Upon graduating from Eastman, I eagerly looked forward to the next phase of my life. The plan was that I would attend Indiana University for my Master's Degree - this had previously been arranged before I went to Eastman. A Hungarian pianist (Bela Nagy) who had adjudicated one of the piano competitions in Spokane...awarded me the top prize, and had invited me to attend Indiana University to study with him after Eastman was finished. My parents were overjoyed by this turn of events, and so was I. As much as I loved Eastman, I was ready for a change of scene. However, both my best friend, Dayna, and I wanted a bit of breathing space before starting Part II of our schooling, thus we decided to take a road trip --- driving from Rochester, NY to Shattuck, Oklahoma, where her parents lived.
So we set off...two inexperienced young women, to face whatever challenges might arise. I did not tell my mother about the trip, as I was afraid she might tell me to come home immediately -- for whatever reason. (I should say here that mother and I had NOT been seeing eye to eye for some time, and if she wanted me to do a particular thing, I would automatically NOT want to do that. So I delayed calling her.)
Dayna and I had much fun on our driving trip, and while nothing terrible happened, there were a few adventures that I would not want to repeat. The worst was outrunning a twister! I had not realized there were so many tornados in this part of the country and my first experience with one was very frightening: the sky got very dark and ominous looking, and a wind came up. I recall Dayna looking out the window and noting that a tornado was bearing down on us! So she began to speed up until the car was really sailing along. Fortunately, she is a very experienced driver, and can really handle an automobile. So we arrived at her parents' home in one piece. We ran into the house and down the stairs to the basement-- never have I run so fast. There we all waited for the tornado to pass. I have never heard such loud wind noise in my life...very scary indeed! I just prayed that the house would not blow away.. (this can happen, I know.) Dayna's mom and dad were also in the basement, and although they tried to make light of the situation, I knew they were nervous.
While in Shattuck, I finally called my mother---
to tell her where I was and what I was doing. She was somewhat alarmed that we were driving such a long distance, but I assured her that Dayna (about whom she had heard much) was an excellent driver,
and that we were fine. I did not tell her about the tornado we had just outrun...(would not have been a wise move, thought I), just said we thought a little vacation was in order for both of us, after our very exacting senior year (several concerts for me in a leg cast!) Mother was not too pleased with our antics, but what could she do? So I stayed in Oklahoma another week and then took the train to Spokane. While on that long trip, I reflected on my past three years at Eastman, wondering what was in store for me at Indiana University. One thing I knew for sure was that I would be required to take a few exams---IU didn't seem to trust even an Eastman degree - with honors! They needed to have proof of one's academic knowledge...thus: the exams. So while on the train, I was reviewing music history, theory, form and analysis, etc.
When the train pulled into the depot in Spokane, I got off, looking for one or both of my parents....but no one was there to meet me. I walked into the depot building only to hear my name being paged over the loud speaker. I quickly went to a courtesy phone.... it was a nurse from the nearby Deaconess Hospital. She said my mother needed me, and would I please come to the reception desk at the hospital. When I asked for more information, she refused, and just said to come as soon as possible. I was beginning (ha!) to become alarmed, but I took a cab to the hospital. My brother was downstairs at the door....and he took me to an upper floor reception area. I could see that he had been crying... so I knew something was VERY wrong. Mother was sitting there with her head down. She looked at me and said: "Dianne your father just passed away after a gall bladder attack. He died on the operating table, just a little while ago." Needless to say, I was dumbstruck, and thoroughly shocked. What a horror....she said it so calmly....obviously in a daze. John was crying again...and I could not say a word...not even ONE word.
Apparently he had the attack while driving his car, and pulled over. A passing driver stopped to assist him... called an ambulance and dad was taken to the hospital. His primary surgeon (from the Mayo Clinic) happened to be in town, and came immediately to the hospital...but father died while on the operating table, so the doctor never had a chance to operate. The upshot of it all, was that dad's gall bladder was in very bad shape...but it was not removed when the gall stones were taken out in a previous surgery. This all resonated with me, as earlier this year (April 2012) my gall bladder was removed along with a large gall stone. As I sit here writing this, I wonder IF my father would have had the same procedure done THEN as I have just a few months ago, perhaps he might still be alive. This is indeed a sobering thought!
The death of a loved one is a very difficult thing to process. I was no different than anyone else, only I could not cry.... the tears just wouldn't come. Since there was so much to do, I felt I needed to stay strong and do what was necessary. My mom was a basket case, and my brother was really in a state.
I recall that we all went home together, and a neighbor friend came over to assist. I began writing notes and calling people to inform them of my father's passing. He was quite young, only 51 years old.
The next few days were difficult....everyone was depressed, and mother had no energy at all. I recall getting up the next morning, looking out the window at the beautiful sunny day, which felt very peculiar...just 'not right.' How could this be? My dad was not here to enjoy the lovely day....and we all were. I didn't feel like practicing, although mom requested it later in the day. I suppose she felt the need to restore some 'normalcy' in the house...and my piano practicing had embodied a routine for her for so many years. I realized then, what my absence during these past 3 years away at school, must have meant for her, as she and I arose early every morning. I would practice, and she would sit at the kitchen table, drinking her coffee, and reading the newspaper. Such were the vicissitudes of our daily life....those small actions that we all take for granted....and only miss when they are no longer there.
The summer passed in a kind of blur...like an impressionistic painting....a bit fuzzy, but there nonetheless. Every day I practiced new repertoire, and studied for the exams I would be taking at IU. I realized that it was a blessing that my assistantship at Indiana had been previously arranged, otherwise I don't think I would have been able to leave Spokane
for my master's degree (under the present circumstances, anyway). John was attending school as well....the very same Gonzaga University which I had attended my freshman year in Spokane, also while living at home. He was active in the Glee Club, and with his beautiful, bass baritone voice, was a welcome addition to their various barbershop quartets. I was grateful he would be staying in Spokane, and could assist Mom when she needed him. Sometime during this period of time, (not sure exactly when) mother decided she should sell the house....but she didn't inform John or me of this decision. She wanted to move to Spokane proper and leave Spokane Valley, which was mostly populated by families with children. Of course, she would continue to teach at Central Valley High School, and just commute.
And so the day came when I (once again) left Spokane for Points East. Mother had no extra money to spare, so I would be entirely dependent upon the funds from my assistantship for all school expenses. This proved to be much more difficult than I would have imagined, as there was virtually NO EXTRA MONEY, after my school supplies were purchased.
I arrived at Bloomington, Indiana (where IU was located), and was immediately deposited at the dormitory where many graduate students were housed. I met the girl who was going to be my roommate....she was a bit strange, but nice enough. Her field was not music, but science. She showed me around the enormous campus including the Student Center, called THE HUB (in which the cafeteria was located) -- quite far from the dormitory, so I would be walking a great deal. (By then my leg had totally healed, so this would not pose a problem.) I registered the next day, and was given my teaching and daily class schedule. Since my assistantship was for actually teaching piano, I learned that most of my students were studying other instruments, and piano was a requirement necessary for graduation, but not an elective or voluntary course. In other words, I would have NO piano majors. OH JOY!!! This was not good news, but what could I do about it?? My own courses were all in the morning, beginning at the ungodly hour of 8:00 A.M., every single day. I took an overload of subjects, in order to finish my degree in less than 2 or 3 years. This was my choice....not the university's. Then I received a huge surprise....Dr. NAGY (who had recruited me for his class at Indiana U. ) was not going to be teaching that year! He was on sabbatical and another pianist was there in his place. (I was very upset about this, as it was the one thing at IU about which I could be certain...and now that was NOT to be). His name was Vlado PERLEMUTER. He was a famous pianist and recording artist, and heretofore had taught at the Paris Conservatoire. Since there was no one else with whom I wished to study, I decided to just accept things as they were. This turned out to be a wise move, although I didn't know it at the time.
The first order of business, however, was to navigate those pesky exams, which were required of ALL incoming graduate students. I recall that my first exam was Music Theory, which I passed with flying colors. Then came General Music History, which brought the same result. However, there was an exam for Early Music History, with the emphasis on EARLY. This posed a few problems, and I didn't do so well. I then learned that many of the textbooks used in most Music Schools in America had been written by several professors on staff from Indiana University. Had I known this, would have procured one or two and studied them (especially the Early Music tome). As it turned out, I was required to take a 'remedial' Early Music History course, which was taught by the author of our textbook. He was very knowledgeable...AND very entertaining. In the class were other grad students, also a bit deficient in this area. We all used to meet together to study and drink coffee. Our various backgrounds were a potpourri....a Curtis graduate, several from state universities, Peabody Insititue, 2 or 3 from Juilliard, and one from Eastman (me). Hmmm! No one was up to the IU standard, apparently. I also learned that Indiana was one of the most exacting universities for all fields, including music. Wouldn't you know?? I had elected to take Advanced Theory (recommended for THEORY MAJORS only) which turned out to be a big mistake! The professor wanted ONLY Theory Majors in his classes, (not pianists like myself.) He asked me if I might wish to reconsider my decision to be there. I just answered that THEORY was one of my favorite subjects, was one of my minors, so would prefer to remain. He could not forbid nor prevent me from enrolling in the course, but he COULD AND DID make my life difficult. He had something against pianists, I decided, as he was always picking on me ....no joke! But I gracefully side-stepped around him and managed to get a decent A- for the first semester. The second semester was another matter, however. The emphasis was on 14th Century Counterpoint....very difficult. In addition, I was performing a great deal and was entering some competitions. I was also known within the Music School as one of the most outstanding pianists. My Theory Professor was not impressed with this....he didn't care....and told me as much. So he cut me no slack for these 'non-theory activities.' I could not understand such a narrow-minded attitude, but I did NOT quit the course. For example, because I could not be in class for one exam, (was playing in a competition) he told me he would automatically lower my grade one full notch (A to B, B to C, etc.) Not at all fair....as I had permission from the Dean of the Music School to be absent....and told this Professor exactly that. He became enraged and said that no matter what the Dean or I thought, HE was the Professor and would decide if I had permission to be excused or not. (I could not believe this arrogance, and went to the Dean to inform him. Probably not the smartest move, but I was very angry.) The upshot of all this was that my grade in that class was lower than it should have been....patently unfair, but there you are. Later I learned that this professor and the Dean were NOT friends at all.....and I had inadvertently become involved in their dispute (which was basically over other matters.) Such pettiness does occur in these institutions, and the unwitting victims are often the students who pay the price.
Monsieur Perlemuter (my piano professor) turned out to be a most lovely person, and a good teacher. He adored me and asked me to come to Paris and study with him ....perhaps the following year. Of course, I was most flattered and honored by this request...whether I could do so or not, would be another matter. Paris was a wonderful city, he said, and I would learn much from just living there for a while. Later in my life, I found that to be true...when I went to Geneva, Zurich, and London to live....spending much time in Paris as well. Unfortunately, Monsieur Perlemuter became very depressed living in Bloomington....no doubt the extreme difference between the two environments and the absence of his wife contributed to this situation. So he asked to be released from his contract early to return to France, and was granted permission, of course. WELL, another teacher had bitten the dust, so to speak, and I didn't know what would happen. Since there was still no one with whom I wished to study, I decided to allow events to just take their course, with no imput from me.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, that decision was exceedingly wise. My prayers of finding a great teacher who would assist me in learning what I realized I must know, were answered. The wonderful artist who appeared on the scene was Mme. Sari BIRO....and the fact that she was there at all was a minor miracle. Mme. Biro was Hungarian....she had immigrated to America some years before, and was presently living in San Francisco. She gave many concerts in the United States, touring with Arthur Rubinstein, with whom she was great friends. She was entirely magical, and I adored her. After hearing her play, I knew she possessed the answers to all my questions about piano playing. It is difficult to describe someone's method of teaching, so I am not going to even attempt that here. Suffice it to say that most of my habits and previous training had to be discarded. While I was willing to do this, I still had to graduate from IU, which required a solo recital, chamber music concert, as well as much coursework, so I could not start the process immediately. (I had decided that I must move to San Francisco to study with her there, without having to deal with courses, grades, and degree programs.) She did demonstrate to me HOW to strengthen my fingers, HOW to use them, and HOW to begin to make various types of sounds on the piano. (It is not simply a matter of pressing the key down to make the sound, you understand.) I began doing what I could to begin the process while still practicing my repertoire. {I must digress here and explain that doing remedial work on one's technique while learning repertoire, does NOT work. One must first concentrate on the fingers, and then go from there. It is a long process....as is everything worth doing in life.} I realized while I was there, that the male pianists (teachers) on staff were all highly envious of Mme. Biro's prodigious technique and fine pianism. They didn't have anywhere near the degree of her perfection, and bitterly resented her for that. It was such a treat to hear and watch her play -- I loved it. While she was not so well known in America as in Europe, nonetheless she had a great following. (In fact, after I became involved with Facebook here in Seattle, I learned that several of my new fbook artistic friends were cognizant of her fame in Europe, and very admiring of her piano playing and knowledge!!! This was very interesting and marvelous to hear.) She was diminutive in stature, blonde, and very attractive with highly chiseled features. Actually the word that comes to mind is... 'elegant.' She dressed beautifully, and while she spoke with a Hungarian accent, her English was better and more eloquent than most natives of this country. She used the language in a most colorful manner, and was able describe scenes and events so vividly that one could actually see them.
The other students in her class were of varying levels (I was, by far the most accomplished), but all were duly impressed with her, and most wanted to go with her to California, when she left Indiana (myself included). During that year, her daughter, Maria, came to Indiana to visit her mother and meet all of us. Maria is a statuesque redhead, who always has looked like she stepped out of Vogue magazine. I found her to be a most intelligent and quick-witted young woman -- and while not a musician, she certainly was knowledgeable about music and the arts in general. She was a dancer, and after she stopped dancing, began a career in banking as an officer of the Bank of America. She also worked in Public Relations for various artistic organizations in San Francisco -- therefore, knew just about everyone in that city. We began an association while I was at Indiana U. (later living in San Francisco) which turned into a life-long friendship. To this day, I speak with Maria quite often....she is a terrific friend.
My lessons with Mme. Biro were a revelation....and I looked forward to each lesson with great anticipation. Often I had a lesson every day, or every other day. She didn't pay attention to rules and such, so there was no problem, although I didn't mention my extra lessons to other students or professors. By this time, I was nearly finished with that dreadful Theory Professor and his class, and didn't much care what my grade would be, although I certainly didn't want to have a blot on my almost perfect record.....if possible. I practiced as long as I could in the evening - sometimes until 1:00 a.m. (the administration left the music building open until 2:00 a.m. for pianists (such as myself) who were eager beavers to practice.
The other class which was very interesting for me was Chamber Music (taught by the reigning cellist in the university, and one of the most famous in the world --- Janos STARKER.) He was not only a very intelligent and great pedagogue, he was a task master.....and I loved his classes. I learned a great deal about playing chamber music from him, and because I worked with several of his best cellists, also studied and performed a great deal of the cello/piano repertoire. It should be said here that much of that repertoire is very difficult for the piano (and the pianist) and should be called 'Piano/Cello' sonatas and not vice versa. The Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata, for example, is nearly as difficult for the piano as a Piano Concerto, and the cello part is not difficult at all. I also played chamber music that included other instruments...such as the TROUT QUINTET by Schubert, and performed this work often since Indiana University. I have never forgotten my carefully worked out fingerings and phrasings, or Mr. Starker's remarks about the music.
I should mention that when I studied with Vlado Perlemuter the previous semester, I learned the very difficult GASPARD DE LA NUIT, by Maurice Ravel. It seems that Mr. Perlemuter studied with Ravel, himself; in fact he was Ravel's last piano student!! So I received many tidbits from Mr. Perlemuter on the music.....including actual changes of some notes in various works. This was indeed interesting.....I learned many of Ravel's actual intentions regarding his music, plus pedaling instructions.....something very few pianists ever learn. I have always been grateful that I learned GASPARD during that period, as it is quite a handful to learn (TOO many notes), and requires much time. Ravel has always been one of my favorite composers, and I learned many works of his with Mr. Perlemuter. (Later in my life, I performed the Ravel Sonatine on the New York City Ballet stage at the State Theater in Lincoln Center, which was choreographed by George Balanchine for the Ravel Festival. By then I was piano soloist for the NYCB and performed often with the company - either with the orchestra or alone with the dancers. In Seattle, I also performed the Ravel Concerto in G Major with the Seattle Symphony, for Pacific Northwest Ballet.)
My year and a summer at IU passed quickly - and soon it was time for the performances. I had entered two competitions, and done quite well, so was not nervous about performing - not at all. The concerts went well, and I received an 'EXCELLENT' rating on both of them. (The piano staff were required to attend all graduate recitals and grade them.) Mme. Biro had told me I would be welcome to come to San Francisco to study with her....and I was looking forward to that. However, there were a couple of hoops to jump through before that would happen. I will save those adventures for the next chapter....so until then, may I wish everyone a fond farewell ....until we meet again on the printed page!
