Frank A. Beach was born in Weedsport,
New York in 1871. He studied at Syracuse
University and took a bachelor's degree from The University
of Michigan in 1895. After studying in Paris, he took a
position at the Kansas State Normal School in 1908. He
remained at Emporia until his death in 1935. He was active
in the music appreciation movement and was one of the
first to teach music listening with recording. He originated
state-wide music contests at Emporia in 1915 and he
authored the first standardized test in music achievement in
1920. He was president of the Music Supervisors National
Conference in 1922 and wrote numerous articles in
professional journals. He is cited in The New Grove
Dictionary of American Music and is a member of the
MENC Hall of Fame.