Ode to a Teacher

Unfortunately the string bass experiment, as I like to call it, didn’t work out too well as I found myself unable to give 100% to the upright bass and the baritone saxophone, which was my primary instrument.

Despite that, I continued to hold high regard for Mrs. Beasley, because more than any of my other teachers in high school she taught me the one thing that I found valuable, that has stuck with me for the past 25 years: What it takes to be good at something and how one must work hard to achieve one’s goals.

That is the reason I’ll always have eternal gratitude for that lady; I suppose everyone has a teacher that inspires them, the type that will always be remembered with fondness and appreciation. Lida Beasley was one of those teachers for me and lots of other Santa Monica (and Malibu, as they were part of our district) teens in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

As I write this, Mrs. Beasley, according to the Santa Monica High School Band’s website, “…has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and is expected to leave us within…a week.” Like everybody else who knew this music educator, I was stunned. I count myself as one of an infinite number of young people whose lives were touched by this lady in one way or another, and it deeply saddened me to hear that news. After I received the information, I felt compelled to write this tribute to her.

I recently wrote on Facebook.com that the city of Santa Monica and its school district needs to have a big memorial service for Mrs. Beasley, as well as rename the high school’s music building after her – Lida Oliver Beasley Hall. I truly think that seaside town owes that to her for everything she has done for education and the children of that city with its world famous beach and pier.

It’s my hope that a memorial and the renaming of the music building will become a reality very soon; it is the least that can be done for this great lady.