NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG2602.AM: Hazel Gertrude Kinscella, 1893-1960
Papers: 1918-1939, n.d.
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.: Music educator; composer
Size: 1.0 cu.ft.; 2 boxes
BACKGROUND NOTE
Born in Nora Springs, Iowa, Hazel Gertrude Kinscella obtained a primary and secondary education in the public school of that city. In 1912 and 1913 she studied piano with Raphael Joseffry in New York City. From the University School of Music, Lincoln, Nebraska, she received B. of Music and A.M. degrees in 1916 and 1928. In 1928 she received the B.F.A. and in 1931 the A.B. degree from the University of Nebraska. She received an A.M. degree from Columbia University in 1934 and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1941. Her teaching career includes positions as major instructor in piano, University School of Music, Lincoln, Nebraska; professor of music at the University of Nebraska; and lecturer on American music at the University of Washington. As the originator of the Kinscella method of teaching piano in public schools, she lectured and demonstrated her system extensively in this country and abroad.
The many organizations of which she was a member include: Nebraska Writers Guild; Writers Guild of America; Nebraskana Society; Phi Beta Kappa; Nebraska State Teachers Association; and the Presbyterian Church. She is the author (or arranger) of many compositions including: First Steps for the Young Pianist (followed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th steps), 1919-1926; Veolocity Studies for the Young Pianist, 1924; In Chinatown, 1934; Psalm 150, Our Prayer, 1934; Folk Tune Trios, 1934; and Liberty’s Island, 1946. In addition, she is the author of Music Appreciation Readers (6 books), 1926-1927; a correspondence course in piano pedagogy, 1918; and more than sixty professional articles.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection relates to varied phases of Kinscella’s career, but particularly to music education, her primary interest. The collection is divided into six series: 1) Manuscripts; 2) Notes; 3) Published Music Arranged or Composed by Kinscella; 4) Printed Matter; 5) Sheet Music; and 6) Music Rolls for Player Piano.
Note: See also the photo component [RG2602.PH] for related images. See the NSHS Library Catalog for published materials by Hazel Kinscella.
DESCRIPTION
Series 1 – Manuscripts
Box 1
“Johann Sebastian Bach – the Cuthen Period,” 7 p., typewritten
“Silent Night, Holy Night,” 9 p., typed
“In the Land of Silent Night,” 9 p. typed
“Fill your Garden with Flowers at All Times of the Year by Growing Bulbs,” 11 p., typed
“To Have Flowers at All Times of the Year, Grow Bulbs,” 6 p., typed
“Sacajawea, the Bird Woman,” 11 p., typed
“Eating at Sea,” 7 p., typed
“Ellie: Her Book,” Introduction and chapter one; 10 p., typed
Miscellaneous verse
Series 2 – Notes
“Musical Drama. Professor Grumann (?),” undated
Series 3 – Published Music Composed or Arranged by Hazel Gertrude Kinscella
First Steps For the Young Pianist, 1919
Third Steps for the Young Pianist, 1921
Two Melodies, 1921
Ten Little Pieces, 1921
Ten Little Duets, 1922
Ten Tiny Tunes, 1922-1923
Velocity Studies, 1924
Sixth Steps for the Young Pianist, 1926
In Chinatown, 1933
Indian Sketches, 1934
Hurdy-Gurdy Serenade, 1935
Choral Compositions, 1935
Folk Tune Trios, 1935
Yea, Though I Walk Through the Valley, 1936
Skippy’s March, 1937
Graded Classics, 1937
Series 4 – Printed Matter
Correspondence course in piano pedagogy, 1918, by Hazel Gertrude Kinscella
Pamphlets and articles concerning “The Kinscella Method”
Clippings, 1939 and undated, etc.
Bibliography prepared by NSHS, 8 p.
Series 5 – Sheet Music
Box 2
Miscellaneous, none by Kinscella
Series 6 – Music Rolls for Player Piano
Ten Little Pieces, 2 rolls
Ding Dong Bell, Village Dance, Evening Song, A Jolly Time, The Merry Shepherd, 1 roll
Minuetto-Scarlatti, Allegro-Hayden, Variations-Beethoven, 1 roll
ADDED ENTRIES:
Educators — Nebraska — Lincoln
Kinscella, Hazel Gertrude, 1893-1960
Music — Study and teaching
Piano — Study and teaching
Teachers — Nebraska — Lincoln
L. Willmore/js 08-03-1964
Encoded TMM 05-19-2010
