Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
D57452-2
Date(s)
- 1951-04-03 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
In April of 1951, Floyd Piper was photographed teaching a class in Hawaiian guitar at his Honolulu Conservatory of Music. Mr Piper and his wife Karolyn had been teaching music in Tacoma since 1943. For over 75 years, there have been music schools operating under the franchise banner of the Honolulu Conservatory. The method of playing steel guitar taught at the school used numbers diagrammed inside notes, and was pioneered by a Hawaiian named Alex Hoapili. This method was adopted and franchised by a ambitious promoter named Harry G. Stanley, beginning in 1922. During its heyday in the late 40's, there were over three dozen towns with a Honolulu Conservatory of Music. After Floyd Piper died in 1973, his wife continued to teach from her home at 617 North 2nd Street. (TNT Sound Life 11/15/1994, Section F, "Music is her Paradise" written by Bart Ripp)
Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stringed instruments; Piper, Floyd; Music education--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children--Tacoma--1950-1960;