Walter Carroll

Who was Walter Carroll?

Walter Carroll was a professional composer and teacher. He was born in Strangeways, Manchester, and received his bachelor's degree in music at Durham University. Carroll returned to Manchester to earn another bachelor's degree and the first Mus.D. ever conferred in Manchester.

In 1893 he became a lecturer in harmony at the newly formed Royal Manchester College of Music and held chairs at the college of harmony and composition, and of the art of teaching. Carroll started a training course for music teachers in 1907 and was appointed music adviser by the Manchester Education Committee in 1918. He gave up all his other work in 1920 to concentrate on music for children. Carroll regularly visited and advised teachers in about four hundred schools, lecturing on the teaching of singing, instrumental music, and music appreciation.

He composed many piano pieces for children, published as collections with titles inspired by nature, such as 'The Countryside', 'Sea Idylls', 'Forest Fantasies' and 'River and Rainbow'. Published by Forsyth Brothers Ltd., these miniatures are still popular, one of them, "Alone at Sunset", is included in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music 2011–2012 Grade 4 examination. More than his own compositions, he is perhaps best remembered for his compilation for young piano students of short keyboard pieces by J.S. Bach, First Lessons in Bach for the Piano.