Thank you so much for posting this. I too grew up in Georgetown and I was in 9th grade ten years earlier in 1972 and picked up a tenor sax. This moment changed my life and Harry was just pure love and fun, I loved him so much! I can't recall any negative memories, just encouragement and many songs like Begin The Beguine. I didn't realize I got to be with Harry at the beginning of his teaching career nor did I know about his MS. I went on to study electronic and experimental music while at Dalhousie where I was blessed by another wonderful music teacher Steve Tittle. When I got to my early 20's I played professionally in Toronto for a few years in the early 80's. Being in Harry's classes for four years of my life was a blessing. My appreciation of music predated Harry but my passion grew in Harry's classes. Harry was definitely doing what he loved. Thanks Scott!
That was a great tribute to an incredible teacher and an incredible person! Harry helped give me the gift of Music which is stayed with me to this day. Turn up many teachers that had such an incredible lasting impression on my life as Harry Hamilton
I had Harry from 1968 to 1973, he taught me so much other than music, We could drop in his classes any time and he always welcomed us to join or just hang out. My final year we formed a singing group and he let us teach ourselves for the entire year. Thanks for this tribute to Harry.
I had Harry for music from 1980-85. I played flute in the school band and I was also doing the Royal Conservatory music program for piano. I went on to get my ARCT and a Bachelor of Music. Harry was the best music teacher I've ever had and I've had A LOT of music teachers. I currently teach K-8 music and I often think of Harry and try to be like him (I'm not!). He encouraged me to write music and when I played my music for the class he would get them to accompany me and I even played my own piece at a school band concert. It meant the world to me as a super shy and awkward kid. Thanks so much for creating this tribute to him!
This is an amazing story. I hope all kids now and in the future will have something similar to share from their high school years. This life-changing mentoring.
Joe Smith, Metcalf Middle School, Exeter, RI. Mr. Smith introduced me to the piano at age 10. I've been playing professionally for 40+ years. Thank you for getting me started.
Thanks for this I never heard of him but man does your story of him inspear me greatly and give me hope to end up impacting the world like him if I never find traditional success... Though if you asked those who know me I already have... Thank you again he really sounded like a great teacher the greatest even.
Loved this heartfelt tribute Scott! I had a great teacher for jazz band named Mr. E. He was not quite as easy going, in fact, a bit hard lined and quite opinionated. Still, he inspired us all to learn to improvise and feel music more than just playing it. Also super cool to hear you started on trombone. Same for me that after decades of playing piano, my sight reading still sucks. I however can read bass clef trombone parts quite well even though I have not played trombone in a while. I never went on to play music professionally but it was a huge part of fostering my creativity in all all areas of my life. I have a lot to owe to Mr E and his classes for that.
This is very thoughtful Scott..... My tribute would go to Paul Miner (music teacher @ Westview Centennial High, session and gigging trombonist). The best teacher ever.... and still a cool dude! ~
Interesting video, I really enjoyed it. It was so nice that you made a video about somebody who was very important to you, not just somebody who was famous. You made me laugh because just like Harry anyone who calls me "Mr" I tell them that's my Dad!. Greetings from England!
Jean-michel Jarre & vince clark were my main reasons for getting in to synthesis, but then Trance, techno etc changed the way I played, so my first influential musicians became part of the big melting pot of sound making me play all genres of music. Thanks scott, love your story about who influenced you ❤
I was 5 years ahead of you. One song I remember that we played, and I loved…was Torrey Pines. Do you know it? I can’t find it anywhere, and now I realise that because the sheet music was hand written…it was somebody’s original.
I haven't picked up a trombone since I played it Harry's class, but I bet it would all come back to me if I did ... and I'd play just a poorly as I did back then.
I was at a street fair a couple of years back, and they had band instruments out for people to try out. I haven't touched a trombone in 30+ years, but I was able to pick it up and play something straight away. It's still in there!!
Great story. When you mentioned how he got sick it reminded me of my uncle also a Jazz player and orchestra player woodwind section. He one day got sick and fell into a 3 day comma and it was later determined it was rare case but presumably caused by the instrument he was playing caused some sort of bubbles in his brain. (I was a kid at the time so it could be me remembering it incorrectly). Reason I am sharing this your story reminded me of Mark my beloved uncle who loved music and inspired me to play music via his fun teaching and jam sessions. Thanks Scott.
56 years playing piano, professionally playing solo piano concerts, still can't read those two clefs, only at a 1st grade level. I can't read English words very fast either, If we had to read in class, I would be a third finished by the time the class was discussing the read. All of school was difficult, book learning without hands on training meant a failure for me. Maybe you too? I have read music theory books written by music teachers that was so sterile, devoid of all love for music. It was like these music teachers would take a walk in the wilderness and see a beautiful deer grazing in a flower filled meadow, and these teachers would say: "Look at that beautiful deer, let's kill it and dissect it to see why it is so beautiful". I think you can understand this, Scott. Instead, I would practice some scales and then improvise a song using at least 5 major and minor scales blending them all seamlessly. My wife a classical pianist performing her senior recital said her teacher said to avoid being nervous, get angry, get mad and play furious. What? Teachers of music, real teachers are very rare.
Thank you so much for posting this. I too grew up in Georgetown and I was in 9th grade ten years earlier in 1972 and picked up a tenor sax. This moment changed my life and Harry was just pure love and fun, I loved him so much! I can't recall any negative memories, just encouragement and many songs like Begin The Beguine. I didn't realize I got to be with Harry at the beginning of his teaching career nor did I know about his MS. I went on to study electronic and experimental music while at Dalhousie where I was blessed by another wonderful music teacher Steve Tittle. When I got to my early 20's I played professionally in Toronto for a few years in the early 80's. Being in Harry's classes for four years of my life was a blessing. My appreciation of music predated Harry but my passion grew in Harry's classes. Harry was definitely doing what he loved. Thanks Scott!
That was a great tribute to an incredible teacher and an incredible person! Harry helped give me the gift of Music which is stayed with me to this day. Turn up many teachers that had such an incredible lasting impression on my life as Harry Hamilton
I had Harry from 1968 to 1973, he taught me so much other than music, We could drop in his classes any time and he always welcomed us to join or just hang out. My final year we formed a singing group and he let us teach ourselves for the entire year. Thanks for this tribute to Harry.
What a great tribute.
I had Harry for music from 1980-85. I played flute in the school band and I was also doing the Royal Conservatory music program for piano. I went on to get my ARCT and a Bachelor of Music. Harry was the best music teacher I've ever had and I've had A LOT of music teachers. I currently teach K-8 music and I often think of Harry and try to be like him (I'm not!). He encouraged me to write music and when I played my music for the class he would get them to accompany me and I even played my own piece at a school band concert. It meant the world to me as a super shy and awkward kid. Thanks so much for creating this tribute to him!
YES! This is exactly what I was trying to get across in this video. You are a perfect example of his legacy. Thank you so much for writing it!
This is an amazing story. I hope all kids now and in the future will have something similar to share from their high school years. This life-changing mentoring.
Joe Smith, Metcalf Middle School, Exeter, RI. Mr. Smith introduced me to the piano at age 10. I've been playing professionally for 40+ years. Thank you for getting me started.
Great video. This should be required viewing for school administrators who think the only way students learn is through by the book, canned lessons.
Very interesting story. I enjoyed watching this video.
A good teacher is worth their weight in gold, thankyou Harry for all the kids you taught!
I’m listening to this while trimming my hedges 😂. Thanks for sharing this story. Cheers!
Thanks for this I never heard of him but man does your story of him inspear me greatly and give me hope to end up impacting the world like him if I never find traditional success... Though if you asked those who know me I already have... Thank you again he really sounded like a great teacher the greatest even.
Loved this heartfelt tribute Scott! I had a great teacher for jazz band named Mr. E. He was not quite as easy going, in fact, a bit hard lined and quite opinionated. Still, he inspired us all to learn to improvise and feel music more than just playing it.
Also super cool to hear you started on trombone. Same for me that after decades of playing piano, my sight reading still sucks. I however can read bass clef trombone parts quite well even though I have not played trombone in a while.
I never went on to play music professionally but it was a huge part of fostering my creativity in all all areas of my life. I have a lot to owe to Mr E and his classes for that.
That's a great story Scott, and doubly interesting as I have connections to Toronto. It's a shame we can't all have a Harry in our lives.
I was in GDHS from 1983-1988 I had one semester with Harry. Both my siblings had him as a teacher before me, my brother was in the school band.
Amazing story and performance at the end! 🤣
This is very thoughtful Scott.....
My tribute would go to Paul Miner (music teacher @ Westview Centennial High, session and gigging trombonist).
The best teacher ever.... and still a cool dude!
~
Interesting video, I really enjoyed it. It was so nice that you made a video about somebody who was very important to you, not just somebody who was famous. You made me laugh because just like Harry anyone who calls me "Mr" I tell them that's my Dad!. Greetings from England!
- You rebel trombonist you 🤣
This was quite a special tribute! You're really good at storytelling - kept me glued for the whole way through. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you so much for the very kind comment!!
What an amazing story.
Thanks for this inspiring, personal story! Indeed, that sounds really exceptional.
Great video. You really have a knack for story telling. Love to see more of these type of vids
You yourself are a great teacher man, i love your videos!
Very kind, thank you!
Jean-michel Jarre & vince clark were my main reasons for getting in to synthesis, but then Trance, techno etc changed the way I played, so my first influential musicians became part of the big melting pot of sound making me play all genres of music.
Thanks scott, love your story about who influenced you ❤
I was 5 years ahead of you. One song I remember that we played, and I loved…was Torrey Pines.
Do you know it? I can’t find it anywhere, and now I realise that because the sheet music was hand written…it was somebody’s original.
I haven't picked up a trombone since I played it Harry's class, but I bet it would all come back to me if I did ... and I'd play just a poorly as I did back then.
I was at a street fair a couple of years back, and they had band instruments out for people to try out. I haven't touched a trombone in 30+ years, but I was able to pick it up and play something straight away. It's still in there!!
Cool.
Great story. When you mentioned how he got sick it reminded me of my uncle also a Jazz player and orchestra player woodwind section. He one day got sick and fell into a 3 day comma and it was later determined it was rare case but presumably caused by the instrument he was playing caused some sort of bubbles in his brain. (I was a kid at the time so it could be me remembering it incorrectly). Reason I am sharing this your story reminded me of Mark my beloved uncle who loved music and inspired me to play music via his fun teaching and jam sessions. Thanks Scott.
56 years playing piano, professionally playing solo piano concerts, still can't read those two clefs, only at a 1st grade level. I can't read English words very fast either, If we had to read in class, I would be a third finished by the time the class was discussing the read. All of school was difficult, book learning without hands on training meant a failure for me. Maybe you too?
I have read music theory books written by music teachers that was so sterile, devoid of all love for music. It was like these music teachers would take a walk in the wilderness and see a beautiful deer grazing in a flower filled meadow, and these teachers would say: "Look at that beautiful deer, let's kill it and dissect it to see why it is so beautiful". I think you can understand this, Scott. Instead, I would practice some scales and then improvise a song using at least 5 major and minor scales blending them all seamlessly. My wife a classical pianist performing her senior recital said her teacher said to avoid being nervous, get angry, get mad and play furious. What?
Teachers of music, real teachers are very rare.
Interesting
to me it is vangelis, chip davis(mannheim steamroller), herbie hancock, Jeff Lorber, Rush, Collective Soul. Many other synth and jazz musicians
Jeff Lorber was really scary in the movie The First Power. Or was that Jeff Kober??
Tony Banks, Keith Emerson, and Rick wakeman, in that order. Most proficient player I admire, Oscar Peterson.
Oscar was a genius
MODXm ??😮