Dr. Asher Zlotnik
Tom
Apologies if this is a repeat in any of the newsgroups, but I just wanted
to post an appropriate message about the passing of Dr. Z
Dr. Asher Zlotnik, extraordinary musician and pedagogue, passed away on
Thursday, May 29th, 1997. He is survived by his devoted wife, Roslyn.He has
helped many musicians throughout the country develop their abilities
through his unique methods of teaching ear training, sight singing,
composition and musicianship. This is his legacy. He will be remembered
with admiration and love by his students, colleagues and friends.
Dr. Zlotnik was born in Hartford, CT on March 12, 1915. He received his
formative music training from Ralph Baldwin. His college education, though
interrupted several times by illness and World War II, was illustrious. He
attended Eastman School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music. He
earned his Bachelors degree in 1955 followed in 1956 by a Masters from Yale
University. At this point he had developed his own method for teaching
sight singing, which so impressed Yale professor of voice Benjamin DeLoach,
that he incorporated it into his own teaching. He began his doctoral
studies at Indiana University in 1959, then accepted a faculty position at
Boston University from 1963 - 1967. He completed his dissertation in 1972
and was awarded his doctorate.
In addition to Boston University, Dr. Zlotnik taught on the faculties of
the Hartford School of Music from 1947-1559 and the Manhattan School of
Music from 1957-1959. He served as principal flautist of the Hartford
Symphony under Jaques Gordon, reknowned concertmaster of the Chicago
Symphony and first violinist of the Gordon String Quartet, with whom he
also studied score analysis and conducting during the second World War.
Between the years of 1945-1950, Zlotnik traveled regularly to New York City
to study the Schillinger Music Theory Technique with three of Joseph
Schillinger零 disciples. During this same period he began teaching
privately; among his students were many prominent musicians from the big
bands of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey, and members of the four network
orchestras: CBS, ABC, NBC, and WOR. Throughout the years, as his reputation
as a pedagogue grew, musicians sought him out as a teacher. His insight and
knowledge of music was invaluble; and his teaching methods opened the ears
and minds of all who were willing to learn. He continued his research and
private teaching in Baltimore until his retirement in 1995.
--
Tom Ginsberg
tom...@clark.net
Brian McGinity
Tom <tom...@clark.net> wrote:
>Apologies if this is a repeat in any of the newsgroups, but I just wanted
>to post an appropriate message about the passing of Dr. Z
We have just lost one of the worlds greatest teachers of music theory.
There are so many great professional musicians who have wanted to study
with him, yet couldn't because of Dr. Zlotnik's condition.
I'm fortunate to have a teacher who studied with him for years. My teacher,
Paul Wingo, says that Dr. Z had a method that was unparalleled. Simply put,
the man was incredible.
Dr. Zlotnik gave tremendously to the people of music.
He will truly be missed.
Brian McGinity
William G. Sacks
Strange now to think of him gone.
Asher Zlotnik was something of a legend at
the Eastman School: an example of someone with non-traditional
theoretical notions who managed to avoid obscurity and educate hundreds of
musicians in spite of academic resistance.
reise...@gmail.com
> Apologies if this is a repeat in any of the newsgroups, but I just wanted
> to post an appropriate message about the passing of Dr. Z
>