10 Thursday, September 26, 2002Index

Music faculty memberhas taught longest of all professors

Chakira Lanefor the Index

The presence of Richard Weerts,professor of music, has remained anelement of familiarity at theUniversity since 1961.

Weerts has taught at Truman foralmost 42 years, longer than anyfaculty member.

Warren Gooch, associate profes-sor of music, has known Weerts for13 years and said he appreciatesWeerts’ constancy.

“No matter how the faceschange, there’s this one element ofstability: Dick Weerts is here,”

Gooch said.After teaching on the East Coast

for five years, Weerts came to theUniversity in 1961 as an assistantprofessor of music. He became aprofessor of music in 1965.

Weerts said he decided to teachat the University because of itsproximity to his childhood home inPeoria, Ill., and because of theschool’s reputation of having a verygood music department. Two of hisfour children attended theUniversity.

He said he opted to stay for aslong as he has because of the con-sistent excellence of the musicdepartment.

“I don’t ever recall the music dis-cipline having a down year,” Weertssaid. “They’re all good.”

Throughout his career at the

University, Weerts has taught acourse for woodwinds, music grad-uate courses and private lessons forall woodwinds with an emphasis onthe clarinet.

Senior Erin Russom, a clarinetperformance major who has takenthree years of lessons with Weerts,said she respects him because of hisexperience and expertise.

“He offers a lot of advice to me,”Russom said. “For the most part,because of him I have grown a lot asa player.”

Sophomore music major JamieHardesty takes clarinet lessonswith Weerts. She said his experi-ence is impressive and he is veryhelpful.

“He’s fun,” Hardesty said. “He’sintimidating, but at the same timehe’s not. He really pushes you.

Nicole Grasch/IndexRichard Weerts, professor of music, examines one of the many musicbooks in his library. Weerts has taught for 42 years at the University,longer than any other professor.

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Nicole Grasch/IndexFreshman Shino Saito, a clarinet major, studies under the tutelage of Richard Weerts, professor of music,during a private clarinet lesson Tuesday. Weerts teaches woodwinds with an emphasis on clarinet.

There are times when I say, ‘Oh no,I can’t do this, I can’t do this,’ andhe’ll tell me, ‘Try it,’ and I’ll get itright there.”

Weerts said he chose to enter acareer in music and become amusic instructor because he had agood music teacher at a young age.

“It’s something I’ve done all mylife, ever since I was in the fifthgrade, and I really worked at it,”Weerts said. “I was fortunate tohave a very excellent clarinetteacher when I was young.”

Weerts has been a member ofthe National Association ofCollege Wind and PercussionInstructors for almost as long ashe has been teaching at theUniversity. He is the executivesecretary-treasurer, a position hehas held since 1970.

“I got this invitation to join theorganization,” Weerts said. “Well, Ithought that’s exactly what I’mdoing here, so I really ought tobelong to the group.”

Some of Weerts’ colleagues saidthey have a high regard for thework he has done at the University.Dan Peterson, director of bands,said Weerts has been an excellentteacher and a strong member of themusic department.

“I think he’s been a real pillarof the division for a number ofyears,” Peterson said. “He guidesus down the straight and narrow,keeps us on task. He’s a strongmember.”

Gooch said he admires Weerts forbeing passionate about his love ofmusic.

“He still has this real fire forwhat he is doing,” Gooch said. “Hegenuinely has a real interest inwhat he’s doing. I very muchadmire that in him.”

Weerts has accomplished a lotin the course of his academiccareer. He served in the U.S.Military Academy Band, one ofthe three special bands in the U.S.Army, from 1951 to 1955 afterreceiving his bachelor’s degree inmusic education from theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign and his master’sdegree from Columbia Universityin New York City.

Shortly after his discharge, hecompleted his studies and receivedhis doctorate from ColumbiaUniversity.

He has done extensive research inthe field of music, which is shown inmore than 100 articles and researchgrants he has written for variousnational and international journals.

Weerts’ work also includeswriting a chapter on instrumentalmusic in “The Handbook ofResearch on Music Teaching andLearning,” which was published in1992.

“I felt very much honored to have

received that invitation in a publica-tion of this quality,” Weerts said.

Weerts recorded his only albumin 1965, titled “Contest Music forthe Clarinet.” He also has met andplayed for many famous composersand conductors, including IgorStravinsky and the late LeonardBernstein.

Weerts, who lives with his wifein Kirksville, is the convener for themusic department and is now teach-ing a graduate course on musicresearch.

Weerts has no bad memories ofthe University and said this is awonderful institution.

“I really do enjoy my work alot,” Weerts said.

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