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Thomas Tapper

1864 – 1958

American musician, composer, writer

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About Thomas Tapper

Lived 1864 – 1958 (aged 94). Thomas Tapper was a music journalist and composer.

Thomas Tapper (28 January 1864 – 24 February 1958) was a musician, composer, lecturer, writer, teacher, and editor, who was born in Canton, Massachusetts, and studied music at the American College of Musicians. He wrote many books on music, mostly for children and young adults. His most famous being Lives of Great Composers picture book series. He also wrote the First Year Series for musical instruction, which included First Year Musical Theory, First Year Counterpoint, First Year Harmony, Second Year harmony, First Year Analysis, and First Year Melody Writing. He was the editor of "The Musician," and promoted rural music and community music. Tapper also promoted rote learning in the rote-note controversy of the late 19th Century music education. His students included Isabel Stewart North and Carrie Burpee Shaw.

Tapper married pianist Bertha Feiring Tapper in 1894.

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Important facts

People in Thomas Tapper's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Tapper?

American musician, composer, writer (1864–1958)

When was Thomas Tapper born?

Thomas Tapper was born on 28 January 1864.

When did Thomas Tapper die?

Thomas Tapper died on 24 February 1958.

What was Thomas Tapper's occupation?

Thomas Tapper was a music journalist and composer.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Tapper

· Wikidata: Q4467316

· DBpedia: Thomas Tapper

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Tapper. https://biography.guide/thomas-tapper/

MLA: "Thomas Tapper." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-tapper/.

Chicago: "Thomas Tapper." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-tapper/.

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