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150 Pagosa St. Pagosa, Co.
150 Pagosa St. Pagosa, Co.
Featured Artist
The Pagosa Artisans’ Co-op is proud to salute the educators of the arts, those unsung heroes who educate and influence society. The value of a life is not within that life. The value is found in what it is in relation to other people. The life of Harvey Schwartz is such a life whose value far surpasses silver or gold and who has extended his knowledge and love for music to many who have a mutual interest in learning.
I asked Harvey about those who influenced him as a teacher and pianist… and this is what he wrote:
“…Well, Liz (Betty), my first piano teacher, Mrs. Von Zamph, gave me a good start in 1951 when I was eleven. Also, at that time, a set of 45 rpm recordings of pianist Vladmir Horowitz recordings of Frederick Chopin solo piano works floodlighted my way to the instrument. The most valuable influences to tell your readers about would normally be composers, but I have lost faith in this process.”
“These days despite access to more music by more people than even before, awareness of music seems to be at the lowest. This push-button access to multiple performances of any music from anywhere does not seem to lead to great music appreciation. In fact, it seems quite the opposite.”
I asked Harvey about those who influenced him as a teacher and pianist… and this is what he wrote:
“…Well, Liz (Betty), my first piano teacher, Mrs. Von Zamph, gave me a good start in 1951 when I was eleven. Also, at that time, a set of 45 rpm recordings of pianist Vladmir Horowitz recordings of Frederick Chopin solo piano works floodlighted my way to the instrument. The most valuable influences to tell your readers about would normally be composers, but I have lost faith in this process.”
“These days despite access to more music by more people than even before, awareness of music seems to be at the lowest. This push-button access to multiple performances of any music from anywhere does not seem to lead to great music appreciation. In fact, it seems quite the opposite.”
“Music education, especially public, is an uphill against-the-wind ordeal. Whereas, children were once born the mother-sung resonance of lullabies, “Happy Birthday” is about the only melody in childhood hearts and heads, and that barely. The sense of melody, let along harmony, let alone the thrill of singing harmony, is being lost despite all of this access.”
“My music influences before piano study were the incredibly rich and varied, music environment of the 40’s. Radio and films were replete with many and varied styles. And, we really heard them! Someone could break into almost any popular song and others could join in unsurprisingly, including children. Folks did not reject music in minor keys as being too sad!”
“Lately, music industry marketing has succeeded in narrowing our music purchasing to at most a couple of styles and just a few artists and and/or bands.”
“My music influences before piano study were the incredibly rich and varied, music environment of the 40’s. Radio and films were replete with many and varied styles. And, we really heard them! Someone could break into almost any popular song and others could join in unsurprisingly, including children. Folks did not reject music in minor keys as being too sad!”
“Lately, music industry marketing has succeeded in narrowing our music purchasing to at most a couple of styles and just a few artists and and/or bands.”
“I could, in a music appreciation class, play all kinds of precious music through a great sound system. That “selective deafness” will prevent most, if not all, from getting through. The class may notice lots of it, yet hear none. There is a numbness to melodic and harmonic elements. I am into current pop genres, myself, however there are mainly characterized by their rhythmic elements and timber, not melody and harmony. Timber is the unique character of the sound of a particular instrument, voice, or band.”
“My prayer is that sensibility of the melodic and harmonic elements be regained in our general population. I extol my students to listen with your blood. Open your eyes and hear. Open your ears and see. LISTEN TO THE NIGHT-TIME FALL!”
“Currently I have private students. My fee is on a sliding scale. Also I am helping Sue Anderson at the Jr. High School with her band students. She would like the Jr. High to be a top-notch feeder band for Dan Burch’s fantastic band program at the High School.”
I find great delight in knowing Harvey Schwartz, a master teacher and friend who has dedicated his life to training and teaching the children and adults of Pagosa Springs. We have a national treasure in our own backyard.
“My prayer is that sensibility of the melodic and harmonic elements be regained in our general population. I extol my students to listen with your blood. Open your eyes and hear. Open your ears and see. LISTEN TO THE NIGHT-TIME FALL!”
“Currently I have private students. My fee is on a sliding scale. Also I am helping Sue Anderson at the Jr. High School with her band students. She would like the Jr. High to be a top-notch feeder band for Dan Burch’s fantastic band program at the High School.”
I find great delight in knowing Harvey Schwartz, a master teacher and friend who has dedicated his life to training and teaching the children and adults of Pagosa Springs. We have a national treasure in our own backyard.
Harvy Schwartz Feb 2009