The English Tonic Sol-fa System originated in Norwich, England, in the 1930s. Although credit for this development is frequently given to John Curwen, the author was Sarah Glover, a Sunday school music director. Glover's system began with simplified notation for sol-fa syllables and rhythms. The system and its accompanying teaching strategies were discovered in 1841 by John Curwen who subsequently popularized and adapted them. Conflict arose between the two educators regarding the modifications Curwen made in the system, yet the impact of Glover's work on Curwen and, eventually, music education in general, cannot be disputed.
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References
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