COLLECTION NAME:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Record
Collection Name:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Title:
J. Michael Beck Interview July 27, 2022
Title Type:
Devised
Name:
Beck, J. Michael
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewee
Name:
Wagenknecht, Lydia
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewer
Name:
Thomas, Susan
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewer
Resource Type:
Moving image
Genre:
Oral histories
Date Created:
2022-07-27
Language Term:
English
Extent:
1 online resource (1 video file) (1 hr., 5 min., 34 sec.)
Physical Description Note:
For access to the recordings on YouTube contact the University of Colorado Boulder American Music Research Center.
Abstract:
J. Michael Beck is a music educator and owner of the Elledge Music store in Pueblo, Colorado. As a child growing up in Pueblo, he studied accordion, organ, and piano and performed locally at venues such as at the carousel at the Colorado State Fair. He earned degrees in music at the Eastman School of Music, Western State College, and University of Northern Colorado, before accepting a position to teach piano at Southern Colorado State College. Now retired, he continues community outreach through the Song of Pueblo project.
Note:
00:00:00 Lydia Wagenknecht, Graduate Research Assistant at the American Music Research Center and Susan Thomas, the Director of the American Music Research Center introduce themselves. Dr. J. Michael Beck introduces himself and discussed his family history in Pueblo. Additional topics include: CF&I Steel Mill, Pueblo Central High School, and second generation immigration. 00:01:59 Beck talks about his childhood experiences learning and performing in a local accordion band, largely due to the efforts and prodding of his mother. Additional topics include: Butkevich Radio Hour, chord organ, Colorado State Fair, polka, Slovenian, spinet organ, and Suzuki method. 00:10:06 Beck talks about organ lessons, and how his teacher, Hannah Andrews was a friend of the family. She had a grand piano and organ. Beck describes his increasing interest in expanding his musical education throughout high school and college. Additional topics include: pipe organ, Southern Colorado State College, and music education. 00:12:14 Beck talks about performing accordion on the carousel of the Colorado State Fair. 00:13:03 Beck talks about his experiences performing for high school assemblies and accompanying church services. He recounts traveling to Colorado Springs and Denver to hear well-known organists perform. Additional topics include: Air Force Academy, Handel's Messiah, organ, piano, and Christianity. 00:21:04 Beck talks about the intense, but rewarding experience of studying at the Eastman School of Music. Additional topics include: sight-reading, music conservatory culture, and music education. 00:24:41 Beck mentions he returned to Colorado to receive his master's degree at Western State College and doctoral degree at the University of Northern Colorado. 00:30:41 Beck talks about getting a job teaching piano classes after graduating from Gunnison (still Southern Colorado State College then). He continues to discuss how the music department at SCSC developed during the time he served as department chair at the college. 00:37:56 Beck describes community outreach between the university and the community through performances with the Pueblo Symphony. 00:41:05 Beck talks about performing in a ragtime band. Additional topics include: ragtime music, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Song of Pueblo. 00:44:22 Beck talks about the Song of Pueblo project and his role as the music director and keyboardist. 00:49:36 Beck discusses the history of the Elledge Music store and how he came to own it. Additional topics include: Elledge Music Inc., National Association of Music Merchants, Stevie Wonder, and music stores. 00:53:09 Beck talks about his children, Sharon and James, and their musical careers. Additional topics include: Indiana University, Tanglewood Music Center, and University of Northern Colorado 00:58:24 Beck recounts how the neighborhood around the Elledge store and the larger Pueblo area have changed over the years. Additional topics include: CF&I Steel Mill, El Pueblo Museum, Mariachi, and Pueblo Chorale. End of recording.
Note Type:
Time coded description
Note:
Collection is a collaboration between the American Music Research Center (AMRC) and the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation. For more information contact the AMRC.
Subject Topic:
Music--Instruction and study
Subject Topic:
Accordion
Subject Topic:
Organ (Musical instrument)
Subject Name:
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
Subject Name:
Eastman School of Music
Subject Name:
Colorado State Fair
Subject Name:
Western State College of Colorado
Subject Name:
University of Northern Colorado
Subject Name:
Southern Colorado State College
Subject Name:
Elledge Music
Subject Geographic:
Pueblo (Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Subject Geographic:
Bessemer (Pueblo, Colorado, United States, North America) (neighborhood)
Subject Title:
Song of Pueblo
Identifier:
J._Michael_Beck_113792_2022-07-27.mp4
Physical Location:
American Music Research Center
Date Captured:
2022
Internet Media Type:
video/mp4
Digital Origin:
born digital
Access Condition:
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).