Mursell, James L(ockhart)

Mursell, James L(ockhart), English-born American music educator; b. Derby, June 1, 1893; d. Jackson, N.H., Feb. 1, 1963. Following training in England and at the Univ. of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia (B.A., 1915), he studied philosophy with Josiah Royce at Harvard Univ. (Ph.D., 1918), then pursued training for the ministry at N.Y.’s Union Theological Seminary (1918–20). He taught psychology and education at Lake Erie Coll. in Painesville, Ohio (1921–23), and then philosophy, psychology, and education at Lawrence Coll. in Appleton, Wise. (1923–25), where he also studied at the Cons, with Gladys Brainard. In 1935 he became prof, of education at Teachers Coll., Columbia Univ., where he later was chairman of the music educationdept. (1939–57). Mursell was a proponent of a humanistic approach to music education.

Writings

(all publ. in N.Y unless otherwise given): Principles of Musical Education (1927); with M. Glenn, The Psychology of School Music Teaching (1931; 2^nd ed., 1938); Human Values in Music Education (1934); The Psychology of Music (1937); Music in American Schools (1943); Education for Musical Growth (Boston, 1948); Music and the Classroom Teacher (1951); Music Education: Principles and Programs (Morristown, N.J., 1956).

Bibliography

L. Simutis, J.L. M. as Music Educator (diss., Univ. of Ottawa, 1961); D. Metz, A Critical Analysis of the Thought of J.L. M. in Music Education (diss., Case Western Reserve Univ., 1968); V. O’Keefe, J.L. M.: His Life and Contributions to Music Education (diss., Teachers Coll., Columbia Univ., 1970).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire