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Click here for a
wonderful article
A LIFESAVER
By John Steinmetz
Click here for the Academic Department
Drama
Music
| Edith DelValle |
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Ms. Delvalle, a tall lovely knowledgeable
lady of class who put up with me usually
disrupting her classes, but constantly
trying nevertheless to instill in me the
spirituality associated with the craft I was
learning. She also was determined to make
sure that I walk out of her classroom
knowing the techniques of this craft,
regardless of my "bullheadedness"!!
She was always elegant, had
incredible wisdom about her art and knew how
to convey the essence of this art to those
of her students who were serious in picking
up on this. I owe her immensely!
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| Gerald Trevor (Music) |
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Gerald Trevor, the quintessential definition
of a "student's pal"!! Another teacher who
put up with my nonsense, but never failed to
put me in my place with a firmness I still
admire to this day. He would so often lock
me and a few other students up in the old
music room that was in the attic, with many
various instruments there, while he went to
lunch or a meeting. We would jam, switching
instruments, making noise and when he
returned, he would sit, really listening to
what we were experimenting on, giving us
pointers, etc.....
One other thing..... he should really be
given credit for allowing a
controversial "rock star" to hold a sort of
"assembly" on the front steps of one of the
school entrances. A few others
in the faculty wanted the small crowd to
disband, but Mr Trevor walked up and told
them it was part of a class project and
that he would take full responsibility. The
thing is he didn't know too much about this
"rock star", but he knew the positive effect
this star was having on his students, so he
sanctioned it. His talks and
enlightening suggestions still echo in my
mind.
How can one find the words to thank such
teachers who helped to shape the mentality
of where I am today????!!
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| From Philip Voldman |
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I have only fond memories of studying with Mr.
Trevor. With my first year at LaGuardia in his theory class - as he will
remember was quite an interesting experience. After that year, it was
only support and love. Also, I live near his niece, I believe it was, in
the Bronx.
I now study in London, and hold on to all the great times and
experiences I had at LaGuadia - Gerald Trevor is surely one of those
memories and was truly an experience. |
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| Jonathan Strasser |
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| Music and French |
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| From
Charles Dinegar |
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| As a violist, it goes without saying that
I was in the school orchestra. One fine day we were rehearsing the
overture to the opera "William Tell". Many of you know this piece as the
theme from the "Lone Ranger". As the brass section led the initial
charge into that part of the overture, I couldn't resist calling out at
the top of my lungs:HI-YO SILVER, A-WAY!". Mr Strasser failed to kill
me. I don't know how, to this day, as I know it HAD to have aggravated
him no end. The entire orchestra collapsed in laughter, and was unable
to play anymore for at least 5 minutes or so. The trumpets were the main
casualties. Poor Mr Strasser was next. From apoplexy, no doubt. But, he
exhibited great patience with me as he did allow me to live and only
exiled me for the one day. He was, truly a very patient teacher given
the huge group of students and the collection of "sterling
personalities" with which he had to deal on an everyday basis. I have
thought back on my years in PA, and for some reason, Mr Strasser seems
to be foremost in my memories. I learned more from this good and fine
man than from any other teacher I had, and he was truly devoted to our
school. As did we all, I have no doubt. |
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Jonathan
Strasser
Academics
| Paula Greenfield |
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| Guidance |
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| Regina Axelrod |
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| Social Studies |
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| Samuel Tolmach |
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| Social Studies |
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| Florence Schwager |
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| Mathematics |
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| From Calvin A. Morris |
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Ms. Schwager was a teacher I came to respect because she
projected a no nonsense, get to work attitude. I remember sitting in
class on winter, with coat and hat on, freezing because she said the
cold temperature would allow clearer thinking and concentration. You
know what? This worked for me because I passed the Trigonometry Regents
in June.
Thank you Ms Schwager. |
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| Eugene Wexler |
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| Social Studies |
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| Eileen White |
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| Secretarial Studies |
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| Herbert Latner |
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| Secretarial Studies |
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From Steve Lewis. One of my favorites. Without
his typing class I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now |
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This site is
maintained by Steve Lewis.
Copyright © 2006
Creative Records, Inc. All rights reserved.
What can I say, I need a little advertising for my record company and web
hosting business
Revised:
11/25/06
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REPRINT from Barry Plaxen’s Delaware & Hudson CANVAS
A LIFESAVER
By John Steinmetz
Yeah… The performing arts are all very nice, entertaining, enjoyable,
fun sometimes, but are they useful? Are they functional? Can they be
used for something …something practical?
Can they save your life?
I sometimes amuse my old High School teachers, when I meet them in
passing or at a School reunion, that their instruction saved my life.
YES! Really!
“You saved my life!”
The immediate reaction is a raised eyebrow. A quizzical look. You can
see their minds working. “Can he honestly be serious?”
For example: I had a year of Dance in High School. Not Ballroom dancing,
but the classical. Ballet. It wasn’t my choice; it was required. The
assumption was that it would be instrumental in giving us grace, poise,
posture and an appreciation of the Art. We were taught the rudiments of
the Dance: The various Ballet positions, lifts, leaps. Our teachers were
serious. Stern. “Discipline, discipline, discipline”, we were told.
“Practice!”
Years later, I happened to meet one of my Ballet teachers, again: “You
saved my life.” When I was drafted into the Army, I was assigned to a
demolition squad, for a time. Needless to say, it was dangerous duty.
Part of the work was to lay mines to secure the Perimeter of Defense
around our encampment. You can imagine the caution, dexterity and
perspiration when this work is in progress. And, then, there are times
when you must dig up these instruments of death. Once these landmines
are found, they are flagged and defused.
It’s not a lot of joy, working in a minefield.
But my advantage was; that I could “leap” over these mines.
…It’s also nice to be able to “leap” over mud puddles, after a heavy
rain.
I was a student at New York’s High School of Performing Arts. I was in
the Drama Department. My major was Theater and Acting. We were given
the whole compliment of theatrical courses: Acting, Speech –Voice and
Diction-, Characterization, Dance, Posture, Movement,
Pantomime,
Make-Up, Play Analysis, Playwriting and Play Production.
One of our earlier High School courses was Improvisation: Extemporaneous
Speaking.
Now, in the Army, I was ordered to see the Commanding Officer.
“You are one of the few men qualified for this assignment. You are now
our Troop Information and Education Officer.”
Once a week, it was my duty to give a presentation of Military
Information, News from the Home Front and a Patriotic Pep Talk to the
large body of assembled troops.
I was relieved of all my demolition duties.
Whew! Thank goodness ...No more deadly landmines.
Yes, years later I met that wonderful Speech teacher who taught us
Improvisation and Public Speaking.
“You saved my life!” - And I meant it!
John Steinmetz graduated as a drama major from the High School of
Performing Arts.
After performing in Theater, film, radio and television, he was drafted
into the US Army during the Korean War as an infantryman. He produced 11
shows aboard his troop ship and appeared in US Army shows and on Armed
Forces Radio. He has been directing in television and theater for the
last 45 years.
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