I just saw my high school music teacher shopping

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

No kidding. I ran into her at the supermarket. Of course she didn't remember me. I told her how much her classes meant to me and what I've done over the years, musicially.

This lady is totally steeped in classical music, and she has never even heard of a pedal steel guitar. Frankly, I don't thing she's interested.

But it was a real trip running into her. I'm glad she's still alive.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Russ Wever · From: Kansas City

Mike,

Just a thought, bhy not send the lady one of your CD's . . . it just might 'make her years complete', so to speak, knowing that one of her pupils has 'made a mark' (and that's an understatement!) not only in music, but in the (classical) music that she is so absorbed in.

Whether she actually had 'musical influence' on you or not may be moot, but the chance that it may offer her a nice dose of pride at this time of her life may be the consolation.

~Russ

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

A little off topic here maybe. I was watching an old rerun of You Bet Your Life and there as the contestant was my anthropology teacher from college, Arthur Joquel, when he was a young man. When asked by Groucho what he did for a living he told him that that information was "classified" Then Groucho says: Oh.. you mean I have to look it up in the yellow pages?

[This message was edited by Billy Wilson on 16 August 2006 at 01:39 AM.]

[This message was edited by Billy Wilson on 16 August 2006 at 01:40 AM.]

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Mike, That is a cool story. It does make me feel good running into a school teacher that I had in school years ago. It reminds me of what happened to me this year at the Texas show. I took another young man with me for his first steel show. He told me he thought he saw his fifth grade teacher on the front row. Well, I saw a man that used to live here several years ago and went to visit with him for a brief time. He told me his wife was a teacher in the Houston area and she had come in earlier that day. When I returned to the main room my friend told me he went and met the lady and she was his teacher and she was married to Tim, which was the man I had visited with for a brief time. He had met her in a small town and they got married and moved to Houston. I guess it is a small world after all.

[This message was edited by Paul King on 16 August 2006 at 07:40 PM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Mike
Was the lady Olga Termini? She was my music teacher as well!

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Something similar happened to me a couple of years ago. I was having lunch at a local seafood eatery (btw-the owner loves western swing and plays it all day at the restaurant) and I noticed a familiar face across the room. He had been the assistant band director at the school I attended in 7th and 8th grade. That would have been about 1964 or so. When he finished his lunch he came over to our table and said, "I remember you from many years ago. You were one of my better drummers when I taught at Mercedes Junior High School." He couldn't remember my name, but when I told him it was Lee, he then proceeded to tell me my last name. He was a wonderful music teacher. I couldn't believe he remembered me after all those years.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 16 Aug 2006 6:42 am

Mike, was it a Dan Fogelberg moment?
("Met my old (teacher) in a grocery store, the snow was falling Christmas Eve...")

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Snow in Los Angeles?

Mrs. Termini didn't remember me at all, but then it was over 40 years ago.

It was enough that I remembered and recognised her.
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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 16 August 2006 at 08:39 AM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Leon Grizzard · From: Austin, Texas, USA

I had a similar experience. I saw my college music theory teacher at a concert. I introduced myself afterwards, and told her what a huge influence she was on me. I was really glad I got the chance to that, thirty years after I had been her student.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 16 Aug 2006 9:25 am

Sorry Mike, obviously you're not acquainted with Mr. Fogelberg and/or his music.
My (high school) music teacher was such a square, that I was determined to not let him have any influence on me whatsoever ...

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Be glad she didn't remember you...

I ran into my third grade teacher, who must have been at least 95. She used to bring an autoharp to class, and I was telling her that perhaps that influenced me, and trying to explain the Pedal Steel to her.
She got a funny look in her eye and said, "Say, aren't you the lil' bastid that used to put tacks on my chair?"... and punched me in the eye...

Charles Curtis · Posted 16 Aug 2006 10:39 am

I certainly remember most of my teachers. My dad taught math and science and retired from the profession; when we would go out together he was approached quite often by a former student. He never made a lot of money but he helped a lot of kids along the way.

Mark Lind-Hanson · From: Menlo Park, California, USA

I tried getting in touch with one of mine,
but, recieved no reply. He was one of these old-school jazz-bop bassists and he actually enjoyed a lot of the stuff I brought in to listen to, but as far as treating me on any level footing after my educating-years were done, it was like slapping my head against a wall, regardless whatever flattering compliments I offered I suppose.
C'est la vie.

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

I had a teacher in 4th grade that told me, almost in anger, that I'd never amount to anything in music. After 40 years of playing I'd like to go back and tell her she was wrong, but I reckon she's pushing up daisys by now.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Mike, I think you might be surprised that Olga would like your material.

I had her for Music Fundamentals class, and Humanities. Along with Danny Fefferman and David Elson, two of my picking buddies you no doubt remember, both of whom I'm still in touch with.

My reminiscences were that she was really enthused about me being a performing musician, albeit on mandolin in a bluegrass band, and that she had an open mind on most things artistic.

But, as you say, you didn't get her address. It shouldn't be too difficult to find, however. Ill bet if you contact the LAISD she could be located.

When James Ellroy threw the party for our 1962 John Burroughs Junior High class back in 1999, there were a BUNCH of our old teachers there, and yes... they were old.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Cody Campbell · From: Nashville, Tennessee

Mike,

I'm with Herb and Russ. You should've let her listen to your stuff.

My piano teacher at the university is pretty traditional-minded, too.

Last semester, I happened to find music for the "polka" in an old book I had, and wanted to learn it. So after I'd started on it, I had my teacher listen to the CD I first heard it from.

(There's a tempo drop in your version that sorta threw him off, but besides that I think he really enjoyed your interpretation). He could definitely see how I liked it.

.
.

[About a year earlier, I'd told him how I loved steel. He said that years ago when he was in college, he played in a band (I think he called it a 'dance hall band') and he said they had a steel at one point. When he told me that, I just assumed it was a pedal steel. So his ears may be more open than other teachers].

But still, don't be so sure about Mrs Olga. (Just my suggestion, FWIW).

P.S. You and Herb seem to have a lot in common. (You both took Olga's class, you both played bluegrass mandolin, etc., etc.) Am I right?

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 16 August 2006 at 10:42 PM.]

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 16 August 2006 at 10:45 PM.]

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 16 August 2006 at 10:47 PM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Mike send her the cd.
If she is anyway as good a teacher as you and Herb say,
she will understand the musical effort you put in,
and be gratified her efforts bore fruit,
even if untraditional fruit.

Charlie McDonald · From: out of the blue

I can't imagine an old music teacher not getting a kick out of "The Firebird."
Surely she would think something took after all.

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

OR...One of those people that (oh never mind!!!)