Annie Jessy Curwen facts for kids
Annie Jessy Curwen (born Annie Jessy Gregg) was a talented writer. She wrote books for children and music teachers. Her books taught about music theory and how to play the piano. They were published in London in the late 1800s. She was also known as Mrs. Curwen or Mrs. J. Spencer Curwen.
Contents
Her Life Story
Annie Jessy Gregg was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1845. Her father was a solicitor, which is like a lawyer. Annie loved music from a young age.
Learning Music in Dublin
From 1857 to 1865, Annie studied the piano. She went to the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Her teachers were famous musicians like Joseph Robinson, Fanny Robinson, and Robert Prescott Stewart. After finishing her studies, she became a piano teacher. She taught in Dublin until 1876.
Moving to Scotland and New Ideas
In 1876, Annie moved to Scotland. There, she met a very important music teacher named John Curwen. John Curwen was a big supporter of the tonic sol-fa method. This method helps people learn to sing using special hand signs and syllables. Annie was inspired by this idea. She found a way to use the tonic sol-fa method for playing the piano.
Family and Publishing Her Books
In 1877, Annie married John Spencer Curwen. He was John Curwen's oldest son. All of Annie's books were published by her father-in-law's company, J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. She used her married name, Mrs. Curwen, for her books. Annie Jessy Curwen passed away in Dublin in 1932.
Her Important Books
Annie Jessy Curwen wrote several helpful books. They taught music to both students and teachers.
- Mrs Curwen's Pianoforte Method The Teacher's Guide (London, 1913)
- Psychology Applied to Music Teaching (London, 1920)
