Most of my teachers were forgettable at best, and obstacles at worst. The exceptions were a high school English teacher who taught me to write, a speech therapist who taught me to speak, a chemist/research director who taught me to think, and a number of musicians who taught me everything else.
Here's a great teacher. An appreciation by David N. Adamson, BW ‘73, a fellow student.
ALAN P. SQUIRE
Alan Squire first entered the third floor clarinet studio of the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music in 1950 as Professor of Clarinet. A student of the legendary Daniel Bonade, he would remain in this position for the next 43 years, retiring in 1993.
Alan taught all the clarinet majors, the clarinet method classes and area high school students who shared his love for the instrument. He performed with the BW Faculty Woodwind Quintet, The Ohio Chamber Orchestra, the Blossom Festival Band, and the Lakewood Hometown Band, being as adept as a performer as he was a teacher. He also conducted the BW Concert Band and taught Music History when the need arose as well as directed BW’s Clarinet Choir, a true joy for him.
In the 1950’s the legendary conductor George Szell drove to BW seeking a new principal clarinetist for the Cleveland Orchestra. Mr. Szell knocked on Alan Squire’s studio door and asked him to fulfill this need with no audition. Alan declined the maestro’s offer as teaching was his first love and, in his own unique way added, “I have nothing to prove to anyone”. If this sounds a little arrogant, you have to have known Alan for he was the epitome of self-confidence and is it arrogance when one is factual?
There were numerous pictures of bands and orchestras on the walls of the Alan’s studio, showing him sitting principal clarinet in every one! One of his students noted this and asked him, “Did you always sit first?” He replied with his customary ‘self-confidence’, “since the day I was born”!
As rich as his professional life was, his personal life was unfortunately marked with tragedy. His son was killed in the 1970’s and during the last years of his life, his daughter died followed by his wife, Mary. He soldiered onward; often performing at his church in Missouri, “sharing his musical gift so unselfishly” noted a church member who represented his adopted family during his final years.
Alan Squire was a unique teacher, a gifted musician and a person of high intellect. His legacy is assured for his talent and personality impacted all who heard him play and/or benefited from his teaching. There are over 1000 students who occupied his studio and they now perpetuate his spirit and love of the clarinet and music. Perhaps some of us even pass on a “lauba, lauba, lauba” or “cha, cha chi” as we vocalize a musical passage for a student. Ok, probably not, but we remember hearing such from Alan and if only we could hear him utter those syllables one more time…..
Thank you Dr. Squire. We miss you.
3 comments:
Dear Steve:
Would you please e-mail me at lsl@umich.edu to discuss Dr. Squire?
I would like to use some of your comments about him to students who are receiving the Alan Squire Scholarship in clarinet.
Thank you,
Linda Leslie
Thank you Dave for your tribute to our teacher.
What a wonderful tribute! Dr. and Mrs. Squire (Al and Mary) lived across the street from my parents on Nobottom road in Berea for many years. Their daughter was literally my first friend, since we were born at approximately the same time. My parents moved away from Berea for several years, only to return later to another Cleveland suburb. Al and Mary remained friends with my family through the good times and bad, and they both had the most wonderful outlook on life, even having been though the tragedy of losing their son at such an early age. I had a dream about Dr. Squire today, and it prompted me to look him up. My parents are now both gone, and so are Al and Mary, but it always makes me smile when I think of them both. Thanks again for making my day!
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