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An
Educator - in class and out
In
workshops, clinics, rehearsals or classrooms Stephen Guyer is at home
with the communication and imparting of knowledge at several levels.
He adds insight and a gift for wit and humor that never fails to win new
admirers.
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He has been on the faculties of Denver University and Chapman University and he has also taught 7-8 grade instrumental music in the Santa Ana, CA public school system. He is regularly published by business publications such as The Denver Business Journal and others. In his "dual life" as a music director and as a financial consultant to businesses, he has taught courses as diverse as:
Investigating learning phenomena as it relates to music and the brain, he has published a paper for the University of Denver Music Theory Department on the use of "Bi-Polar Coordinate Geometry and the Revelation of Tonality."Introduction to Music Introduction to Management Information Systems Statistics and Operations Research Financial Markets Human Resource Information Systems Basic Math for Business
He taught music courses inside the federal prison in Denver. The classes consisted of about 20 inmates (all with 15-20 year sentences). One of the inmates, a tough fellow, tattooed, sunglass wearing, bearded, biker-type, became interested in Mozart. He continued his study and actually obtained a college degree while still in prison.
"I learned a couple of things myself," Stephen quipped, "like don't show the movie Amadeus to guys in prison. They get unduly distracted by Constanza's ...ah... artistic endowments!"
Why Sing?
It was another late Thursday afternoon. The children had not yet been fed and one of them needed to be to Tae Kwon Do in 45 minutes. The other had a homework project due the next day. The I.R.S. had appeared yesterday at work declaring theyíd like to see all the records for (just) the last three years. The baby had been sick on Wednesday, taken to the doctor amid the whining cries of the other children for additional attention. The right front tire on the car was consistently losing air at the rate of 20 pounds per day, but there was no time to replace it. It was low on gas as well. No time. No time. It seemed like those two words had been the most frequently uttered expression from time immemorial. Besides that, choir rehearsal was starting in an hour and a half. Choir rehearsal-- no time, no time.
Deciding to "do my duty" anyway, I delivered the son, made arrangements for his retrieval and dragged myself into the church feeling like my own fuel tank was depleted and empty. Where would I find the energy to produce any kind of music on this evening drowning in all the demands of work, parenthood, and mechanical devices.
The rehearsal began with its usual stretching, humming and neck massage. As the first few bars of the opening piece began to rise, something in the room changed. The nagging thoughts of work, transportation demands and illnesses began to fade. It was as if a fountain of refreshing water appeared and we taking our turn at its offering of relief.
After 20 minutes, the room was full of energy. People were laughing, singing together in a way that brought new meaning and connection with each other. I felt the secular burdens being lifted from the spirits of the group; a true revival. As the rehearsal continued, a new perspective emerged. In the face of our God given creation of music, the I.R.S. seemed almost irrelevant. Children would of course be cared for; in a better manner because of our improved spirits.
The rehearsal concluded and we headed for the parking lot. The tire on the car was still going flat, but somehow it didnít matter as much. The phrase ìno time, no timeî had been replaced with ìI have more energy now than I did two hours ago.î We had all been to a place and time where God had fed us with the spiritual food of music and provided us with a spiritual, mental, and physical ìworkout.î ìGee, I didnít even have to join a health club,î I thought. Feeling rejuvenated, I vowed to make time for this experience every week; realizing that for complete health, this form of exercise is as important as running, sit-ups, or nautilus machines.
Who Can Sing?
According to renowned vocal instructor Van Christy, many people approach singing with unjustified inhibitions, fear or inferiority complexes and misconceptions. What is the truth about singing? Anyone with a normal speaking voice who can ìcarry a tuneî or learn to do so - can sing! ìSinging is not a God given talent bestowed on a favored few. It is possible for all persons who possess a voice with which to speak, to learn to sing.
Singing is both an art and a science in which the two aspects of mental and physical play an important and coordinated part. Singing is a natural, artistic expression. Infants often utter musical intervals before learning to speak.
It is normal for the human being to be pleased with any form of artistic expression, with the creative act. Music, commonly called the language of emotions, furnishes greater satisfaction and pleasure in artistic expression for more people than any other of the arts.
As Robert Shaw had observed: Insofar as there is a Creative Principle (which some people may identify as God), and if man is created in that particular image, then man has the responsibility of being the Creative Principle. The perpetuation of those values that have ennobled humans and made them a contributing benevolence to the universe and to the human environment is a part of their moral responsibility.
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