Do you have a teacher who turned you in towards "this still rarely travelled road?"

I received an email this evening from a former teacher from whom I took only one class my first semester at FSU. After reading the email, it hit me just how much that one semester and that one teacher affected me. This site would very likely not be in existence without him. Thanks, Dr. deLerma!

Yet, I can not give him the credit for my travels down this road. I had already been spurred on by one before him, a voice teacher with whom I studied at North Carolina A&T State University. I was not the first student Mrs. Howle encouraged. Several have gone on to sing professionally. In my case, she helped me re-awaken the voice after all too many years of disuse and encouraged me to perform again, on stage and in competition. And she was the one who helped me take the step of entering graduate school. Thanks, Mrs. Howle!

Still, although I had stepped off the road for a few years, I have to go back even further to seek the teacher. I could certainly stop with Dr. Alston at Bennett College. She mentored me through some tough times those four years. And I still am waiting for the story how I was recruited when I had not applied there because I thought I had had no hope of being able to attend. Thank you, Doc!

But, the teacher who I give credit to is my high school choral director, Mr. Hill. He exposed us to singing and listening to music by composers totally foreign to my existence before that time. He insisted that I ask him questions, not "ax" him. He taught music theory--I believe a first at the school. And I believe he had a hand in my entry into Bennett College.

If I never said to you those 25 years ago, Thank you very much, Mr. Hill!.

What about you?

Dear Randye,
It's been a dozen years since our paths crossed at FSU. I've usually told students to come back after 20 and I'll base their final grade on what they have since accomplished. The service you are providing is absolutely exceptional, not only in technical skill, but in real information, and that of an authority! Bless you! Dominique