Mrs. Barrus:

PANEL DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE MUSICAL HERITAGE PRESENTATION AT ASHTON March 29

Panelists: Mr. Lynn Hossner. Mr. Delber McFadden, Mrs. Jolene Parkinson and Mrs. Florence Van Deusen.

Mrs. Van Deusen would you like to come back and comment on that. "The

value of a family in developing music in the community."

Mrs. VandeusenI think it is most impirtant. If the mother and father are not interested

Mrs. Barrus

in music the students are not going to be, and I think the family is the

most important. I would like to take this opportunity to say the one

reason we do not have orchestras around here any more , nor do we have

violin students - is the lack of violin teachers.

I am sure that is the real problem. But we do have a way to correct that

have-i:ftl)t we. Thank you. Jolene wc,uld you like to add to that?

Jolene Parkinson - Well in my case the family was all important because I had a musical family.

Mrs. Barrus

Mr. Neubauer

My father played the mouth organ,my mother the piano and guitar and all my

sisters played the piano and the mandolin. In fact there was 5 or 6 of us

taking lessons at one time. And that is a lot of piano playing in one

family. We get together when we have reunions and things likE this and music

is definitely a part of our lives. Coming to Ashton my was the

first one to meet you at the church door and put me to work, and I have

been working in music ever since, and without this musical heritage I would

not be as happy as I am right now - working with music and also in the

schools with the children too.

Well thank you Jolene. Anyone from the audience that would like to comment

on this? I am sure you all have feelings about it. Mr . Neubauer would

you like to stand and add something to what has already been said.

It is pretty hard to add much to what has been said - music just sets a mood

for a person and it is a part of life that becomes a constant thing - there

Me.

Mrs. B

-5-

o oe called upon aa=Til5at'bi

They say a mark of a good musician is the ability to ab-lib or to be called

upon ad-liblatbly I guess. One that is able to ad-lib is called upon ' ,0 ,vv,.,{;/ ,I.hp ;, ><Af /..,..,...,..',A ,/4-.I rn I , • ,

Of course this'�s true in every question that Mrs. Barrus has directed toward

the panel. They of course are all from different walks of life, and music r<-,(

does play an important part�or it has played a part in their lives and they1,e,,,, .. ().M.Ji-U.t-c/4 ,,z,v") tt, - �

would have a definite�encouraging word Aabout music,�n all the work that Mrs.a,,.-.£.\ /V--- � ,v.) ,;.,,_,,_.,._

Barrus has gone to, I am sure anyonerw�· hereAthis evening is here specifical,l I ./ ,; l,7

t (;I\...( M,).J'-U�, for this purpose - to just see what it is about music and� heritage"and

its importance to make them come out and see something like this 1 and see

history. It is something I think that is very very important. You talk }vv'-" �·."

about how important is an audience, well, I would have liked to se,e- this

auditorium S�O (Standing room only) I think it is an outstanding , fantastic

program that Mrs. Barrus has brought and Mrs. Barrus has gone to an enormous

amount of wrk as have many people in our own community and it is something �.(...iX /: 'L I � .... ·�<...,

I-.• _.

we can be very very proud of - �s just a speck of this musical Heritage 7,\. tc,vf'

"'

J\N �\;_ \,

makes me feel proud. Even tho, perhaps 13 years is not very 1-tiuch, It may not seerN\

seems like a lot to me. I think oabout music

)J.--A.. like much to some people, but it

in our schools and in

would hang on to - I

would have to be cut.

talking to

think it is

This is my

our administratorsJis something that they , U·- .-.r-{,...,_J Lc-.-• ...1 (;.-, ;::.. �. 1- J \

something or one of the last thing� they (/'v,J-()JJJJ �--1"'). ,, v--'L/ (/.J. t,, '-' •

own belief, I ��---that if �r

measures were ever taken it would be up to the community. Because this is

a public school system, to voice an opinion. And I think that music is -�J,,--N--J/4YJ

important enough to all of us , that if steps� taken� p blic opinion

would soon come out and we would find out just where everyone stands on this

,4,IY"V-< \J '· � d I'm here, iam expendable�too, but I want everyone to know I stand 100% support/

of by no means decreasing the means or by taking a back seat to what it should

be. I hope 1� c c • ,

Thank you - I appreciate that - I know it is getting late - did you want to say something

- t

, ..

?????

Mrs. Barrus

Me?

Mrs. Barrus

-6-

I would just like to say on support, when you mention support. We have found

out that is is taught in elementary and high schools so it is well spread f _ L,/J � t,_ I j, c , �' I ! , /1-,.,.1 , ,._ Ma�--..,•

as far as the teaching program is concerned.,\ �f.,the elementary we have very · '1..,;l,_"-1

good interest. In the junior High band, _.I went in one day and it was very (..;oi'?- ;,v,-:.i .J),0, 1

strong and very active, and then as the students�get involved in so many other\

activities that sometimes they draw away from the band and other music area

and when they get away from school they say oh why did'nt I stay with the I

, I ' ,\...( ...

and or with music. I feel there/�ill.<,'r be some way, that we as parents need

to encourage them over this little period of time when they feel like there

are other things that are more important, because music is one thing that

'\ \; 1',� .--0 � "-..AJ,,.&i�will last throughout their lives

�In other areas it would be this year and

1 .

that year but not be lasting ' .., ·v;,. (.( .,

'thank you, - mabe just one more comment - Yes?

Mabe we could solve the question if the 1% initative came down. What we sho¥ilid

do is to retain athletic directors in our school system who have musical

background - like Mrs. Van Deusen had when she said she got the job . And

1 whe,n the at�

. le tic difectors b�c,ame disenchannte,d with the athle tic people

I!·• ,. '/1, l! ,1 · ., �-• }\ A.)·,-h,• t,-.,.(lv ·/ I• /Vh A-,y ,i,t,,-• 't

/...,-,t,r�e would be able to have a strong music program. And that we wpi;d

I •

have a large group of musicians and they would be ready to spring into action

to take forth our musical programs that we need in our scholls \,vv � This is interesting, I am going to roberts next week and � · Sanders out

there is the basket ball coach and also directs the band. He hurries up

and gets his basket ball team on the floor - and then while they are out

taking a breather he directs the band and then hurries back to his team.

So it is possible . Well I really appreciate this panel and lets give them a hand

,..

, cJ ,, ..

Mrs. Barrus

Conclusion:

I do appreciate this panel - lets give them a hand, With you1I can feel pride

in your musical heritage that has been made possibel by high dreams and I&io-1\ �v

sacrifice and unity of effort. Iknow as we have reviewed to gether references

to your musical past that you have also caught a vision of a great musical

future. Bi.:.t to have it, i am sure you realize we must intensify our dreams/

make sacrifice1

and work together to accomplish this. A culture cannont

feast on itsself. Each generation must creat anew its, own future, thru its

own vision! and its own labor.

with a sense of history and another

a great educator said that wt must live ( _:._}vv•.A.c� \

great educator said. "A powerful and

L.J\,c,--t-<J\,.,,,

abiding spirit rests over the work of searching the records �the history

of those that have gone -before. f 1 /)ft.1.,<.,

Uj,i

L{ ' ' h I e t av�· ,- spirit ere tonite, I .

renewed and challenged by it and I hope we can unite together to insure�'-

our posterity wi J J. h2i!� rich musical and cultural future,

Mrs. Barrus

Mr. Lo

Mrs. Barrus

Me.

Mrs .B

Mr.

Mrs. B

-2-

something that comes from the heart is something deep down in the soul. and

families of course maintains that continually and so 1.n, { ... . ·. , I \,. r l I I.. . ('

Very good, thank you. We have all heard, you just finished with a very trying

basket ball game. How did you north Fremont students do. one just got back

and

r ./. , -Mr. J--, 11' you have a very good band and they play well and these folks are

_,t;,' tO!"'>v .::, . �"',<1.-ce too, now how Your basket ball just

important is an Audience an /Audience to ;\;,got thru and we are ecited �bout that � \,� ' '\ ... _

r-

1 ,v \

Mabe I can respond the way my wife responds, she� in quite a few places,

and if the audience is responding she responds to the audience and you get

/1/.4 Ju./ a much better�pe:r-fonrran�e. As long as you have an audience that is interested �'-'._,.,(.,. ,_;i,.n.t.&.r�G and listening to the performer and is enjoying it. An audience is

very important to the performer and thaw well they perform. Th e performer

can actually feel the audience and as the feeling is going either emphany, I

know with me it would be sympathy but it is enevably with the performer

they enjoy the musical touch one with another. Newbower says music is smmething

you feel and you can feel it as an audience and the performer also feels it ·' ,,

the same way and they sort of join in that.\ feeli�·g. ,. ,.) '\ ,,_;,., '

Now, do you have this auditorium filled when you '\,,�v

have ·'productions , u cl,, \

here?

for high school - do you have the full support w hen you have a production here.

Well,, we do have it pretty well filled, they do support us.

Well that is good, that is prob'ably the reason you have such a great band. fu-·'­

�-

We do have a problem, Mr ')

) and I worked on it and I in conflicting , .... l" I

" \? ,,..h ' ' band and we are

...,.,,u'\ schedules, seems like we have problems with scheduling' t-he

trying to correct that so we do not put them on low ebb, because we feel that

it is very important - music is a real necessity.

Well, you are fortunate to have a listener here who is supporting that beca,use.:. ,...,. (I h . ,:f J:, 1' ; •• 1.: i_}Jt;· . V\ 1 ..{;.').- .l·.'h ... . \o

if you can take that b2.sket ball game and they are there yelling hand supporting

that basket ball player. You need that same kind of support here.

~ I V \~v-" \ I I I

Panel - Following Musical Heritage Presentation at Ashton March 29

Panelists: Mr. Lynn Hossner, Mr. Delber McFadden, Mrs. Jolene Parkinson & Mrs.Florence van deusen

Mrs. p./)rus: Mrs. Van Deusen would _:you like to come back and comment on that. "The

value of a family in developing music in the community.

Mrs. Van Deusen I think it is most important. If the mother and father are not interested

Mrs. Barrus

Jolenelonge

Mrs. Barrus

1r. Neubar

in music the students are not going to be/

and I think the family is the most

important. I would like to take this opp'ortuni ty to say th�;;:;;m we do not -- I

� �ui ,,,,1/r have orchestras around here �more or any violins .]3±cryeTs is the lack of a

violin teachers.

I am sure that is the real problem. � Jo we have <iH.'· way to correct that haven't

.&,_wl' ·ii we. Jolene would you like to add to that?

important because I had a musical family and my father played the mouth organ,

. and guitar . . . my mother the piano and aLl my sisters played the piano and the mandolin

f)'<-.".}·In fact there was 5 or 6 of us aH taking lessonsat � time. And that is

a lot of Piano playing in one familyas we got to gether and when we have f

reunions and things like this, music is definitely a part of our lives and

coming into Ashton �y

l\ 11)1 <N --i,,, i_._...:,.JL

was the first one to meet you at the church

door/and I have been working in music ever since and without this musical

heritage I would not be as happy as I am rite now - working with music and

also in the schools with the children too.

Well thank you Colene. Anyone from the audience that would like to comment on

this? I am sure you all have feelings about it. Mr �ue would you like

to stand and add something to what has already been said

It is pretty hard to add much to what has been said - Music just--meves a person

) ' _l, t 'and it is a parrt of life that becomes a constant sort of thing - there is a

song that says "without a son�' the day would never

and this sort of thing. It certainly does apply to

end, the road would never bend

the small things. It is

Mr. I am sure that we all enjoyed this presentation. It has been my experience

in trying to get community groups to sing. You first, must have a place to

sing, if you don't have an inspiring audience you do not get much out of

your group. Now, we did not give the group we had to night very much

inspiration - but their anticipation that we were going to be big made them

put forth a real effort and we appreciated that fine presentation. Now

we are happy for Max and for Marvin and especially for Mrs. Barrus'

presentation. She is a fund of information and thae people that made that

information enjoyed life. I don't believe there is a soul in this congregation

that has'nt participated in music some waya· and without participation you

don't get much enjoyment. You can come and watch the dancers dance but it is

a lot more fun to dance. You can come and hear them sing, but it is a lot

more fun to sing. I am sure you appreciate this presentation here to night

and I want to thank Mrs. Barrus for the time she has put in on this. And I

am sure you would like to make a show. We enjoyed thru the years, and it is

a great privilege thru the years to listen to the music that fu�a been

produced in our valley. There are a lot of good musical groups and they have

made us happy during the years. I think of this family here

if we need some music, we call on them they can do it and you might go to

many other families. But now, le� give Mrs. Barrus another hand and then we

will ask Wm. Dick to come down and give the benidiction.

Mr. Rosser

Ruth Barrus

-3-

You need an audience here to help you. Mr. Rosser

In the type of business that I am in, of course I perform at least once a week f-<--( . �/.r·I Ct, f !

/Vi,,._ "}-v--1.-(

before at least 6 or 12 of you people ane-� am before the jurors. Adn I think�

probably what you have to do in speaking of audiences, whether you are talking

to a jury or a small group. "How important is the audience?" Well Ibelieve

before you can look at the audience, you have to look at yourself and say

how important is what I am trying to present to this group of people I am

going to be presenting it to. I think the mark of a good performer is

No. 1. Assess what his audience is going to be and then rek."i.ews his notes and

his music so that when he gets up on the stage that he is playing to the type

of people he has out there and how can the audience help that performer?

One fact is that the audience cannot help that performer unless that performer

is helping the audience. Not only is the performer talented but he is choosing

his music, choosing his words, choosing his program to appeal to that

particular audience. If the performer has done that job well, then I believe

the audiencewill respond well. I recall one of the first jury trilas I had

when one of the jurymen put up his hand and disagreed very violently with what

I was saying in my closing argument. Many ti mes I have been to a program,

where a musical program has been presented and I have wanted to stand up in

the audience and say you are directi ng music to an audience who does not ,,

I ;).t./,�j 'r"�I .,\ .,,.

, . .

appreciate it, because it is1,the type ·of� music that is acceptable

by this audience . And in choosing in what you are presenting, you are helping

the audience, and then the audience will respong to that, and it will be

�,J_�, very respoi:.-re and very quiet and you will get an emphathy to that back and forth and as an audience we get caught up in the feeling.

Thank you mr Rosser. Mrs. would you like to comment on that.?

Mrs. \..

Mrs. Barrus

Mrs VanDeusen

Mrs. Barrus

Ron

I'\ . ' 'I ·

'" ,.

u!)/ -4-

I would like to mention that a music talent can be very practical.

if it had not beeN for the fact that I could play the piano, I never would ,,.,,-.-...t·' 1,. .• ' �

have gotten i:A.is teaching job. The jobs were hard to get at that time,

but the principal of the school needed an accompanist, and so I got the job. 1, ,, . ,f

0 JJ � .) .r,Y'-

.I

, Thank ·you, I have heard more thatn one pricipal say, that w J-en I am :liir.i..iig some f ,

one, I like to get some one who is involved in music.

Well, I do think the audience is very important, most of the concerts I have

attended have been piano - where my daughter participated - recitals - and

that is one type of music that is very hard for an audience to appreciat

unless they understand how much work goes into piano playing.

And if they only understood how the whispers detract from the artist and

the listeners, I am sure they would refrain from whispering. We have a tr/ ' (., \,.,j.} (' ..

production that first or 2nd grade often enters in - we have done this for at

least 10 or 15 years, and just for example. When we put it on for the school, ·,),l ••l'lt I, /ti' ......... I

for the grade school children, they are not often attentive, but when we put

it on for the parents the children just come through with flying colors. so

therefore you can tell, that the audience does, have a lot to do with the

performance.

, thank you, I reall appreciate that. Now just one more question, and I would

liek to hear the comments about it, bEcause we are entering a crital time in I

,VJ Cj t t • 1 ·1

our valley because of the 1% initative and the tight budget and t!cte- result.

What is going to happen in our schools programs. It is a feal concern and A ;.y-J../-� -'V � ,t.J c.,;,"'- o�} � f"'- vi,,

I illU sure your superintendent is looking aftedyourl situation and doing all

he can to squeeze out from his budget. But how can we as a community support

the music programs and I think you can tell us that better a than anyone.

Mr/ I think that Ron can respond to that better than any body

I think support is one of the major factors tbat we are looking at, support and

interest./ It might be a little bit of lack of interest �hat could be causi�

the problems here.

Mr.

Ron

Mr.

-5-

progr�ms? It is a real concern and I am sure your supertindent is looking

after every value he can squeeze out for his budget. I am sure he is

doing all he can for your situation here. But how can we as a community

support the music programs , and I think you can tell us better than anyone

Mr.

I think that Ron and respond to that better than anybody.

I think support is one of the major factors that we are looking at, support

and interest. It might be a little bit of lack of interest that could

be causing the problems here.

They say a mark of a good musician is the ability to ad-lib or to be called

on ad-libally I guess. One that is able to Ad-lib is called upon, of course

this is my life "music" is true of every question that Mrs. Barrus has

directed toward the panel. Theyo�rcourse are all from different walks of life,

and music does play an important part, or has played an important part in

their lives and they would have definite, encouraging word to say about music.

In all the work that Mrs. Barrus has gone to, I am sure anyone who is here

this evening is here, specifically for this purpose - to just see what it is

about music and the heritage of music in this valley. It is important, to make

them come out and see sonething like this - and see the history. It is

something that I think is very very important. You talk about (how important

is an audience), well, I would have liked to have seen this auditorium

SRO (standing room only) I think it is an outstanding, fantastic program

that Mrs. Barrus has brought. And Mrs. Barrus has gone to an enormous

amount of work as have many people in our own community, and it is something

we can be very very proud of - just to see. To be mentioned - just a speck

of this musical heritage makes me feel proud. Even tho perhaps 13 years in

a little town is not very much.

seems like a lot to me.

It may not seem much to some people, but it

I think about music in our schools and in talking to our administrators

Ruth Barrus

-4-

not the type of people or music that is acceptable by this audience. And

in choosing what you are presenting, you are helping the audience, and then

.the audience will respond to that, and it will be very attentive and very

quiet and you will get the empathy to that back and forth and as the audience

gets caught up in the feeling.

Thank you Mr. Hosser. Mr. Van Deusen would you like to comment on that?

Mrs. Van Deusen I would like to mention that a music talent can be very special. If it

Mrs. Barrus

Mrs.

Mrs. Barrus

had not been for the fact that I could play the piano, I never would have

gotten my first teaching job. The jobs were hard to get at that time, but

the principal of the school where I applied, needed an accompanist, and so I

got the job.

Verg good- thank you. I have heard more than one principal say - in looking

over the applications "I like to get someone who is involved in music."

Well, I do think the audience is very important, most of the concerts I

have attended have been piano - where my daughter participated - recitals

and that is one type of music that is very hard for an audience to appreciate

unless they understand how much work goes into piano playing. And if

they only understood how the whispers detract from the artist,and the

listeners I am sure they would refrain from whispering. We have a production,

first and second grade operettas often enter in. We have done this for at

least 10 or 15 years, and just for example. When we put on the production

for the school, for the grade school children, they are not very attentive -

and the performance is not too good. But the night performance when the

parents come - the children come through with flying colors. T herefore you

can tell, that the audience does have a lot to do with the performance.

Thank you, I really do appreciate that. Now, just one more question and I

would like to hear comments about it, because we are entering a critical

time in our valley. Because of the 1% initative and the tight budget,

what is going to be the result? What is going to happen in our school

Mr.

Mr. Barrus

Mr. Hosser

-3-

We do have a problem Mr. and I worked on it and it is in

conflicting schedules. seems like we have problems with scheduling with the

band and our productions - we are trying to correct that so we do not put a

low ebb, because we feel that it is very important - music is a real necessity.

Well - you are fortuante to have a listener here who is supporting that,

because if you can take that basket ball game and they are yelling and it is

pushing the players to do better and is supporting that basket ball team. You

need that same kind of support here. You need an audience here to help you.

Mr. Hosser

In the tyo-e of business that I am in, of course I perform at least once

a week before at least from 6 to 12 people in my occupation I am before the

jurors. And I think what you have to do in thinking of audiences, whether

you aretalking to a jury or a small group or large group. "How important

is the audience?" Well, I believe that before you look at the audience

you have to look at yourself and say "how important is what I am trying

to present to this group of people that I am going to present it to?" I

think the mark of a good performer is Number one. Assess what his audience

is going to be, and then, review his notes or his music so that when he gets

up on the stage that he is lpaying to the type he has out there - and how can

the audience help that performer? One fact is that the audience cannot

help the performer unless that performer is helping the audience. Nont only

is the performer talented, but he is choosing his music, choosing his words,

choosing his program to appeal to that particular audience. If the performer

has done that job well, then I believe the audience will respond well. I

recall one of the first jury trials I had, when one of the jurymen put up

his hand and disagreed very violently with what I was saying in my closing

argument. Many time I have been to a program, where a musical program has

been presented and I have wanted to stand up in the audience and say "you

are directing music to an audience who do not appreciate it, because it is

Mrs. Barrus

Mr.

Mrs. Barrus

Mr.

Mrs. Barrus

-2-

is a song that says -"without a song - the day would never end- the road

would never bend " and this sort of thing. It certainly does apply to the

small things. It is something that comes from the heart - something deep

down in the soul, and families of course maintains that continually and so

we live in music.

Very good, thank you. We have all heard, you just finished with a very

trying basket ball game. How did you North Fremont students do?

Mr. you have a very good band and they play well and these folks

are sensitive too, now, how important is an audience to stimulate a performance/

The basket ball game just finished, and you were excited about that.

Mabe I can respond the way my wife responds, she sings in quite a few places,

and if the audience is responding seh responds to the audience and you get

a much better production. As; ong as you have an audience that is interested

and interesting and listening to the performer and is enjoying it. An

audience is very important to the oerfirmer and they will perform. The

performer can actually feel the audience and as the feeling is going either

empathy , know with me it would be sympathy) but it is inevitable with the

performer - they enjoy the musical touch one wit h another. Newbouer says

music is something you fee, and you can feel it in an audience and the

performer also feels it the same way and they sort of join in that very

unique feeling.

Now - do you have this auditorium filled when you have musical productions here?

for high school? - do you have the full support when you other productions here?

Well - we do have it pretty well filled, they do support us.

That is good, that is probably one reason you have such a good band.

#2

#1

#1

#1

#2

#2

#2

_/ -

We have a complete record of the ward. When people were baptised and

and kids blessing and - it went all the way thu the Clawson ward and them"-'

the Driggs ward. We have had a lot of fun with it. Went up here to the old

Teton Valley news - back in 1910 and read about building the high school

at that time. So they had some pretty heated discussions at that time,

When was the high school built?

Mother get the year book please - /y;i

Who were some of the music men they had here in the valley

Well, Ervin Roberts, you know the guy that played the violin.Now he was a transport I,-

I think he was a brother to Finlan from Victor. Now he lived in Victor then, the

old Robinson place. Yes. Then after him there was cleon Delby and then Delbert

Dixon or I guess it was Delmar Dixon.

Now this was the first graduating class out of this building, out of Teton High

School in fact I don't think there was anyother g�aduating class in the valley

before that. I went to school, I took my third year high school in provo and that

is the year we moved our family down he-:re and Karl was born there , our youngest

boy, my brother, my youngest brother was born in 13 & 14 and the I come back the

,;} next year and this is the year that school was held in this high school building.

That was 1915-1916was when you had the first school in this new building.

Now there was school before then, there was a high school, but it was held in different

places. The first one was held over the Teton Valley supply company, that is where G1-(iV-tJ,,_,.,.

the rock building was on the corner, then it was also held over in the Frank Stone d:/r;\).,/IIV

Store, �n the street where the is now, that was a wooden building before

they built the brick building - then it was held over and above the bank too and

then it was held up in the Stake office.

Iremember when it was held

vJ.,IJ · H was Ebeneezer Beesley ?

on theake Office. ,,v'

He J::1Xfa the old Beesley hall her.Z but is he the one who

wrote the song that the Tabernacle choir sing. their theme song "Gently Raise the

sacred Strain" or was it his son or who.

#1 I"m sure it was not him, it was some of his relations, I think his dad .. or some

relation. • I ( ,,,·, ,

I

\ i /_

, '

~ .,) l .. ..., .. ,., J L ....

-2-

#2 Who was �a����CrOowming -�1�

#1 He was the first principal of the high school, in that building we looked at or

Mother ? was he principal before we moved into the rock building? No, I dont think

he was, he was first principal in the new building.

#2 I was looking in this book

He was the principal when I graduated from High School. He was one great man and

he lived ritE there - he had quite a large family - He lived in Welfare pravilion

I across from the hospital. there was Cle1on, and yle and Donetta and Ella & Doris.

#2 Was it his son or his brothers that were music teachers here?�

#1 Well it was his son Cleon, & then Cleans boys both taught, one of them Max is now at

Logan .

#2 Then where does J.F.Driggs come in

#1 �is name was James F. Driggs, and he was the music teacher when the high school was

#2

in the top of the drug store building. He also ran an music store and sold pianos

and he also ran the post office down w here Earl Larsons service station and store

is now. He was one of my first music teachers, I took piano lessons from him.

Now he married, who did he marry? I think he married someone from here in the valley

and that they teamed up and

#2 illrHe married Maude Pratt, I guess she has relatives here in the valley but she

came from Salt {ake .James Driggs came from Salt Lake he was a brother of Bob Driggs

- the father of young Bob here.

What about Thomas Driggs That is Lawrences he had a lot to do with music here

did'nt he, but I don't know just how he fit in - he wrote some of the hymns that

we sing in church. Who was the father of Lawrence. -

#1 The Custodian L.P. D�iggs - he was the brother to Fed and George and Kate.

She married Ed Hartman - he ran the lumber company here in Driggs.

#2 SAfter the Dalbys left who took over the music?

Ji

-3-

#1 After the Dalbys left it wasDelmar Dixon. Then it wasSlack took over in 1925

and and he was here until about 67 some 42 years

#2 When did the Victor High School get started, do you have any idea,� it about the

same time was it not.

#1 I think it got started about the same time - there was a lot of them went to Victor.

They had four years school up there. A. L. Gifford was the music teacher

there for a year or so but I �ont know who preceded him. Tom Chiney was the

principal up there

#2 In a 1948 year book it had W. H. (Walter H Durin was the first, he was the English

#2

teacher and the only high schoilil teacher they had in 1911. Then in 1912 and 1913

they had two teachers

They had a German teacher by the name of Warner- I took 2 years of German and then

I went to the "Y" and took 2 years of German at the Y. Now there was the principal

Ezra Dalton and here isAnton Nickelson Madiso0- that was his wife

and then there was and J. R. Mon he taught quite awhile.

Now the first graduating clliass was Nyal Fdinondso� Cory Young and my self the 3

of us. T here was Mary and George & Jess Edmundson - they had a big family - now

that was 1915-16. Is this your junior class? Brian Fullmer amd KelleyBarnworth

#1 and Madison, Edna Floyd andRoy Stone/

Lester Henry.Roy Sto$Vand Les Hen�y

and I went to the Y and batched one year thJg� 1917 and my freshman year at the "Y

tnat was jus t before the war broke out and I had a chance to make my letter in Base

ball and they did away with baseball on account of the war.

#2 Here I see Albert HMghet, earl Carlson ,Isabell Wilson,� Fullme�George Wadell

I guess the Wadell's had quite a lot to do with the music here in the valley

#1 Yes they did and the Rigby's - Bud Rigby or Elmer Rigby, the Greens up there and

Fred Morgan - he was a leader, ./ . .' �

·' • ' , .~~ j • l

1

#2

#3

#3

#3

#2

#1

#2

'

-4-

Was the first school teacher when he came in 1903.

I didn't think he was that old. He was principal of the high school and was there

1.R Y.,oJv for several years .. Noel Norton and Lamar

) (

Holms . that was 1937, ,mavc ... Holms was

1 h \ "(-,, ' on y ere a year.

There was Stoddard, Stoddard was here

They used to have a lot of competition in band , and do you remember when we used

to pull the old stand down the streetand have the band playing - he got action and

people got behind him too - and they were happier too, everybody in school was

in the band you know. And the boy scouts - all four of our kids.

He was like a second father to me, - I wrote to him and sent him one of these

questionaires and he is still going. He is the Stake Choirister and his wife

is the organist and they go over and practise each day.

I thought while he was still around I would like to express my appreciation to

him for what he had done for my family - I wrote him and I wrote him a long letter

and told him, and told him there would never be another In our family.

In 1958 and I took music to both ends of the valley and he took it here

in Driggs. You know after they consolidated and had us come into Driggs I

dont know how that man ever did it. He traveled to each of those schools and carried

anon a program for them and he built his bands and he built his choruses and after

I had tried doing.that and they needed me elsewhere and put me to teaching English <

and I can tell a difference in the music program we had him teaching.

When did Croft get started on theis Cantata of hi.s "These Days"

do you remember the year. He did it wten we were in high school, He started in

1925 and so it would be - little later than that. It was too bad they dropped

that - the people that had the parts came back year after year after year. It

was a great event.

The choirs they used to have were really something. We practised and practised

9/v until they were nearly perfect before we prepormed -�ow it seems like we sing it

a few times and they say - that sounds good enoughred Morgan and Jim Briggs would

not present a number unless it WAS G OO D.

Panel Discussion - Rexburg Presentation November 3. 1978.

Sister Barrus: Now I would like you to feel the few minutes we are together as a panel

here, free to speak, and if you have something to say, don't just sit here. Speak

up or raise your hand and lets hear from you. Maybe you can provoke some question or

answer that we·, ,would like to hear. I am going to pose a question and we wont

answer it here, but I think we should think, and ask ourselves often "What would

our community be like to day if our musical heritage and never existed." "how would

such a loss affect your life?' It would only take one generation to fail this

responsibility of musical training and development to lose it entirely .

Question: How important is family, in the development of our musical culture, is

sacrificing necessary? - are high goals necessary to our future?" Would you like to

start that Dr. Sorenson.

Dr. Sorenson: Well the thing that comes to mind as I respond, here I see LaMar Senior,

sitting down there and the sacrificees he made so that LaMar Junior could sit up

here on the panel tonight. 1 am reminded of a story of how LaMar had a choice of

either getting up at five oclock to milk the cows or getting up at five o'clock in

the morning to practose violin - this was a tough decision . Early in the morning

you could hear the strains from the violin coming out of the window. I would keep

working doing the chores, and if the music stopped LaMar would have to come out and

do chores. But because of that, I don't know how many years it went on, but my life

has been blessed enourmously simply by LaMar, and perhaps his dad had more to do with

that than LaMar himslef. I think love and dedication to family heled enourmously .....

Sister Barrus: Thank you Dr. Sorenson. Mrs. would you like to comment?

How important is the family in the musical culture?

Mrs. Well, I think that is where it all begins. I think we do sacrifice

at times, and in financial, and I think the biggest sacrifice is in partiece.

-2-

Sister Barrus: Would you like to cojment a little bit about the goals and that nasty

Mrs.

word "discipline" isit important too?.

I would like to say something about LaMar. I remember going to take

my piano lessons and hearing him up stairs practising his violin. But I think we

must have high goals, to get where we want to go, my mother was a lover of music, and

she was so desirious of me- to succeed in music and she used to(I am almost ashamed

to say this) "she woud eash the dishes" so I would practise." I think many of us

have done this, but I am so greaeful to her for this because we have to have the

support of our parents and we as parents have to support our children ia we want them

to succeed in music.

Sister Barrus: Bro. Porter, would you like to comment on this?

Brother Porter: First of all I would like to say I was in that first operetta that was

shown here. As I look at these pictures here tonight I could

could'nt help but think of many of the families , and many of the activities that

were shown in those families and many of the activities that were shown in those

families. And I remembered ,as I was growing up in Rexburg and the things we did

together, there was the Naduald boys - don't know how many of you know them, but

there was an awful lot of them , and they were in a lot of trouble all the time,

but one thing they did as a family - they had musical experiences. They could

all play several instruments ana they could all play by notes . When we were in

high school together we all played in that orchestra which Ruth showed, and it

looks a lot better in the picture than it sounds. But I think those are some of

the things we are missing now. Ruth and I have discussed a time or two, when Ricks

College used to put on operas and operettas and Harry Dean would take students and

town people who were taking lessons and almost before they were ready he would be

sure and put them in the orchestra or wherever, and they had an experiencP., and

maybe they do that now and I just don't hear about it, but I think those are the

things we miss now.

-3-

Sister Barrus: Thank you Mr. Porter, yes, Mr.

Mr. Now we live in the age of the spectator sport - and you know the

mass media has been a great blessing in our lives and it has also been a great

curse in our lives: because, it has allowed the finer things , the fine honor and

the worst honors to come to us with the flick of a switch - wothout any effort at

all on our part and as G says in his great drama Faust "Man cease to do

the level" he wants to lie down and take it easy and we certainly do the - we want

sombody else to provide our entertainment. One of the things I remember from my

earliest childhood is, or something like our family home evenings. Those cosisted of

Mama making all of us kids perform every sunday for all our grandpargents and all

the rest of the family, and you know we did'nt like it too much at the time,

although I think we really did . But it was the greatest training that we ever had,

and we made our own home entertainment. I don't know how we are going to find it

today because the problems are a hundred times worse than they were then, but it

certainly is a great challenge and we hope that we have to do it.

Sister Barrus: Thank you.

There are two concerns that I feel are critical

and yet they are challenges, and some way I would like to get some responses. Bro Carter,

do you remember when you went to Ricks College, and there was about one hundred and

fifty students at Ricks College, and how we used to have recitals and bands and the

community and the college were one, there was no separation. There was enthusian

and a cheering on of Ricks students by the corrununity , and they noticed this adult

response and this adult encouragement, and you know how exciting it was. Now lets

see, they both have grown, we have the community here, and the Ricks College over

here, and we have little unity now of purpose and response as before in regard to our

many cultural events here. Do you have some answer that we could talk about here,

something we could bring out and help to make this unity and help to make the

community an important part of the college and the college an important part of

-4-

the community. Would you like to comment on that for us?

The one thing that I think would help is wh:=:n we get the old Tabernacle

restored. There will be a stage there, and there will be a community auditotium

there, that we can not only have school activities there but the college also.

Plan to have activities there - it will be a community facility, that is one thing

that is missing now. When was here he used to have all the

Messiah rehersals down in the Tabernacle and that is where it would be presented.

The problem is that the community has grown and of course the college has brown

tremendously to the point where they have plenty of talent, ple¥ � of students with

probably a lot better talent than most people in the community, and so there is no

facility where people can get together and take part and cooperate like they used

to do. But I think this tabernacle program will help us there.

Sister Barrus: Thank you, that is exciting to me and I appreciate that.

---1 I certainly agree that community and college are a two way street, each have

t,:.:: give ,and it is easy to get wrapped up in your little world and we ar:, so busy

today. There are so many th:: .. ngs going on, my goodness, tometimes you just wonder

when you are going to see your family again. You have so many things going on iL

church and then community and school . I think the Tabernacle definitely is going

to be a great step forward . I am so excited about the beautirul building and the

marvelous acoustics and the great potential that jt gives us and I think what we

need to do now, is join as college and community leaders in planning out and

charting a path that will be of benefit to everyone.

finding out what is needed and how to get it done.

I think it is a matter of

Sister Barrus: Thank you. Dr. Sorenson, would you care to comment on this?

Dr. Screnson : Well I was just thinking that , years p�st �s evidenced by the picture

we saw here, the college was a local community school and it was the most natural

thing in the world for parents come out and see their children perform. I even

-5-

heard a nasty rumor one time that LaMar Barrus skipped a Utah Symphony to watch

his daughter play Volley Ball - and so those ties are strong an� as the college has

grown and brought stndents from far ane wide, nearly tw ·, thirds of the students there

do not, reside in Idaho, they come from out of state, every state in the union �nd

2ome from foreign countries. I think the challenge will become greater and greater

rather than easier. One thing that I think that might ,nake a good contribution would

be some interests tjat we a�e giving out to our FM s·t.ation. As you know the college

has a FM station of one �nd onehalf watts - I think it reaches from

KL:kham and if you get your car right next to the building you can hear it.

to

If we can get permission from the Commissioners office and then the General Authorities

and then to increase the Watts from t�n to a thousand an� get a

transformer up, which we al.:eady have, we could get coverage that would reach from

Ashton down to Blackfoot anrl perhaps reaching into Pocatello. If this were possible-

it has not been approved -· but I say if it were possible, then the school could become

known throughout the whole extended valley as a cultural center, where quality

programing and music was played so that this mass music that Mark mcmtioned c:mld

have a more united effect on families. I think that is one way the college can

cooperate in this community. This could provide :,ot only programing of a pr-ofessional

variety but perhaps experience for college and community people if the plan were

there.

Florence Bowman: Some time when the Tabernacle is finished I would like to see us all

bring our copies of the Messiah and have Bro. Barrus or some one lead us, and just

all sing the Messiah again - who cares if it sounds fantastic - I would just like

to sing it again .

RutL Barrus: Any further comments? Let us think about this and try and get an answer

and build this community college. Let us get together again and feel the core

and the strength of eachother. Now, one more final question. We usually end with

-6-

charts and on the panel we usually have a Supertindent of Schools or teachers and they

always say "what CAN we do about it?" And now I w:mt to ask Dr. Barrus and all of you,

"What can Ricks College do to surface the need for string programs in the valley?"

What can Ricks College do?

Dr. LaMar Barrus: You can't have string programs until you have string teachers - that

is obvious, so we have to do something to get string teachers here and that takes

a long time. I came in 1960 and I think about the only I was about the only string

teacher that I know of then. You notice that orchestra and strings has a long

history at Ricks College. Dr. D

teacher before Dr. D

did a beautiful job, Mr. Pascal, my

. They taught and trained me to do something

and I hope I have'nt dissappointed them, because you know they gave me their life,

in order that I might have something to give someoie else. You know that is what

it is all about, my goodness you know life is not to keep everything to ourselves,

it is to allow us to give something to someone else and so if I come along now

and do the same thing for my students that they did for me then maybe we can get

a chain reaction going that will spread, not only throught the entire valley but

throughout the whole church. We have now on College campus about 25 string students

that is quite remarkable, it almost overwhelms me. What I've got to do now is get

those kids, not only prepared skillwise on the instruments , but also have them

prepared spititually and mentally - that they will want to give what they are

getting here to others. Unfortunately, a lot of strir.g players become so good, that

they are not willing to give of themselves in a teaching way - and this is a

dirty mark on the strings profession, I think, so we have to change that here at

Ricks College and if we do nothing more than give these people a desire to give

to others, then I think we may have a chance to get going here.

Sister Barrus: Thank you LaMar, I think we will close with your com�ents.

Mr.

-7-

I have one question I would like to ask. Why is it that you are putting

\. so much emhasis on strings and none or little on the other instruments?

Sister Barrus: Thank you,- it is because all of the others are doing well , but the

strinqs h�ve �lmost died since world war II we are anxious to get them back, and that

is the reason I am putting the emphasis on the strings. The only area that is not

being taught throughout the valley is the strin gs. Dr. Bittner wil 1 yo\' comment please.

Dr. Bitter : I don't know what has been done here with regards to the Suziki Method.

Now the Suxiki method is not a cur-all for strings - but I saw an announcements,

here I see cir�ul�rs passed out at the air-port for a Suziki concert, children

from siz to twelve years of age playing etc in a concert - come and hear

them. It is a very exciting thing - in an Eastern City where there is no enthusiam,

\,r'- < \\

I can assure you that what says is true there is no enthusiam'and Rexburg

is one place i,;he:,::-e there is more enthusian for music than I have experienced. T here

is as much here as in togan , the town that I have adopted now if not more , but it

seems to me that this Suziki plan i� rea:ly popular there. One other thing comes

to my attetntio, I have a niece and they have a child w h o was born with very poor

eyesight, the child was extremely nervous and had a great need for some kind of

motavation for doing someithi"'.g g·::iod, and the mother said I am going to ma}·e him

play the violin and she went and got the Suxu� book and got that child going. Then

his younger sister who could see better helped him along. And you should hear those

children now. I would like t.o ri.�:ntion this as it may just get some nf you thinkihg just

alittle because the thing could get started in Rexburge, Start the children from the

time they are three years and u� and I think something could get going in t�e strings

program. It got started in Logan and has become quite popular there and I think

that Rexburg would just take it by storm.

ster Barrus : Thank you - any comment there

-8-

Sister Barrus : Now can the parents do something about it - What should I have my child

do piano or violin.

Mrs. This is so dear to my heart and it is so many of us that have had

music in high school and bought our instruments and then we get out of high school

and that is it - our instruments go into a drawer. I ;,,ish that there was some good

community program (I may be speackin in ignorance) but I never thought I was good

enough to play at the college, but there are so many of us that would love to form

an community orchestra, band, or what have you. get our old instruments out and do

something with them - we would really be gungho if we had someone to lead and organize.

Sister Barrus: Thank you

ent job.

now lets give our good panel members a hand for their excell-

Panel Discussion - Rexburg Nov. 3/78

Mrs. Barrus: Now I would �ike you to feel free while we are together here and a part ---

of this panel. And if you have a comment to make, don't just sit here,

Mrs. Barrus: Now I would like you to feel the few minutes we are together as a

panel here! t¥e to speak,and if you have something to say don't just sit here.

Speak up or raise your hand and lets heae from you. Mabe you can porvoke some

question or answer that we would like to hear. I am going to pose a question and

we wont answer it here, but I think we should ask ourselves often

(/' "What would our l';1usicq,l tl_er·tage\be like to day if our musical heritage had never

./ t existed Pl

- how would such a loss effec�ed,our liv s. It would only take one generation

to fail this reaponsibility of musicl t�aining and development to lose i� entirely.-

,��·· l_,,,,,-Hbwimportant is family1 in the development of our musical culture, is sacrifice

nesessary? are high goals neae"ssary? on our future and now

la 1 ' k h J,,'-- ' . ir' ... , { • • ?- \ Wou you 1 e to start t at '<"" i 'y!

Dr. Sorenson: Well the thing that comes to ,:JrY mind as� here I see LaMar Sr.

sitting down there and the sacrifices he made so that LaMar Jr. could sit up here

on the panel tonight. I am reminded of a story of how LaMar had a choice �&f

either milking the cows in the morning or playing his violin - this was a tough

decision. In the morning you could herr the violin strains coming out the window

I would keep working doing the chors, and if the music stopped LaMar would have to

come out and do chores. But because of theat, and I dont know how many years it went

on but my life has been blessed enourmously simply by LaMar and pergaps his dad

had more to do with that than LaMar himself. I think love and dedication to family

helped enourmousely ...... .

Sister B : Thank you Dr. Sornenson would you like to comrnentJ

How imortant is the family in the musical Culture?

Well, I think that is where it all begins,

and I think we do sacrifice at times µnd in financial and I think the biggest thing

is patience.

/ t

~

-2-

. /: ', .1_/

, r,,.,. v,� �. [),cfr' r

Sister B would you like to comment a little bit about the goals and ..... discipline

is it important too.

Mrs. I would like to say something about LaMar. I remember

going to take my piano lessons and hearing him up stairs practising his violin, but

I think that we have to have high goals to get where we want to go, and my mother was

a lover of music, and she was so h ,,w ) t0{4-A.v.l .· /·j :, .. ·/ 1 ,: .

desirous of mJ-to succeed in music and she used to

' say \she would wash the dishes so I would practise. I think many of us have done this

but I am so greatful to her for this because we have to have the support of our parents

and we as parents have to support our children if we want them to succeed in music .

. weif'.l'.d xxxxxxx

Sister Barrus: Bro . () ,r-)J.A would you like to comment on this?

BRo. Porter: First of all I would like to say I was in the£first operetta that was

shown here As I looked at these pictures here to night I coul'nt help

but think of many of the families l.imd many of the activities that were shown in those

families ir&at and i as I was grownig up in Rexburg and the things we did together, th.a,,

was-t..,j:re- the Nadauld boys - dont know how many of you know them, but there was an

awful lot of them and they were in a lot of trouble all the time, but the one thing

they did as a family - they had a musical experiences. They could all play several

instruments and they could all play notes - and when we were in high school to gether

we all played in that orchestra which �uth showed and it looks a lot better on the

picture than it sound� But I think those are some of the things we are missing now

and. Ruth and I have discussed a time or two when Ricks College used to put on

operas and

lessons in

operettas and Harry Dean would /�tudent '

£ I ',, , I g,,._._·,_ ,;J-f!J

'"

<,. . , , . (' ...,(,'- l ( .

and peo ple who were taking

I town1 \

he would be sure that they were put in the orchestra etc. and they

had an experience - and I think mabe they do that now and I don't hear about it, but

I think those are the things we miss now.

Mrs. Barrus; Thank you Mr. Porter - Mr. -/???

Mr.? : Now we live in the age of the spectator sport- and you know the

mass media has been a great blessing in our lives and it has also a great curse

- -·

-3-L�

in our lives too., because it has allowed the finer things the�test honor and the

worst� h -··-�,.r onors to come to us with the flick of a switch, with out any effort on

/I

our part and as g S . h. (( ays in is great Drama Faust Man cease to do the level, he

wants to lie down and take it easy and we certainly do that - we want somebody else

to provide our entertainment. One of the things that I remember from my earliest

childhood is(or something like our family home evenings - and those consisted of

Ma�a making all of us kids perform every sunday for all our grandparents and all the

rest of the family/and you know we did'nt like .4:--± too much at the time, although

Ithink we really did, but it was the greatest training that we ever had ,and we made

our home entertainment - I dont know how we are going to find it today because the

problems are a 100 times worse than they were then, but it certainly is a great

challenge and we hope that we have to do it.

Mrs. B. Thank you.

There are two concerns that I feel are critical and yet they are

challenges and some w1 I would like to get some responses .. Br. Carter do you

remember when you went to Ricks College, and there were about 150 students at Ricks

college and how we used to have recitals and bands and the community and the College

were one, there ivas no separation there was enthusiam and a cheering on of Ricks

students by the community. and they noticed.this adult response and this adult en-

couragement1and you know how exciting it was. Now lets 'see1 they both have grown1

and we have the communiLy over her1 and the college over here1

and we have little unity

now of purpose and response as befor7

in regard to our many cultural events here.

Do youhave some answerf that we could talk about here that we could being out

and help to make this unity �and help to make the community an important part of

the college and the college in important part of the community. Would you like to

comment on that for us?

..

-4-

The one thing that I think would help is when we get the old tabernacle

There will be a stage there and there will be a community Auditorium I

there1that we �tg�we--can not only have the community activities there but the

.�) college , "r�an to have activities ther.Obut it will be more of a community facility

that is one thing that is missing now , when was her he used to have all

the Messiah rehersals do1e'n in the Tabernact and that is where it would be presented

and the problem is that the community 4,as grown and of course the college has grown

I

(ttemendously to the point where they have plenty of talent, plenty of students with

probably a lot better talent than most people in the community, and so there is no

facility where people can get together, and take part and cooperate like they used to

But I think this tabernacle program will help us there.

Mrs. Barrus: thank you that is exciting to me and I appreciate that

I certainly agree that community and colleg0. are a two way street, each

have to give and it is so easy to get wrapped up in your little world and we are so

busy today aflJ we have so many things going on, my goodness, sometimes you just

wonder when you are going to see your family again , you have so many things going on

in church and then in community and school. I think the Tabernacle definitaly

is going to such a great step forward and I am so excited about the beautiful

building and the marvelous acoustics and the great potential that it gives us and

I think what we need to do now1is join as college and community leaders in

and charting a path that will be of benefit to everyone I think it is a matter of

finding out what is needed and how to get it done,

Ruth Barrus; Thank you- Dr. Sorsenson would you care to comment on this?

Dr. Sorenson Well I was just thinking That y{

years past as evidenced by the

pictures we saw here, the college was;.�· c�mmuni ty school and it was the most natural

thing in the world for parents to come out and see their children. I even heard of ,,

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one time who LaMar Barrus missed a Utah Symphony to watch his daughter ,){ {{. ft\'.

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play Volley Ball - and so those ties are strong and as the college has grown and brought

),;,,J-, students from far and wide, nearly two thirds of the studentJdo not reside in Idaho .

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they come from out of state, from every state in the union and some from foriegn

countries , and I think the challenge will become greater and greater rather than

earier. One thin�� that I think that might make a good contribution would be some ()

interests that we are giving out to our FM sta.tion, As you know the

a FM station ofn�d half Watts I think it reaches almostr:: the

college has

Kirkam and

if you get right next to the building you can hear it commissioners office

and then the general authorities and then to increase the Watts from

to a 1000 and do that and get a transmitter up1

which we already have,we

we could have coverage that would reach from Ashton down to Blackfoot and perhaps

reaching into Pocatelloif this were poasible - it has not been approved, but I say if

it were possible/th� the school could become known throughout the whole central

valley as a cultura.l center where quality �rograming and music was played so that

this mass music that Mark mentioned could have a much more united effect on families

I think that is one way the college can cooperate in this community. This could provide

not only porgraming of a professional varity but perhaps experience for college

and community people 1i the were there.

Some time when the Tabernacle is finished I would like to see us all

bring our copies of the Messiah and have Bro Barrus or some one lead us and just all

sing the Messiah again - who cares if it sounds fantastic..;... J ::./ e-"- I

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Ruth Barrus - I am going to ask Dr. Barrus what the college can do. What can Ricks

College do to ,l,'

Dr. Barrus: I ' ( /J ' I

has......great programs because thy have great teachers - that

is obvious, so we have to do something to get string teachers here and that takes a long

'}/'' }-time , I c<?me in 1960 and I think I was the only string teacher that I know of, and

you notice that strings has a long history at Ricks College . Dr. Disner did a beautiful

job ,;;.IA, '' Pascal my teacher before Dr Dissner -- / .to do something and I hope I havent

dissappointed them because you know t��ey gave me their life in order that I might have I

something to give someone else. You know that is what it is all about.My goodness you

know that is what it is all about, you know life is not to keep everything to ourselves

it is to allow us to give something to someone else and so if I can come along now

and do the same thing for my students that they did for me then mabe we can get a chain \

reaxtion going that will spread, not only throughout the whole falley but throughout

the church. We have now, on college campus about 25 string students that

which is quite remarkable, it almost overwhelms me. What I've got to do now is get 111; I,,those kids, not only prepared skillwise on the instrument rbut also spirituallyr\ ' '·· 1 •

� that they will want to give what they are getting �ere to others.Unfortunately,

a lot of string players become so good, that they are not willing to give of themselves;

in a teaching way - and this is a dirty mark on the string profession, I think, so we

have to ch_ange that here at Ricks College and if we do nothing more than give these

people a desi,re to give to othere, then I think we may have a chance to get going here·

ii. Mrs. Barrus Thank you LaMar, I think we will close with your comments.

MR. I have to ask one question -

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,I'

Panel Discussion at Idaho Falls Musical Heritage Presentation Nov.9/78

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I i , /./" /,,. Sister Barrus: '

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What, can we do now to help in the school, in the musiclal

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development in our

families - lets start with ou".' fa,ilies . alrite? Mr. Perry would you start on this.

Mr. Perry : Well as the supervisor of music, we are involved with the starting of,.

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children , especially with strings and in bands . Where a parent is not1 interested

or conc�rned in a childs musical groweth, it is very difficult without the

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parental support 'gudience and help. We had one little boy this year who has tried

seven different horns from flute to tuba and he has dropped out each time because

"the folks don't like that one" and that is pretty typipical, you send him home with

(' ( ( I I a drwn -

Sister Barrus

Mr. After rearing eight children, I know,that the home is possibly the most 0.,,,1,1,,·,(

important place in their music, this little girl sleeping here - the reason she is

sheeping is from getting up early in fhe morning.

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I have seen it happen with so '1 J

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many many children I have taught' seen them 1 �gress because -Gcf a mother or father who

is really interested in seeing they get these things mainly oh in a supervisory

capacity, they are not musicians but in a �upervisory capacity, they have a feeling

that there is something worthwhile. I think the most tragic thing is to see a boy "My dad wont let me play it w hen he.....-is around

come home and say ".J..e.k;m _,p.J:-ay- =i:::t,;;2�ia.E'L.J::i.e-say- not - and this m7-kes you just ,.v. .,,� '· / I ; 1, .#1 � r ,,, � ,,. r i

heartsick And we have many people' and many homes �here the father just wont let

the children practise when he is around.

These r,hildren go thru these pieces hundreds and hundreds of times, and people say How

do you stand it, I think you would go crazy. - but you must remember we listen and

we see them porgressing and the thrill and excitememt you get each time they pass each

little thing they are required to pass.

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Sister Barrus: Thank you we appreciate that. Mrs. would 1mu comment on that

Mrs. My husband has'nt had experience along that line, but in 1960 when

he took a servey of the students in the school that took music and they were always

at the top in their classes , they were always at the highest level - the students

who were perforrr.ing or taking part in any form of music. . Then too there was a

question on this form that I had thought of - how w� can encourage young students

One way is to really mean what you say when you say it = if they did well, really

mean it when you tell them you enjoyed it. When you talk to them about their music,

be interested, as about the composer, encourage them to read about the composer and

the kind of music he wrote - get them to talk about the kind of music they like.

Sister Barrus: Thank you very much Mrs. Would comment on that please

Mrs. I think we

done or could do in the family.

could go on for )-jtJJ<

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:" I think a'father

hours talking about what we have

does not have to be musical to have

a wonderfully musical family -d an many many of you have seen different ones who

had wonderfully musical children just because they were interested. But I would

just like to say that one christmas, we always have a christmas porgram in the vamily

It was on christmas eve just a short time ago

- one was playing the . I../ ( , I

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trombone one the clarnet and \ \ "t ''I I' ff,,_ 't. ' i' ..

we were working on a number ,., ' I I,. ' '

one was inging and all of a sudden I almost got chocked up because I realized how

much joy we received in our own family by this music in our family. and the children

had been affected by

many activities. It

what they did in school and by being able to participate in so

\ I\ L l J V •\{J., • ' [ / ' 't ) ' is impt'rtant the interest that is shown in the home - the children

say Gee Mom Or Gee Dad I would like to play an instrument. I really appreciate the

opportunities that my children have had to participate and become a part of.

the home is most important, I just can't imagine a home without music.

Sister Barrus: Oh thank you.

I feel

3

Mrs. Another comment, It/Jeerns if you get the oldest child interested in

music, the rest of the children see how much fun he has and the experiences and they

want to do the same, they want to play and participate.

Sister Barrus: Thank you thatis fine, that is good. Now I would like to ask this question

\How can this community support thi"Cultural program in your schools - what would

you recommend for your community to do to help?

Mr. ; BE INVOLVED�· That is the hardest thing we face is the schools,

We are told, I think by I think it was John D. Rockerfellow, that came out with the

new book called "Coming to our Senses", It stated that we arenext to the Renonnense

ot the "R's" - but it hasent come to the schools yet. '.i:'he schools are about Xare

there any �ministrators in the building? The schools are about (are there any

administrators in the building) good, then I am safe. The schools are about fifteen

to twenty years behind in the early trend sometimes, and in support of our Cultural

Heritage. For example, I have been in the ldaho Falls district for five years, and

out of the 5 years we have had to justify the program three of them and we lost

twice and we lost significant areas of our our program which is a tremendous and on

a couple of occasions we cut it out with and suppoet of the

Symohony. and some symphony people and some schoold board and some supports who went

to the school board and said , look, we dont, want these things cut. I think witq i.,,,_�\Pl O'•{ ·' ·c .. )').i.;,-f"'­

support of parents in the community (goodness knows) I think some�'g� interested

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active people in the community can do· -mor_e for the ca�s�r,

than /11 t�e music teachersn •. ,. ·, -- ,,, ,._,=_;...·� I \Ld; , 1...:./V\/i '�"""t .,.- "{ f\./tJ · '

in the school put together and �ihe' ranting and raving can accomplish ..

One or two parents with a spirit , I know it, if anything goes wrong I

know, I know its but - if anything goes wrong we hear about it all over the place.

If its wrong we hear about it all over the place, if it is good we rerely hear about \

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, . i-t.-bein'§J<g_OD.d. BE J:NVOLVED AND BE_VOCAL - I think we cant stand passive�

involvement. and longer. We must be ac tive in our involvement in speaking and being

aware.

Sister Barrus: Thank you -

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Now I am going to come back to Mrs.

How can we help this cause in the schools?

Mrs. I think surely that we must attend the programs that they prepare.

I have attended school programs that were so excellent and looked around and �he�e�w�\

where are the parents if these children? And I really think that we parents must

/ · '

support what they do, and I think also we .iJhould -r-eport t,o the teachers o:j: our children

that they understand their part and what they are doing

Sister Barrus

Mrs. :Well I think particularly, that almost every year when the

comes up, the question is whether it will be passed or not and which of

the musical programs will be cut, and I was thinking that we need to talk about it and

make our feelings heard to those who are our school board members You know if you are not

musician and have not had the thrill of singing in a school choir , a band or an

ensemble or or some of these things, they just dont seem as important to you. But I

can see what it has done in the lives of my children and

I think they all know that.

ster Barrus: You think you are speaking for all of the then . Mr would you comment

Mr

now.

:You saw the statics up here and what is happening to the orchestras and

this is typical all over the country The major thing that I think that we can do if we

want orchestras is to get cooperation between the parents and the teachsr and to see that

the thing does'nt give up. Of course the administration looks at the numbers of students

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and they say well we 've got a lot of�vacal students, we've got a lot of band but wedon 't '. fy-'-{ (i-..·'\JLrJ!•;\

have t�many orchestra students - and that is of course one of the reasons that the

orchestra is dying, they have to get accomplished teachers and there is an eare� there

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and when the decision is made they should have a well balanced program. I have said this

before, that is one of the reasons we came here and that is one of the reasons I appreciate

Mr. because he believes in this concept. In any school systems, big schools

systems - I taught for nearly 25 ye&rs in Washington, in big school dna little schools

and the administration gare less about the program. Oh yes, that would be fine if we had

the money - this is where I think we have a chance to do is to not let them, like whe,.

�uestions come up - like in one area when one of the parents came and said this is not

going to be, we are going to keep our music and. It is important that we work together

and try and accomplish these things and not let one overlap �he other or be given too

much importance.

Sister Barrus:

would you like to comment on what the community can do Mr/ :You know I think '_t would be a great idea fto set up this marvelous thing

that Sist�rrrus has put together - if it were shown to the school board.

When you see the charts and see whats happening and you see the stastics and you see

it in black and white and yo� have a little of , I think you will have a good Idea of

what we are doingand where we are going. And when you look at tgst

at that orchestra and see what it was

.When you look

Sister Barrus: This is a good time to invite the audience. here we have some very

Mr

wonderful leaders. Could we hear some comments from the audience, some one -

An interesting look and changing of values - when I came west in 1963 I

was a good old southerner from the banks of the Missippi river. When I came west there

was a in south west Idaho and I started my teaching in Monto�iler. To destroy

and undermine all the that is a fact and to have all the music teachers

together was a sin worse than in Sodom and Garnrnora. Over the years I think we can see ·,

that it is a part of our musical heritage and educators in the last few years have began\1._1f)./v'-

tO recognize some good can be coming out of there are an awful lot of

youngsters there

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but there is some good music there too, I think - I have seen a growth in some of these

children, I know we started on-·year at Pocatello High school with 9 students who were

seniors would kick out everything else - that was the only way I could get my choir was

to take all lhe rejects from all history classes and out of all the english classes and

give them one credit so that they could graduate. Now if you just sit there at the piano

and play twinkleinkle you are going to do something musical. We ended up and we taught

one fellow, one bass player three guitars and it started because they had to do something.

and it started because they had to do something and you say one letter grades a day

because you are not involved The bottome line tho they had their

assembly and the boys got together and played in a little Rock Band - now that

is not trememdous. When they began they could care less about music. But they got a chance

and dedided they could do somethings. The next semister we had about 30 youngsters �� .. ea

abgned up and the last semister that year we had 65 kids - wanting to oCome and try and

do their thing. Well we had to cut that off. But in support oif our heritage - there

is some beautiful equipmenc: comi,1g out now"M usic Maker) They take all the

These rocks bands are going to take a place in our herit age

Sister Barrus: I am sure of that

Mr, You wouldent' belive that the guitars and are one of the most

popular �nstruments in our schools and wverywhere we had guitar offered we have a heavy

load, but it is si very easy to involve them in band programs where.

Sister Barrus:Thank you - can we give this great panel a hand.