Reflections from the Classroom of a Music Educator

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

After a 40 year career teaching music to students in Iowa and Wisconsin, Dean Beckman has just entered into his new role of retired teacher. He finds entertainment value in looking back on moments that prepared him to teach and recalling memories from his years in the role of teacher. He plans to share those moments and memories with our club. There is a strong possibility of a song or two at this meeting creeping back into the Decorah Rotary agenda.

Dean recalls when he was a new teacher, there were no pianists for a short time in Decorah Rotary. Former Rotarian Frances Peterson, who was the president at the time, worked it out with another former Rotarian (Elliott Christen) to have him stop by the basement of Mabe's Pizza, get a free lunch, play the piano for the song leader, and then make a quick exit before the business portion of the meeting to get to his afternoon teaching assignment on time.

During his tenure as a teacher, Dean directed over 37 operettas and musical productions at Decorah schools. He attended Luther College, performing under Luther’s famed conductor Weston Noble, and received his degree in 1985 before taking his first teaching job in Westby, Wisconsin, where he had been a student teacher. He started his position with the Decorah Community School District in 1988, and the first in what would become a long string of productions began the next year with a performance of “Tom Sawyer.” That middle school debut was followed by “Pandora” in 1990, and his resume includes titles such as “The Pirates of Penzance,” “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.” and “Hairspray Jr.” Just prior to his retirement this past spring, he chose to end his streak of productions with “Elf The Musical Jr.” at Carrie Lee Elementary.

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**Please complete your noon meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.