Our Radio Show and blog celebrate the extraordinary life and work of Raphael Hillyer, teacher, mentor, and musician. Included are two articles on the power of classical music for education and healing.
Our article of the month is “Spread Good Will” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM. March is music in our schools.
Radio Show Feature Question for March 2019: How did classical music play a part of Raphael Hillyer’s life as teacher, mentor and musician and what musical instruments did he play?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2019/
Early Years: Raphael Hillyer was born on April 10, 1914 in Ithaca, N.Y. His mother was a pianist. His father was a mathematician teaching at Dartmouth and an amateur violist.
At the age of 7 he began to study the violin. He was an excellent student in school. The family visited Leningrad when he was 10 and Raphael studied with Sergei Korgueff and Dmitri Shostakovich who was 18 years old.
Studying at Curtis Institute, Dartmouth College, and Harvard University:
At 16, Raphael Hillyer began studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After graduation he studied at Dartmouth College earning a mathematics degree in 1936 graduating Phi Beta Kappa . He went on to do graduate work at Harvard University in music studying with Walter Piston and Hugo Leichtentritt . While at Harvard he played concerts with Leonard Bernstein , his friend and classmate. In 1939, Bernstein wrote Raphael a violin concerto.
Working as a Violinist for Arturo Toscanini’s NBC Symphony & later with the Boston Symphony with Conductor Serge Koussevitzky in 1942: In Boston, Raphael Hillyer also played violin in the Stradivari Quartet sitting by violist, Eugene Lehner , a Boston Symphony violist. Lehner became Raphael’s mentor.
Founding Member of the Juilliard Quartet: Eugene Lehner encouraged violinist Raphael Hillyer in 1946, to prepare to audition for a violist position in a new quartet forming. Borrowing a viola, he prepared with “intensity” that he was known for. He auditioned and won the job as the new violist and founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet. For 23 years, he concertized, recorded, and taught with the Juilliard Quartet. He later taught at Yale, Harvard, Curtis, American University, and Boston University’s School of Music. He continued performing as a soloist and chamber musician.
Raphael Hillyer taught and mentored young musicians around the world. While teaching and performing with the Juilliard Quartet he mentored the Tokyo String Quartet . One of its founding members was Yoshiko Nakura. She was a dear friend and teacher of mine for whom I will devote our April 2019 Radio Show and blog.
Raphael Hillyer was an American musician, founding member of the Juilliard Quartet, brilliant and passionate teacher for over 50 years, mathematician, husband, and father. He leaves a lasting legacy of teaching over 5 generations of students to be excellent performers, teachers, and thinkers passing the torch on to the next 5 generations. Raphael Hillyer died onDecember 6, 2010 at the ageof 96.
https://www.wqxr.org/story/106387-remembering-raphael-hillyer-juilliard-quartet/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Hillyer
Spread Good Will By Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM
What three things can you do today that will improve your life and those around you?
First, start your day by smiling!
Zig Ziglar, motivational expert and author said, “It takes 72 muscles to frown and 14 to smile.” Lighten your load by smiling! Alfred Adler, “well-known psychologist, later reaffirmed that if we make our selves smile, we actively feel like smiling.”
Dr. Ronald Riggio, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology in his Psychology Today article said, “There’s magic in your smile. You’re actually better-looking when you smile- and I’m not just trying to butter you up.”
He says, ” When you smile, people treat you differently. You’re viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed, and sincere. A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive, smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain that process sensory rewards. This suggests that when you view a person smiling, you actually feel rewarded.”
I was recently in the local Food Lion buying groceries and smiled at another lady who looked harassed and unhappy! A few moments later she looked back and smiled. When someone needs a smile loan them yours!
Zig Ziglar summed it up this way, “Our moods match our posture, and more important, people around us tend to feel as we feel. Mood is contagious.”
Second, encouragement is the key! Giving a sincere compliment shows appreciation.
Herm Albright told the following story: “After watching a middle-aged waitress going about her business efficiently but with a smile for everyone, I decided to compliment her on her good humor.”
‘Well,’ she said, continuing her work, ‘it’s like this. If you see the twinkles you won’t notice the wrinkles.”
Ziglar says, “She’s right. A simple word of encouragement or a pleasant smile does inspire people to do better. Interestingly enough, however, the person doing the encouraging, whether it’s in the form of a simple smile, a little note or a verbal “you’re doing good,” automatically feels better about life itself and, more importantly, about himself.”
Mary Kay Ash said, “Thousands of people have gone farther than they thought they could because somebody else thought they could. What that someone else did was to offer encouragement, which is the “fuel” of hope.”
Mr. Ziglar, “The question is, how often do you give someone a word of encouragement, a verbal thank-you or a simple little note that says “I genuinely appreciate your efforts – you’re doing a beautiful job?”
Reverend Chalfant tells the story of a couple in his church celebrating their “Golden Wedding Anniversary”, 50 years of being happily married. Reverend Chalfont asked his parishioner, “What is the secret of your long happy marriage?”
His parishioner replied, “Sarah, was the only girl I ever dated. I grew up in an orphanage and worked hard for everything I had. I never had time to date until Sarah swept me off my feet. Before I knew it, she had managed to get me to ask her to marry her. After we said our vows on our wedding day, Sarah’s father took me aside and handed me a small gift.”
Sarah’s father said to his new son in law, “Within this gift is all you really need to know to have a happy marriage.”
Son in law said, “I nervously open the beautifully wrapped gift. Within the box lay a large gold watch. With great care I picked it up. Upon close examination I saw etched across the face of the watch, “Say something nice to Sarah”.
He said, “I made a point of saying something nice to my beloved wife, just as the watch reminded me to each morning for 50 years . That’s is the secret of my long and happy marriage.”
If every morning you said something nice, gave a sincere compliment, to your spouse, your children, your family members, and your team members at work wouldn’t you connect better and have a happier day?
Third, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” –Zig Ziglar
Have an attitude of gratitude by being grateful for your blessings and develop a positive mental attitude. Having a positive mental attitude helps to motivate and encourage you, to solve your problems, and have a happier and more meaningful life.
So, start spreading your good will today by smiling, giving a sincere compliment, and having a positive mental attitude. (C) 2019 Madeline Frank
If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: [email protected]
https://www.madelinefrank.com/blog/spread-good-will/
“Pro Musica Performers Fill El Paso Hospital Wards With the Joy of Live Music”by Timothy Lerma (Jan. 31, 2019) from Borderzine.com
Felipa Solis, Executive Director of El Paso Pro Musica says, “It’s about being a healer, because the music is designed to soothe and heal and when you see that there is a change in the status of their health.”
“The use of music to help in the healing process has been around for centuries but began to emerge as a professional practice in the 1940s, according to the American Music Therapy Association.In addition to Pro Musica performances that offer opportunity to connect with classical music on an informal level. Others, like Chaplain Eduardo Henningham of Hospice of El Paso, have seen the benefits of music in all stages of life.”
“5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Heart Health” by Lisa Mulcahy (Jan. 30, 2019) from the Exclusive.multibriefs.com.
Ms. Mulcahy said, “Listen to music after you take your blood pressure meds.Research finds that classical music lowers your heart rate, reduces arterial pressure and positively activates your body’s parasympathetic system — all of which helps your body absorb the medication better. Using Beethoven as your office soundtrack might just create the calming environment you need overall to do your best work, too — give it a try!”
“Be optimistic.: Research from the American College of Cardiology found that positive thinkers have a great chance of improving their heart health, because optimism allows you to better and more enthusiastically plan a healthy diet, make time for exercise, and reject stress. Practice seeing the glass half full — it will not only help your heart, but open up new possibilities in your work life as well!”
“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)
Barnes and Noble(Nook)
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/the-secret-of-teaching-science-and-math-through-music/
“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun 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)
Barnes and Noble(Nook)
Tips on how to use “Musical Notes On Math”
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math/
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 | CD Baby
Dr. Madeline Frank’s book “Leadership on a Shoestring Budget” is available through amazon. To order your copy of“Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” as an e-book on Kindle click on the following link:
Wishing you and your family a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day 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 found a scientific link between studying and/or listening to 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) 2019 Madeline Frank.