Ishmael (Ishmail) Spicer (1760–1832) was a publisher in Baltimore,[1] a teacher, and one of the first American composers.[2]

Ishmael Spicer was born in Bozrah, Connecticut. He founded the first singing school at the Court House in Baltimore in November 1789, basing the curriculum using a teaching system advocated by Andrew Adgate. Tuition was set at $2.50 per quarter and the school was successful for multiple years.

For a time the singing school was attended by John Cole.[3][4]

Publications

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Spicer's Pocket Companion: or the young Mason's monitor, 1799 (printed by Andrew Wright in Northampton). [5]

References

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  1. ^ Andrew Wright: Northampton Music Printer By Paul R. Osterhout, American Music, Vol. 1, No. 4, Music Publishing in America (Winter, 1983), pp. 5-26 doi:10.2307/3051777
  2. ^ http://www.voxnovus.com/resources/American_Composer_Timeline.htm American Composer Timeline
  3. ^ The Roots of Music Education in Baltimore By James L. Fisher, Journal of Research in Music Education, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Autumn, 1973), pp. 214-224 doi:10.2307/3345091
  4. ^ Early Concert-life in America (1731-1800) ByOscar George Theodore Sonneck, Published 1907 Breitkopf & Härtel Music
  5. ^ Psalmody and Secular Songs By Timothy Swan, Nym Cooke. Published 1997 A-R Editions, Inc. Psalmody, ISBN 0-89579-383-0