Page 4
The Pendulum
Features
Thursday, February 16, 1984
Pianist finds time to play
teaching classes
Photo by Paul Hams
FINGERTIP TALENT: Pianist Arlene Goter manages to
keep up with her own practicing between her new jobs of
teaching theory classes and giving private lessons at
while still
By Sue Hoggard
Staff Writer
Many people who are aware
of her presence around Elon
are wondering how such a
talented individual managed
to show up here. They say she
has the ability to perform just
about anywhere and with any
one she wishes.
Dr. Arlene Goter, teacher of
piano and music theory,
finished her doctorate in piano
performance at Indiana Uni
versity last year. She said she
didn't expect to get a job so
soon since her studies ran
through the prime hiring sea
son. February through April.
Goter said the surprising job
came through at the placement
office at Indiana University.
According to Goter, Indiana
University has one of the best
music programs in the country.
“People from everywhere go to
study there,” she said. A few
well known artists she has
been associated with there are
Menahem Pressler, a Prix du
Disc winner, and James Tocco,
who travels on tour in Europe
most of the time, according to
Goter.
Goter, born and raised in
North Dakota, began taking
piano lessons at age 12, un
usually late for such an under
taking. She said her teacher
thought she had musical talent,
but never really gave her a
totally pressured atmosphere
during practice. However, Go
ter became serious about
piano in college and decided to
make piano her major study.
She received her B.A., masters
and doctorate at Indiana Uni
versity in piano performance.
Still practicing four to six
hours a day, Goter is serious
about her playing even though
much of hertime is spent in pri
vate lessons and theory class.
“I can’t afford to let my playing
go slack just because I'm doing
something else,” she said.
Her performing experience
includes work with the voice,
faculty at Indiana University,
dance accompaniments and
playing at classical bars. Goter
explained that piano bars
farther north usually require a
more classical background
than the ones in other areas of
the country.
The second generation Ger
man piano instructor admitted
that she misses being in a large
metropolitan area but is
pleased to be at Elon since she
has not spent a great deal of
time in the south. "I’m getting
used to a winter without snow,”
she said.
Goter enjoys watching John
ny Carson and likes David Let-
terman even better except that
he comes on too late. She also
likes basketball, movies and
football.
One of her favorite times is
spent listening to “Prairie
Home Companion.” The two-
hour radio show is broadcast
live every Saturday night from
an old theatre in St. Paul. Minn.
Gotar described it as a “down
home” program with folk music
and amusing anecdotes.
Piano is a definite part of the
instructor’s life, but her love of
it is not keeping her from want
ing to share it with others.
Gotar is still getting ac
quainted with the area. She
misses the fast-pace of the city
Elon.
but also enjoys the quieter sur
roundings here. She intends to
remain at Elon for a while any
way. "I have an obligation to
the students that I have started
here, and since I have started
with them, I would like to finish
with them. I want to turn out a
finished product,” said Goter.
She greatly respects Vladi
mir Ashkenazy, one of the most
talented pianists in the world
today, according to Goter,
However, she admits that she
respects a lot of people from
Elton John to Ashkenazy.
"Last week my idol was Dr. J.
Idols change from week to
week,” she said.
The talented pianist has
been in the area only since Au
gust. And in that length of time,
she has earned the respect of
many, faculty and students, for
her tremendous knowledge
and ability in the music field of
piano.
Council: Teaching extends beyond the classroom
Janie Council
By Trudy Bolton
Staff Writer
Janie Council, associate pro
fessor of accounting and busi
ness education at Elon College,
says that, "I think probably the
highest rewards in teaching
are to see students succeed, to
see students grow in maturity
and to make a place for them
selves in life, and to know that
perhaps in some small way I
helped that student get there.”
Council, who will retire at
ttie end of the current semes
ter, has been teaching for 34
years, 24 at Elon College.
Council said that, “Rich re
wards also come in having the
personal satisfaction of know
ing that I have helped others.
Other rewards are receiving
letters from former students
with exciting news of their
work. A lot of my rewards have
come outside the classroom
with organizations I have work
ed with.”
Council has worked with the
Civinettes, an organization at
Elon College that evolved out
of the Burlington Civitan Orga
nization. Council has been the
advisor and helped guide stu
dents in their activities.
Council said that the “Ser
vice we have rendered has
been a very rewarding experi
ence for me. because I've got
ten to know so many stu_dents
that I would not have gotten to
know in the classroom.”
“Rewarding experiences in
clude getting telephone calls
from students, particularly
those who have passed the CPA
exam, to let me know that they
have passed,” Council said.
Council also said she also
gets Mother’s Day cards from
some of her students and she
finds that very exciting. She
said it is nice to know that stu
dents succeed because of what
they get in her classes.
Council said she also
appreciates students, when
they are on campus, stopping
by to see her. She calls those
special visits.
Council said she has always
wanted to teach because she
loves young people and she
loves working with them and
she accepts teaching as a chal
lenge. She said she has an open
door policy in her office and
she is willing to listen and to
help student with their person
al problems as well as their
academic problems.
She said, "I think that the
role of “teacher” goes beyond
presentation of course content
and I think teachers should be
come involved in as many
aspects of the experience of
students as time and interest
will allow and I consider each
student as a unique indi
vidual.”
Council said she has a pro
found interest in and deep re
spect for all her students. She
said she can never get in a rut
teaching because she gets a
new group of students each
year.
OoHncH has served'for Sever
al years as adviser to the Socie
ty for the Advancement (SAM),
the organization for the
accounting, business and eco
nomic students. She said that
being adviser for SAM and the
Civinettes are definitely high-
lights of her career.
Council said she “has en
joyed every year at Elon.” She
said she views teaching as a
helping profession, in which
the interests and needs of stu
dents are given first priority.
She said, “Students have al-
See Council page 5
Black History
Month
An evening with the
Rev. Ralph Abernathy
February 16
8 p.in.
Whitley Auditorium