tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post6802119742636437729..comments2024-03-28T12:59:05.739-07:00Comments on Iron Tongue of Midnight: Frances BlaisdellLisa Hirschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-972559210407769152009-12-30T15:13:40.858-08:002009-12-30T15:13:40.858-08:00Thank you, Mary; I love hearing about Miss Blaisde...Thank you, Mary; I love hearing about Miss Blaisdell's career and teaching. Teaching up until the week before she died - wow.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-60378879574224470102009-12-29T17:37:12.885-08:002009-12-29T17:37:12.885-08:00Frances Blaisdell Williams was my teacher for a ye...Frances Blaisdell Williams was my teacher for a year when I was at Red Bank HS. My band director, John Luckenbill, had an arrangement with her which allowed him to choose one student each year to send to Ms. Williams for instruction. I remember a lovely studio, a lamp made from an old wooden flute, and a very kind teacher who made me the best I could be. My high school graduation (not from RBHS) was more than 40 years ago but I still play flute in a community band and in the Boston University Alumni Concert Band. <br /> What an amazing woman she was! Another article I saw mentioned that she taught a week before she died - from her wheelchair and nearly blind. The heavens will welcome her!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01684162973495384666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-34432417652966880832009-09-25T09:17:37.265-07:002009-09-25T09:17:37.265-07:00Thanks!Thanks!Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-27795758799086474662009-09-25T07:38:43.106-07:002009-09-25T07:38:43.106-07:00Lisa, I have written a young reader's blog for...Lisa, I have written a young reader's blog for Frances Blaisdell at Remembering A Name@ blogspot.com.<br />I am always amazed at the individuals who have done so much for use; yet unknown to so many. You may be interested in it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-37649805065941562092009-04-11T09:28:00.000-07:002009-04-11T09:28:00.000-07:00Joanne, thank you so much for that remembrance! Fr...Joanne, thank you so much for that remembrance! From what I've read Tom Nyfenger was a remarkable teacher. That is neat that you also studied with Beverly!! (Whom I haven't seen or heard from in decades...)Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-28823014264711611372009-04-07T22:03:00.000-07:002009-04-07T22:03:00.000-07:00I had the privilege of studying flute with Francis...I had the privilege of studying flute with Francis for 6 yrs when I was a medical student at Stanford from 1977-1983. While I chose my undergraduate school based in part on the flute teacher (Tom Nyfenger and Sam Baron), that wasn't a consideration when I went to medical school. Having the opportunity to study with Francis was an unexpected and absolutely wonderful experience. She was truly an amazing teacher and remains an inspiration to me even 30 years later. ps, I also studied briefly with Beverly Radin when I first got to Stanford!jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423548448122005273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-29107089530958673102009-04-03T18:46:00.000-07:002009-04-03T18:46:00.000-07:00It was so long ago and I'm not an expert on flute ...It was so long ago and I'm not an expert on flute playing, so I think I'll pass on trying to describe it. But it was a wonderful experience for me.Andrew Paunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-13193075425656542162009-04-02T09:30:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:30:00.000-07:00Thanks, Andrew! What was her playing like?Thanks, Andrew! What was her playing like?Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-38012906006329113972009-04-01T06:01:00.000-07:002009-04-01T06:01:00.000-07:00I accompanied many of Frances's students when I we...I accompanied many of Frances's students when I went to Stanford in the late 1980's. I also played with her once (Gluck's "Dance of the Blessed Spirits") when she presented an evening of music, reminiscences, and anecdotes. She invited a group of us to dinner at her house once. Her husband was principal clarinet in the NY Phil and regaled us with stories of playing under Toscanini, etc. It was a fantastic evening. <BR/><BR/>Frances was an inspirational teacher and human being, and I was greatly saddened to hear of her passing. I regret not keeping in touch with her after graduation, but that's life.Andrew Paunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-320499686052137802009-04-01T03:55:00.000-07:002009-04-01T03:55:00.000-07:00anzu, yes. Moved there as a child in 1965, graduat...anzu, yes. Moved there as a child in 1965, graduated from Teaneck High, lived there intermittently during college and grad school. My mom only left in 2006, when she moved to a retirement place near me in Oakland, CA.<BR/><BR/>Paul, yep. Although in my time, at least, the flute seemed stuck in early 20th c. French style playing. I read part of an interview with Robert Dick about how he got out of that particular trap. I have been out of flute playing for so long that I don't have a clear idea of whether flute playing has changed much.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-91646172963484055132009-03-31T14:44:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:44:00.000-07:00I grew up in River Edge, and took up the trumpet a...I grew up in River Edge, and took up the trumpet at about the same age. Went looking for a teacher and had better luck: I studied with Ed Treutel for 3 years. He was from Leonia, played in the NY City Center Opera orchestra and taught at Julliard. He died in 1997 at age 84.<BR/><BR/>I was just some kid he taught after hours, but it is amazing how influential people like Frances Blaisdell and Ed Treutel have been.<BR/><BR/>My biggest regret is that I never asked him about Miles Davis....Paul H. Mullernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-27726399772375044222009-03-31T13:12:00.000-07:002009-03-31T13:12:00.000-07:00Wow. You are from Teaneck? Small world. My back ya...Wow. You are from Teaneck? Small world. My back yard was practically in Teaneck. I used to live in Bergenfield, though I don't know if at the same time.anzuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00435743221183393781noreply@blogger.com