by Claire DeRoin—
“The word ‘retirement’ isn’t in my vocabulary,” Joe Shufro, assistant professor of music, said.
Two music stands stand back to back in the middle of Prof. Shufro’s office. A piece called “Chanson Triste” is open on one of them. A grand piano sits in one corner of the room and a choir can be heard warming up from somewhere down the hallway. The office is the epitome of a music lover’s work space.
Shufro has taught in the music department at Morningside for 36 years, beginning in 1977.
What classes did he teach during all those years? “It’d probably be easier to tell you what I didn’t teach,” Shufro laughed. Classes Shufro taught at Morningside include strings classes, orchestra, chamber music, music history, music literature, introduction to music, music history, three levels of music theory, and as of the past few years, a C&C section. “I haven’t been in the music education field and haven’t taught instruments I can’t play, but pretty much everything else,” Shufro said. After a pause, he added, “I’m not a bass player, but I can teach it up to a certain level.”
Many of his students have gone on to have careers or “heavy participation” in music throughout their lives, whether they started in the youth orchestra programs or as college students.
Kelsey Saboe, a Morningside graduate, had Professor Shufro for classes during her time on campus. “I really liked in Music Theory when he would crack jokes. He was really funny during class.” Saboe said. “He is intensely smart, but he didn’t rub it in your face. He was closet genius!”
“I like everything I’m doing and that’s the fun thing,” Shufro, a self-proclaimed person of multiple favorites, said. He counts conducting orchestra as one of his favorite activities at Morningside. He also mentioned played cello in the faculty trio, “which has been on and off for many years,” Shufro explained. “I’ve been in seven or eight reincarnations of that trio.”
“I’ve also done electronic music,” he added. “I started the program way back twenty years ago.” Music technology, a class in which students create original music on composing software, is a current electronic music class offered.
“It’s been interesting to see the changes over the years,” Shufro said. “Technologically, especially. Mimeograph machines, typewriters, students don’t even know what those are! Now we can do so many different things in the classroom, like having discussions over Google docs and bringing in so many different media to create a broader learning experience.”
Shufro has noticed a change in students, as well. “The Information Age has made reading a book and going into things in depth more difficult. Students want instant gratification.” With a grin, Shufro added, “But the good old days weren’t always as good as we remember them, and the frustrations we have now aren’t always as bad as they seem.”
Today, retirement is on the horizon for Shufro. “It’s a new phase, but I’m not exactly sure what it’s going to be. Definitely music and some other things. Something will turn up.” He noted relocation as a possibility, but doesn’t have any concrete plans yet.
Does he wish he’d have done anything differently during his time at Morningside? “I’d have tried to reorder my time more so there was more time for my own creative work on the cello and other things,” Shufro answered. “I wish I had been able to juggle so there was more time for that.”
While excited about what the future holds, Shufro is reluctant to leave Morningside behind. There is one thing he’ll miss. “People. Colleagues and students I’ve worked with here.” Shufro said quietly as a frown formed on his lips. “It’s been hard to actually feel like separating myself from that. What a great bunch of good people.”
Joe was my first cello teacher. I was an unsophisticated teen in need of direction. He opened up a musical world for me that changed my life and view of the world. In many ways I say thank you.