Figure 1.--These Amerian boys at some sort of school recital all wear kickers with long stockings. This photograph was probably taken about 1920 or a little earlier. Note that the boys wear ties rather than bows. One boy still wears a rather wide rounded collar.

Instrumental lessons for American boys became even more common in the increasingly affluent America of the early 20th Century. American mothers increasingly sought to civilize their sons with dance and music lessons. An expanding middle class made this increasingly possible for more boys. I'm less sure what the pattern was in Europe.

Motivation on the part of the boy varied. Some boys from their early childhood have aspired to learn a musical instument. In other cases, doting mothers have insisted on music lessons to inbue their sons with at least a minimal vaneer of culture, even if their sons objected.

There was no costume of course for boys learning musical instruments. Mothers insisted, however, that there sons put on their best suits for any recitals or performances. In the early 20th Century this generally meant a knicker suit in America. Presumably short pants suits were more common in Europe.

Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s]
[The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Kilts] [Caps] [Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [School uniform [Scout

Created: December 31, 1998 Last updated: December 31, 1998