The Life and Teachings of John D. Mohler Sara Kathaleen Eastwood
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Florida State University Libraries 2015 The Life and Teachings of John D. Mohler Sara Kathaleen Eastwood Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JOHN D. MOHLER By SARA KATHALEEN EASTWOOD A Treatise submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music 2015 Sara Eastwood defended this treatise on November 10, 2015. The members of the supervisory committee were: Deborah Bish Professor Directing Treatise Rodney Jordan University Representative Jonathan Holden Committee Member Jeffrey Keesecker Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above named committee members, and certifies that the treatise has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii To John “Don” Mohler iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my family and Scotty Phillips for their continuous and unwavering support. My heartfelt thanks. Secondly, I would like to thank Dr. Bish and the rest of my treatise committee: Dr. Holden, Prof. Keesecker and Prof. Jordan for their time and valuable guidance. I offer my sincerest appreciation to the former students of John D. Mohler for this project would not have been possible without your gracious willingness to share your experiences. Lastly, I cannot express enough gratitude to John D. Mohler. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN D. MOHLER ......................................................................................... 3 Early Musical Influences .......................................................................................................... 3 Early Musical Studies ............................................................................................................... 5 Curtis Institute of Music .......................................................................................................... 7 United States Marine Band ..................................................................................................... 10 1954-1960 Formal Studies ...................................................................................................... 11 Teaching .................................................................................................................................. 11 1994-Present ........................................................................................................................... 17 JOHN D. MOHLER THE PEDAGOGUE .................................................................................. 18 Ralph McLane’s Influence ...................................................................................................... 18 William Stubbins’s Influence ................................................................................................. 22 Embouchure ............................................................................................................................ 23 Articulation ............................................................................................................................. 24 Voicing .................................................................................................................................... 27 Extended Techniques .............................................................................................................. 28 Technical Studies ................................................................................................................... 29 Reeds ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Role as Teacher ....................................................................................................................... 34 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 38 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. 39 A. PERMISSIONS ................................................................................................................. 39 B. CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN D. MOHLER ............................................................ 40 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 76 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ........................................................................................................ 78 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure #1 Tongue-Breath Relationship ......................................................................................... 25 Figure #2 Tongue-Breath Relationship Between The Extremes .................................................. 26 vi ABSTRACT John D. Mohler was born October 30, 1929 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His earliest teachers include Joseph Leptich, clarinetist of the Lancaster Symphony and Salvadore Colangelo, Principal Clarinetist of the Harrisburg Symphony. After graduating from Litiz High School, Mohler continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia studying under the tutelage of Ralph McLane, and served in the United State Marine Band and Orchestra for four years from 1950-1954 in Washington D.C. He received Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance degrees from the University of Michigan under the study of William Stubbins. He served on the woodwind faculty at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for two years before joining the University of Michigan School of Music faculty as an Assistant Professor of Clarinet and clarinetist in the University Woodwind Quintet in 1962. In addition to his faculty appointment as Professor of Clarinet, he served as the University of Michigan School of Music Wind and Percussion Instruments Department Chair from 1979-1994. In 1979, he received the Harold Haugh Award in Excellence and in 1986 received the University of Michigan School of Music Outstanding Studio Teacher Award. Mohler was also awarded the University of Michigan School of Music Alumni Society Citation of Merit in 1992. The John Mohler Clarinet Scholarship was endowed in 1993 to provide annual scholarships for students majoring in clarinet at the University of Michigan. Mohler retired from the University of Michigan in 1994 and the Regents awarded him Professor Emeritus of Music. In 2003, Mohler was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Clarinet Association. In 2012, Mohler was honored with the University of Michigan Band Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award. vii John Mohler maintains his role as mentor even in retirement and many of his students now hold teaching, performance, and university faculty positions across the country. His ongoing enthusiasm and rapport has affected numerous students and their careers. He possesses the willingness to share his knowledge and expertise in an in-depth and personal manner. John Mohler’s biographical and teaching doctrine is underrepresented and recorded, and the personal narrative interviews will help to provide an insight into the life and teachings of John Mohler. viii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION John D. Mohler was born October 30, 1929 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His earliest teachers include Joseph Leptich, clarinetist of the Lancaster Symphony and Salvadore Colangelo, Principal Clarinetist of the Harrisburg Symphony. After graduating from Litiz High School, Mohler continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia studying under the tutelage of Ralph McLane, and served in the United State Marine Band and Orchestra for four years from 1950-1954 in Washington D.C. He received Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan under the study of William Stubbins. He served on the woodwind faculty at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for two years before joining the University of Michigan School of Music faculty as an Assistant Professor of Clarinet and clarinetist in the University Woodwind Quintet in 1962. In addition to his faculty appointment as Professor of Clarinet, he served as the University of Michigan School of Music Wind and Percussion Instruments Department Chair from 1979-1994. In 1979, he received the Harold Haugh Award in Excellence and in 1986 received the University of Michigan School of Music Outstanding Studio Teacher Award. Mohler was also awarded the University of Michigan School of Music Alumni Society Citation of Merit in 1992. The John Mohler Clarinet Scholarship was endowed in 1993 to provide annual scholarships for students majoring in clarinet at the University of Michigan. Mohler retired from the University of Michigan in 1994 and the Regents awarded him Professor Emeritus of Music. In 2003, Mohler was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Clarinet Association.