J. Chalmers Doane

J. Chalmers Doane
Birth name John Chalmers Doane
Born

1938 (age 7778)


Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

Occupation(s) Educator, musician
Instruments Trombone, ukulele, piano
Years active 1971–1993
Website chalmersdoane.com

J. Chalmers Doane (born 1938) is a Canadian educator who spearheaded the use of the ukulele for music instruction in the Canadian school systems.

Educator

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 College 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.

Awards

Writing

Discography

References

  1. J. Chalmers Doane Biography
  2. McNamee, David. "Hey, what's that sound: Ukulele. The Guardian, 17 August 2010.
  3. Dobson, William, "Literature review", U for Ukulele: A New Classroom Method for Young Children, Acadia University, 2003
  4. "Ukulele Review: Northern Ukuleles". The Jumping Flea – an Apprecitation of Ukuleles
  5. 1 2 The Canadian Encyclopedia – Chalmers Doan
  6. Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: a History. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 160–162. ISBN 978-0-8248-3544-6.
  7. Ukulele in the Classroom
  8. Kidney, David, "James Hill & J. Chalmers Doane, Ukulele in the Classroom: Book 1", Green Man Review
  9. St. Marys University Convocation program, 2003
  10. Order of Canada – Chalmers Doane
  11. Order of Nova Scotia – Chalmers Doane
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