Anthony Johnson Showalter (c. 1853–1924) was a music educator, gospel composer, publisher, and considered a pioneer in gospel music and education in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Showalter is notably mentioned in numerous texts and studies related to gospel music; however, little data has been collected regarding the tools he used in singing schools—namely, the rudiment books he wrote and the schools where he used the curriculum. The purpose of this study is to discover Showalter’s possible motivation to begin his career, his determination in writing music education curriculum, organizing singing schools, his reasonings for focusing on seven-shape note style, and his influence into the twenty-first century. Materials analyzed included Showalter’s rudiment books, extant copies of his periodical, “The Music Teacher and Home Magazine,” and interviews at present-day gospel singing schools. Extant research related to four-shape and seven-shape hymnody and education was also reviewed. Findings indicate that Showalter was a progressive student-centered educator who utilized alternate tools in helping many with literacy by organizing the Southern Normal Musical Institute. Showalter created materials and opportunities which were accessible to the advanced and the beginner, hence providing a future for gospel singing schools well into the twenty-first century.

安东尼·约翰逊·Showalter（约1853–1924年）是一位音乐教育家，福音作曲家，出版商，并且在19世纪末和20世纪初被认为是福音音乐和教育的先驱。在与福音音乐有关的许多著作和研究中，都特别提到了昭和者。但是，关于他在歌唱学校使用的工具（即，他写的入门书和使用课程的学校）的数据很少。这项研究的目的是发现Showalter可能开始其职业生涯的动机，他在编写音乐教育课程，组织歌唱学校的决心，他专注于七字形音符风格的推理以及他对二十一世纪的影响。分析的材料包括Showalter的基本书籍，其期刊的现成副本，“音乐老师和家庭杂志”，以及在当今福音歌唱学校的访谈。还审查了有关四字形和七字形的赞美和教育的现有研究。调查结果表明，Showalter是一位以学生为中心的进步教育家，他通过组织南部师范大学音乐学院，利用替代工具帮助许多人提高了读写能力。Showalter创造了高级和初学者都可以使用的材料和机会，从而为进入二十一世纪的福音歌唱学校提供了未来。调查结果表明，Showalter是一位以学生为中心的进步教育家，他通过组织南部师范大学音乐学院，利用替代工具帮助许多人提高了读写能力。Showalter创造了高级和初学者都可以使用的材料和机会，从而为进入二十一世纪的福音歌唱学校提供了未来。调查结果表明，Showalter是一位以学生为中心的进步教育家，他通过组织南部师范大学音乐学院，利用替代工具帮助许多人提高了读写能力。Showalter创造了高级和初学者都可以使用的材料和机会，从而为进入二十一世纪的福音歌唱学校提供了未来。