IU School of Music

Wilfred C. Bain, born January 20, 1908 and died March 7, 1997, discusses his life experiences focusing on his tenure as the dean of the Indiana University School of Music from 1947 - 1973. He discusses the development of the School of Music from a small Midwestern school to the world-renowned institution it is today. He feels his philosophy of hiring performance musicians as faculty, and hiring only the best in the field, has contributed to building the school's reputation. He discusses different members of the faculty he has hired over the years and their contributions to the school. He also discusses the strong opera program in the school and the requirement for all students to participate in ensembles as a factor contributing to the school's success, especially the twenty-one year running of Wagner's . He also discusses the development of the applied music program and creating the structure of the school to fit applied music, music theory, musicology and music education in one school. He touches upon his philosophy of a well-rounded music education that does not focus only on performance. He elaborates on the structure of the school and how it relates to Indiana University and Bloomington, Indiana. He discusses the reluctance of the university administration over the years to extend funding to the school. He discusses the transitional periods from Dean Sanders to his tenure as dean, and then from his tenure to Dean Webb. Finally, he discusses the positives and negatives of being the dean, his evaluation of the his time there, the status of the school at present, and avenues the school might pursue in the future.