Canadian Encyclopedia – Chalmers Doan". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: a History. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 160–162. ISBN 978-0-8248-3544-6.
- ^ "Ukulele in the Classroom". Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Kidney, David, "James Hill & J. Chalmers Doane, Ukulele in the Classroom: Book 1", Green Man Review
- ^ St. Marys University Convocation program, 2003
- ^ Order of Canada – Chalmers Doane
- ^ Order of Nova Scotia – Chalmers Doane