A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kneller Hall
KNELLER HALL, near Hounslow, Middlesex, the 'Military School of Music,' for the education of bandsmen and bandmasters for the regiments of the British army. Until recently bandmasters in the British army were mostly civilians, with no guarantee for their competence for the post, and bandsmen were instructed and practised in a casual and often imperfect manner by each regiment for itself. A bandmaster formed no integral part of the corps, and could not be compelled to accompany it in case of war or foreign service; and the status of bandsmen is even now so far anomalous that in action their duty is to rescue the wounded under fire and take charge of them in hospital. Each band was formed on its own model, and played what kind of instruments, and at what pitch, it liked. In the Crimean war the evils of this state of things and the want of united systematic action were painfully apparent, and shortly afterwards, by command of H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief, a plan was drawn up and submitted to the officers of the army, to which they readily gave their assent and subscription. In pursuance of this plan Kneller Hall, a building on the site of the house of Sir Godfrey Kneller, the painter (formerly the Government establishment for training schoolmasters), was taken, and opened as a school on March 3, 1857, and a systematic course of instruction, with a staff of professors, begun, under the modest title of the 'Military Music Class,' Major (now Colonel) F. L. Whitmore, long known for a philanthropic interest and zeal in matters of music, being appointed Commandant, and reporting annually to the Adjutant General of the Forces. [App. p.692 "H. Schallehn was resident musical director till April 1859. Colonel Whitmore was appointed Aug. 15, 1863. He was succeeded, May 1, 1880, by Colonel Robert T. Thompson, who still (Jan. 1, 1888) holds the post of Commandant; Charles Cousins (appointed Nov. 1, 1874) being musical director."] The advantages of the plan proved so great that in 1875 the institution was adopted by Government. Bandmasters are now first-class staff-sergeants of the regiments to which they belong, and the musical department in each regiment consists of a bandmaster, a sergeant, a corporal, and 19 men (cavalry 14), besides boys as drummers and fifers.
The educational staff at Kneller Hall now (1879) comprises professors of the following subjects—Theory, [1]Clarinet (3), Oboe, Flute, Bassoon, Tenor Brass (2), Bass [2]ditto, French Horn—and a schoolmaster from the Government Normal School for general education. The first-class students act as assistants to the professors. The length of term is 2 years, the hours of musical instruction are 7 in summer, and 6 in winter daily. The number of pupils of all ages varies with circumstances. The average strength is about 50 non-commissioned officers, training for bandmasters, and forming the first class; and 110 privates, boys and adults, training for bandsmen, the second class—160 in all. Lads are admitted at 15. Adults are either outsiders or former pupils, who, after having been bandsmen, develope qualities fitting them for farther education as bandmasters. Both lads and men are taken into the school as vacancies occur, on the recommendation of the commanding officers of the regiments. A supply of the former is obtained from the Chelsea Hospital, the Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin, the Metropolitan Poor Law Schools, etc. General instruction is given by the Normal schoolmaster, and there is a noble chapel in which service is regularly performed.
England is as yet the only country which has adopted a systematic method of educating bandsmen and bandmasters, and the great improvement both in the moral conduct and the efficiency of the men which has taken place since the foundation of Kneller Hall cannot be too warmly welcomed. By Colonel Whitmore's efforts, and the enlightened sanction of H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief, uniformity in instruments and in [3]pitch has been obtained, and a general consolidation of the military music of the country brought about which is highly desirable. A bandmaster has now a recognised position in the army, and a fixed salary of £100 a year in addition to his regimental pay. The cost of this salary is still borne by the private purses of the officers, which is the only important anomaly remaining to be rectified.