Our blog and Radio Show celebrates’ the life and work of Jerome Hines, chemist, mathematician, professor, composer, author, and musician. Many of the world’s chemists, scientists, medical doctors, mathematicians, writers, and teachers have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process.
Also included are two articles on the power of classical music for healing.
Our article of the month is “Creating A Virtual Mastermind” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Radio Show Feature Question for November 2020: How did Classical music play a part of Jerome Hines’ life as a mathematician, chemist, professor, and musician and what were his musical instruments?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2020/
Early years:
Jerome Albert Link Hines was born in Hollywood, California on November 8, 1921 to Russell Ray Heinz, a motion picture executive and Mildred Link Heinz, a homemaker. At the age of seven, he began piano lessons. For his thirteenth birthday he was given a gift of a chemistry set and decided to be a chemist.
Hines mother to help him get over his shyness “enrolled him in singing lessons with Lucy McCullough. After several lessons McCullough refused to continue, urging Hines to find a teacher “who would do justice” to his voice. That teacher was Gennaro M. Curci, brother-in-law of the famed coloratura soprano Amelita Galli-Curci.”
High School to University:
In 1937, after Fairfax High School he entered, the University of California in Los Angeles to study mathematics, chemistry, and physics. “At the same time, he continued studying singing with Gennaro Curci.”
In June 1943, Jerome Hines earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in organic chemistry and mathematics from the University of California at Los Angeles. He was “granted graduate standing in physics.” He later earned a Masters in mathematics.
Hines, “I studied with a private teacher. I couldn’t afford the lessons, so he said he would teach me for free, and then I would pay him 10 percent of what I made for the first seven years of my career. And that’s what we did.”
Hines says, “I worked like there was no tomorrow. (laughing). But it paid off. I made my Hollywood Bowl debut at 20. By age 21, I was performing Mephistopheles in `Faust.’”
During WWII: Hines, “I taught math and chemistry at UCLA, worked as chemist for a couple of years, and then got my first Met contract at 24.”
He was “disqualified from military service because of his height—six feet, six and one-half inches. He joined the war effort as a chemist with the Union Oil Company in Los Angeles. While working, Hines took graduate courses in physics, continued voice lessons, and learned Italian and French. By age twenty Hines knew twenty operatic roles. Singing engagements consumed more of his time.”
When he moved to New York City “he studied voice with Rocco Pandiscio for two years”, then studied voice with Samuel Margolis. He also studied with Vladimir Rosing to improve his acting. In 1946,“Hines made his debut at the Met in Boris Godunov as the Sergeant. He sang forty-one seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, 868 performances, encompassing forty-five roles in thirty-nine operas”. He sang for over forty years “in other opera houses around the world.”
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hines-jerome-albert-link
Special Effects: Chemistry: Hines continued his work with chemistry by inventing ,in his lab, “ a nontoxic special effect solution used on stage in Faust.”
Hines wrote three books on music: “This Is My Story, This Is My Song (1968), his autobiography; Great Singers on Great Singing (1982), a collection of interviews; and The Four Voices of Man (1997), on vocal techniques.”
Hines contributed 5 mathematical articles to “Mathematics Magazine”:
1951: “On approximating the roots of an equation by iteration”, Mathematics Magazine 24(3):123–
- 1952: “Foundations of Operator Theory”, Mathematics Magazine 25:251–61
- 1955: “Operator Theory II”,Mathematics Magazine 28(4):199–20
- 1955: “Operator Theory III”,Mathematics Magazine 29(2):69–7
- 1956: “A Generalization of the S-Stirling numbers”, Mathematics Magazine 29:200–
Hines lectured/ taught mathematics from the 1970s at East Carolina University , Emory University, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Montclair State University, and other universities. Hines book “A New Philosophy of Mathematics” was completed in 1976.
Hines developed his “Theory of Unachievably Large Numbers”. Hines, “It’s a book I’m writing about a mathematical theory I’ve developed, a finite mathematics that allows one to do all that an infinite math does. I call it the Theory of Unachievably Large Numbers. (C. 1996) It probably won’t ever get published.” he said, with a deep, rumbling chuckle. “But I’m having so much darn fun writing it. I’ve got about 320 pages done. I’ve showed it to some math people and they were pretty enthusiastic about it, so who knows?”
Teaching & Coaching Opera Singers: In 1987 in New Jersey, Hines founded his Opera-Music Theater International organization to teach “the next generation of opera singers.” His “organization helps promising young singers get the training and encouragement they need to make a career in opera.”
Hines said, “We’ve had a total of about 54 students through the program. We try to find the great voices that otherwise might fall through the cracks. We’ve auditioned about 2,000 professional level singers over the years, and the ones we select are the ones with real promise.”
Students in the “program receive free coaching and voice lessons, are taught foreign languages, take acting courses, participate in special concerts and opera readings, and get career advice.”
Hines says, “When they’re ready, we start calling the managers, the impresarios. And we’ve had a number of them get contracts with the Met, Covent Garden, all the top houses.”
Born again Christian: Visits Salvation Army Mission to sing and preach:
Composed operas: “Jerome Hines composed two and a half operas. In his opera “I Am the Way” on the life of Jesus, he “sang the role of Jesus at the Met in 1968 and performing his opera around the world. In 1964, he sang the bass solo of the Messiah, full recording, with Otto Klemperer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Hines
Theater: “A resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Hines appeared frequently at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn in recent years. His last role with the company was Dr. Engel in a 2000 production of The Student Prince, in which he sang the poignant “Golden Days.” Hines also starred at Paper Mill in Man of La Mancha and in South Pacific.”
Married, Children and Grandchildren: Jerome Hines married in 1952 Lucia Evangelista, soprano. They had four sons and eight grandchildren. Jerome Hines was a mathematician, chemist, professor, opera singer, composer, author, husband, father, and grandfather. In 1987, he founded his Opera-Music Theater International organization to teach “the next generation of opera singers.” He died in 2003 at the age of 81 in Manhattan.
Creating A Virtual Mastermind by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
What can a virtual mastermind group do for you?
High achievers long ago realized they needed to tap into the knowledge and experience of other people to solve problems and reach new levels of growth.
One of the greatest examples of tapping into the experience of others begins with Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the U.S. and the only one to sign all four key documents establishing the U.S. He was also a printer, author, philosopher, politician, statesman, diplomat, scientist, economist, and inventor.
Background:
Benjamin Franklin wasn’t born the oldest sibling with over-achiever traits, many of us see today. He was the 15th of 17 children. Ben’s father wasn’t a college graduate; he made soap and candles. He was a tradesman.
The most foundational trait he passed on to his children was his love of reading. Benjamin’s mother realized that while their home was crowded and noisy, she was committed to making it a healthy and happy home.
At the age of 8, Benjamin’s father sent him to South Grammar School, later called the “Boston Latin” school, preparing young Benjamin to be a minister. Two years later, Josiah ran out of money and brought Benjamin home to work with him in the candle making business.
Apprenticed at 12 to a printer:
Benjamin, loved to read and learn. He would borrow books from his friends. From these books he taught himself grammar, philosophy, and arithmetic. Every time he saved a little money he would purchase books to read and learn from. His friends also loved to read books and they regularly studied the books and discussed them.
When Benjamin was 12 years of age, Josiah had him apprenticed to his older son, James who was a printer. The apprenticeship was signed for 7 years. (Yes… at the age of 12!)
“New England Courant”:
James Franklin began his “New England Courant” newspaper in Boston in 1721 when his brother Benjamin was 15. It was the third paper in Boston. James’ and his friends wrote articles, opinions, news of the day, advertisements, and other information.
The beginning of Benjamin’s Writing Career:
Benjamin began writing articles and asked his brother James to publish them in his newspaper. James refused! So, Benjamin, 16, under the pen name Silence Dogood, (wrote as the Widow Dogood, a 40-year-old widow). Benjamin put his letters under James’ door every two weeks.
Benjamin Franklin at 16 became the printer & publisher of his brother’s “New -England Courant”. James had written an article against the government and was put in jail. The next year, Benjamin Franklin, 17, became for the second time, printer and publisher of his brother’s “Courant” newspaper. James, this time, wrote an article “mocking religion”. Once more the court made the decision to jail him. James escaped out of town.
By September 1723, Benjamin Franklin had had enough of his brother’s “abuse and strict control”. He escaped by traveling to New York and later Philadelphia looking for a new opportunity in the printing business. He worked several different jobs during this time.
Birth of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Club in Philadelphia:
At 21, Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto Club, a weekly discussion group of 12 men. Another name later given to his “Junto Club” was “Leather Apron Club”.
Benjamin decided tradesmen should have the opportunity of an education just as the wealthy people who were able to send their children to be educated at colleges/ universities.
The difference to him was reading books, learning from them, and discussing them with others who loved reading, learning, improving themselves, and discussing what they read. He thought that this would be a great equalizer. (Today we call it a “think tank, a mastermind” group.)
What questions should you ask your prospective members of your Master Mind or Junto?
What 4 questions did Benjamin Franklin ask his prospective Junto Club members “to qualify” them as a member?
“Each person was also asked to stand up, and lay their hand on their heart, and answer the following questions”: (Updated to 21st Century English)
1 “Do you feel “any disrespect” for any of our members?” Answer. I do not.
- “Do you “sincerely declare” that you love mankind; no matter what profession or religion?” Answer. I do.
- “Should anyone be harmed in body, name or goods, for their opinions or their religion?” Answer. No.
- “Do you love the truth, and will you endeavor to find, receive, and communicate it to others?” Answer. Yes.
In Benjamin Franklin’s Memoirs he wrote “I had formed most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the Junto; we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased.”
It was agreed to have “12” members who “were tradesmen and artisans”. The Junto Club continued for 38 years. When they saw a problem, a need, they found a solution. Education began by starting the first Public Libraries in 1731. From their Junto members personal libraries, they would gather books for the first lending library in Philadelphia. Learning through reading, educating everyone no matter what their financial circumstance. Education to Benjamin Franklin was the great equalizer.
After fires killed people, destroyed homes, and businesses, Benjamin and his Junto members began in 1736 in Philadelphia the Union Fire Company, a volunteer fire department. They also began a Volunteer Militia to protect and secure the colony.
Where they saw a need, a solution would follow.
In 1749, Benjamin Franklin involved some of his Junto members in designing the University of Pennsylvania and in 1751, the Pennsylvania Hospitalwas founded by Benjamin Franklin and his Junto. When Benjamin Franklin saw a need he worked to find a solution leading the way with his Junto members. Team work at its best!
Here are 3 things for you to consider when forming your mastermind:
- Identify the values of your mastermind. Will it be a business roundtable? Bible study? Marriage strengthening? You decide.
- Limit your group to 6 people. Any bigger than that and it is impossible to manage.
- Understand that part of the mastermind is holding others accountable. Be prepared to give and take accountability.
So, who would you like to have in your virtual mastermind and what would your criteria be?
Madeline’s latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a virtual speaker contact Madeline at: [email protected]
https://www.madelinefrank.com/blog/creating-a-virtual-mastermind/
“The Power of Music To Reduce Stress” (July 29, 2020) by Jane Collingwood
“The soothing power of music is well-established. It has a unique link to our emotions, so can be an extremely effective stress management tool. Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music. This type of music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones.”
https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/
“New Normal: Classical Music Helps Young People Lower Their Pandemic Stress” (September 29, 2020). “The lockdown era broke the consumer’s connection with live concert hall experiences, which is the heartbeat of the music industry,” says James Williams, Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. At a time of crisis and anxiety, music has become more important to people as an expression of hope, giving some the strength to endure and for others serving as a tonic to support their mental health and wellbeing. Not just ANY music – classical music is now the feel-good audio choice for some who used to dismiss it. The research finds 35 percent of respondents under age 35 felt listening to orchestral music during lockdown had helped them relax and maintain a sense of calmness; another 18 percent said it lifted their spirits in isolation. Deezer’s streaming data show that 59 percent of music consumers under age 30 have been listening to orchestral music while sheltering in place, compared with just 10 percent a decade ago.”
https://philadelphiamusicfestival.org/new-normal-classical-music-helps-young-people-lower-their-pandemic-stress/
“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
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“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.
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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:
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Dr. Madeline Frank’s book “Leadership on a Shoestring Budget” is available through amazon. To order your copy of “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” or Purchase For The Kindle
Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving 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 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) 2020 Madeline Frank.