Dr. Leo P. Reckford, Medical Doctor, Professor, and Musician: Madeline’s Monthly Musical Tips Blog/Article for April 2021
Our blog and Radio Show celebrates’ the life and work of Dr. Leo P. Reckford, medical doctor, professor, researcher, and musician. Many of the world’s medical doctors, biologists, chemists, scientists, mathematicians, engineers, writers, teachers, and others have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process. Also included is an article on listening to classical music for healing, better work performance, exercise, and stress management.
Our article of the month is “Great Leaders Are Continuous Learners by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Radio Show Feature Question for April 2021: How did Classical music play a part of Dr. Leo Reckford’s life as a medical doctor, professor, researcher, and musician, and which musical instruments did he play?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2021/
Early years:
Leo P. Reckford was born on May 3, 1903 to Eduard Rechnitzer and Irene Weiss Rechnitzer in Vienna Austria. He also had a sister Anna Rechnitzer.
As a child he studied piano and played in school concerts through the age of 16. He also composed music.
Medical School, New Vienna Conservatory, and Opera Debut:
While attending medical school, “he also attended the New Vienna Conservatory as a vocal student.” (Jerome Hines’ book
“Great Singers On Singing”, P.268.)
In 1927, Leopold Rechnitzer, his legal name, made his opera debut as Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus and “also sang Sarastro in the Magic Flute.” (He was a baritone.)
Dr. Leopold Rechnitzer “graduated as a medical doctor from University of Vienna in 1928.”
In 1939, he emigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 1944 changing his name to Leo P. Reckford. He wanted to join the army so he “changed his name so that if he was captured by the Germans they would not know he was a German Jew.” The Army rejected him “because he was 41 years old and had a duodenal ulcer.”
Dr. Reckford wrote and taught as the Clinical Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, throat specialist, at New York University. He treated opera singers and Broadway stars. He was “one of the leading authorities on phoniatrics in the world.” Phoniatrics is the “science that deals with the research of voice physiology and pathology and with the rehabilitation and habitation of disturbed vocal functions.” (From Jerome Hines’ book “Great Singers on Singing”, p.268)
Dr. Reckford was Jerome Hines’ throat doctor beginning in January of 1948.
Dr. Leo P. Reckford, M.D. was “one of the most highly esteemed throat specialists in the world.” For over 40 years he helped his patients improve their health and trained over 4 generations of doctors to help their patients heal. He was a medical doctor, professor, researcher, husband, father, grandfather, and musician. He died on October 19, 1988 at the age of 85 in Manhattan, New York.
Great Leaders Are Continuous Learners by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
How do you start your day on the right note? You have a choice. How do you handle a difficult situation? What can you do every day to learn from other leaders?
Imagine you were driving a new car on a chilly winter day. Life is grand… until a rusted out Suburban smashes into your rear end. This event happened to me, and once I realized that neither I nor the other driver were injured, I faced a choice; do I fly off the handle and scream at the young woman who decided to rear end me, or do I pause and treat her like a human being.
The young women was apologetic and mentioned that she had been sick and was on her way to take a make-up exam at the local college. I noticed her coat was unbutton and suggested she button her coat as it was quite cold out. I was not happy, but I chose to respond in a positive way!
The way your character is revealed is not when things are going your way; but when the unexpected or unpleasant happens.
The choice is yours! So, how will you handle a difficult situation?
Take a deep breath and calmly respond to the situation.
Begin with a positive happy attitude:
My mother-in -law, Pearl Neustein Berger, always had a positive happy attitude no matter what difficult problems she had to face. She was the 6th child of eight children born to Regina and Herman Neustein who came to America from the Austria Hungarian Empire, Lemberg.
When her husband died of Cancer, she was 41 years old and she had two children to support, ages 5 and 13. She had no education and no job. She decided to take matters into her own hands and found a job at a New York department store, where she stayed for a number of years.
She worked hard to provide for her children, instilling in them strong moral values. She taught them to study, work hard, and to help others. She understood the importance of attending religious services every week to help reinforce their character.
She worked hard to make sure both her children could go to college and graduate school. Shortly after my husband Allan and I were married, my husband had to register for his next semester of graduate school. He was taking evening classes as he had a full-time job during the day. He could not get off work to go to register for classes. I was working that day too.
His Mom, Pearl Berger, had the day off from work and said she would get him registered for school. She always had a positive happy attitude, and was one of the most caring and honorable people I have had the pleasure to know. She was five feet one inches tall and to me she was one of the tallest and strongest women I have known. Her caring attitude and commitment to her family, friends, others made her unforgettable.
What is the best way for you to begin your day? Start with a positive attitude and wear a smile!
The way you respond, and how willing you are to share credit for accomplishments, greatly impacts the people you lead.
Former Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said that the way to get people to play their hearts out on the football field was to take the blame when things go wrong and give… that’s all it takes to get people to win football games… but to the outside world, Bear Bryant always took the heat.
“If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games.” – Coach Bear Bryant
Is this how the great leaders in your life behave? Is this an attitude you could adopt? It could unlock tremendous potential!
What are 3 ways to improve your leadership skills?
- Start your day on the right note with a happy positive attitude and a smile.
- When you have a difficult situation take a deep breath and calmly respond to the situation. As Coach Bear Bryant said, “be willing to take the heat when things go wrong. When things go well, share the credit. When an individual or the team do well, give them the credit.”
- Leaders read every day for 10 to 15 minutes learning from other leaders to help them solve their problems. Leaders are readers and learners constantly evolving, changing, and responding to problems and situations. © 2021 Madeline Frank
If you need a virtual speaker contact Madeline at: [email protected]
https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Madeline_Frank/466291
“10 Wondrous Things That Happen to Your Body When You Listen to Classical Music”
(Oct 18, 2019) by Brooke Nelson and Dawn Yanek from the health.com.
“Classical music is more than just pleasant background noise; it may actually make you healthier. Here’s how Mozart and Vivaldi could help you become smarter, healthier, and even get a good night’s rest.” Listening to Classical music “lowers your blood pressure, makes you smarter, more thoughtful, eases pain, helps you sleep , improves memory, relieves anxiety, builds social relationships, makes you more productive at work, and helps you relax.”
https://www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/classical-music-effects/
“The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is available in book form, and newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook:
com(Kindle)
“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun easy way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award is available in book form, newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook.:
com(Kindle)
Madeline’s Midnight Melodies- Music From around the World”. This CD complements her books with a blend of dance music, gigues, tangos, ballet and favorites including “Danny Boy”, Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro”, Debussy’s “Claire De Lune” and others. “Madeline’s Midnight Melodies” is music to relax by and to move by for music therapy. “Madeline’s Midnight Melodies” CD is now available for purchase by downloading a song, downloading the album, or by CD by clicking below:
Download Your Copy Today! Amazon | iTunes |
Dr. Madeline Frank’s book “Leadership on a Shoestring Budget” is available through amazon. To order your copy as an e-book click on see all formats (kindle):
Wishing you and your family a happy April from your Non-Invasive Medicine…Music Expert, Madeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Madeline Frank has helped children and adults overcome problems through Classical music. Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an award-winning teacher, author, researcher, speaker, conductor, and concert artist. She has discovered a scientific link between studying a musical instruments and academic and societal success. Madeline Frank earned her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. Her education has included scholarships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati and she has a violin performance diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. (C) 2021 Madeline Frank.