Effa Ellis Perfield

Effa Ellis Perfield (February 2, 1873 – December 1967) was an American educator who devised and promoted a "scientific" system for music pedagogy.

[2][3] She taught her system in cities all over the United States, with headquarters first in Omaha, Nebraska, then in Chicago, Illinois.

[8] At its peak, the Perfield System had trained teachers who taught in many states and in Canada and China,[9] with 2900 examination centers to maintain uniformity.

[10] Publications by Perfield include Effa Ellis Perfield Teaching System, Keyboard and Written Harmony, Counterpoint, Canon, and Fugue, Constructive Music Book, Songs of Birds, Animals, and Flowers, and Paragon of Rhythmic Counting for All Rhythms.

[11][1] Among Perfield's notable students were composers Lora Aborn, Carrie Burpee Shaw and June Weybright, as well as choreographer Jerome Robbins.