I loved reading this. I only found out yesterday that Paul had died...I was devastated. I studied with Paul for a few years back in the 90s. Counterpoint, Harmony, and for only one or two visits, Analysis. We started with Bartok's 5th String Quartet. I regret not having been able to continue. Paul was one of the best teachers I ever had, and one of the most wonderful people I've ever known. I saw him twice a week for much of that time and looked forward to every moment. It's so hard to know where to start when talking about him and you wrote so much already. I might be able to add a few things...
I think I learned almost as much about literature as I did about music. Paul turned me on to MANY wonderful and obscure authors and spoke about all of them as if he had just read their books that morning. What an incredible addition to a counterpoint lesson.
And, finally - at least for now - one of the most important gifts I received from Paul just by virtue of taking to heart the way he did things: No matter what you're doing, strive for the best that you can do. And then apply that to everything in your life. Paul would travel all over the city, to whatever borough was necessary, to get what he considered to be the best pastry, the best cheese, the best coffee, the best bacon, the best whatever. Shortcuts to anything worthwhile were not to be found in his book of life and living. I think about this all the time. And for him to be, one top of all that has been said, one of the kindest, sweetest, caring people you'd ever want to meet...what a singular man. How fortunate we all are to have known him. This is such a big loss...
Beautiful! I think the biggest thing I learned from Paul was how to stay in the process of creation and not get too attached to anything I had written. He somehow made the act of erasing and redoing something into a magical rite that we were witnessing together
Thank you very much for your essay on Paul Caputo. Regretfully I did not eventually reach out to this master teacher regarding the magic” of music. He altered my direction in life as a much more flexible and consious one.I departed from Paul, as his counterpoint and piano student in the mid-70’s and from TurtleBay Music School. Although I never became a musician , as I had hoped then, I often reflect on how much he awakened me to learning most of all about life. He was a master, as a teacher, that lead his students into having an open frame of reference for learning thru the decipline of species counterpoint , undoubtedly. My life through his mentorship, has become a creative one. I agree, his nobility shines, above all of us touched by him, like Barry Harris. Gayle Allard
Thank you for this beautiful commemoration. I was also a student of Paul for several years. Magic is the right word. Just the other day I thought of a piece I wrote with Paul and dug through my closet to pull out the folders and notebooks filled with page after page of theory and counterpoint exercises, motets and string quartet fragments. I’m sure all his students have a similar trove of papers they’ve created with him sitting on his piano bench in lower Manhattan. It was always a joy to visit and work with him. He gave us all so much by simply doing what he loved and protecting and sharing that pure experience of honest, curious musical creation. No pretense or judgement. What a role model. I miss him but he really did make a mark with each of his students that carries on far and wide. I remember him always working on getting that harmony workbook published. I would love to have a copy. Do you know how to purchase one?
I loved reading this. I only found out yesterday that Paul had died...I was devastated. I studied with Paul for a few years back in the 90s. Counterpoint, Harmony, and for only one or two visits, Analysis. We started with Bartok's 5th String Quartet. I regret not having been able to continue. Paul was one of the best teachers I ever had, and one of the most wonderful people I've ever known. I saw him twice a week for much of that time and looked forward to every moment. It's so hard to know where to start when talking about him and you wrote so much already. I might be able to add a few things...
I think I learned almost as much about literature as I did about music. Paul turned me on to MANY wonderful and obscure authors and spoke about all of them as if he had just read their books that morning. What an incredible addition to a counterpoint lesson.
And, finally - at least for now - one of the most important gifts I received from Paul just by virtue of taking to heart the way he did things: No matter what you're doing, strive for the best that you can do. And then apply that to everything in your life. Paul would travel all over the city, to whatever borough was necessary, to get what he considered to be the best pastry, the best cheese, the best coffee, the best bacon, the best whatever. Shortcuts to anything worthwhile were not to be found in his book of life and living. I think about this all the time. And for him to be, one top of all that has been said, one of the kindest, sweetest, caring people you'd ever want to meet...what a singular man. How fortunate we all are to have known him. This is such a big loss...
Right on Stan! What a beautiful story-- I remember he was always threatening to start teaching analysis again, so wonderful to hear a story about it.
Strive for the best, that was Paul. High standards. How fortunate indeed! Thanks for reading and writing and Stan....
Beautiful tribute, Vinnie!
Thank you Richard! Great to hear from you.
"Maneri had told Paul that the best way to learn material was by teaching it."
Absolutely. I always tell my students that if they want to improve fast, start teaching!
Really inspiring read, Vinnie. Loved it.
It's the truth! Thanks for reading.....
a beautiful memento to one of your teachers vinnie... lovely in fact!
Thanks James!
What a beautiful article. Thank you!
Thank you Dave, glad you enjoyed!
Beautiful! I think the biggest thing I learned from Paul was how to stay in the process of creation and not get too attached to anything I had written. He somehow made the act of erasing and redoing something into a magical rite that we were witnessing together
Beautifully put Ryan..
Beautifully written tribute, thank you!
Thank you Mark-- great to hear from you..
Thank you very much for your essay on Paul Caputo. Regretfully I did not eventually reach out to this master teacher regarding the magic” of music. He altered my direction in life as a much more flexible and consious one.I departed from Paul, as his counterpoint and piano student in the mid-70’s and from TurtleBay Music School. Although I never became a musician , as I had hoped then, I often reflect on how much he awakened me to learning most of all about life. He was a master, as a teacher, that lead his students into having an open frame of reference for learning thru the decipline of species counterpoint , undoubtedly. My life through his mentorship, has become a creative one. I agree, his nobility shines, above all of us touched by him, like Barry Harris. Gayle Allard
Beautiful tribute, Vinnie, thank you. Studying with Paul changed my life.
Thank you for this beautiful commemoration. I was also a student of Paul for several years. Magic is the right word. Just the other day I thought of a piece I wrote with Paul and dug through my closet to pull out the folders and notebooks filled with page after page of theory and counterpoint exercises, motets and string quartet fragments. I’m sure all his students have a similar trove of papers they’ve created with him sitting on his piano bench in lower Manhattan. It was always a joy to visit and work with him. He gave us all so much by simply doing what he loved and protecting and sharing that pure experience of honest, curious musical creation. No pretense or judgement. What a role model. I miss him but he really did make a mark with each of his students that carries on far and wide. I remember him always working on getting that harmony workbook published. I would love to have a copy. Do you know how to purchase one?