6 minute read
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
SHERRY RUBINS
A Chinese proverb states, “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” For #UTSAMUSIC majors with questions about viability after graduation, what better person to ask than a current faculty member and former #UTSAMUSIC student? Senior lecturer Sherry Rubins (MM ‘85) is a great resource for her percussion students in areas not limited to technique and musicality but also of real-world experience. Following her graduation from UTSA and ensuing years of teaching privately and performing professionally, Rubins returned to the UTSA Department of Music in 1994 to head the percussion area. As a Senior Lecturer Sherry has witnessed a lot of changes within the department and has been the catalyst for many as the percussion area coordinator. She’s an energetic and positive force with a drive that has increased the number of percussion students, faculty, and inventory. As a faculty member for 26 years, she has influenced and inspired so many, and she isn’t done yet!
How did you get your start in music?
My father (Jimmy Brown) was a big band drummer and my teacher through high school. I began playing around age 5. My father had a studio of over 80 students that he taught weekly in the basement of our home in Illinois. In middle school I also began taking marimba lessons with Virginia Schulte. She was an amazing teacher and I now own her personal marimba. My Mom was involved in music theater (semi-pro) in England where she grew up. She was a dancer with a wonderful voice. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the voice! HA! The percussion world is still mostly male-dominated so on occasion I have witnessed some discrimination and cronyism. I have heard comments such as “You look more like a flute player,” or “how does a little thing like you plays the drums?” Growing up I didn’t really experience any discrimination or harassment but I did realize that none of the guys were happy about me beating them in chair placements! Overall though, I have been fortunate to not have dealt with what I know many of my female colleagues have. One thing I say all the time to my students is, “No instrument is genderspecific! Anyone can play any instrument and for that matter - do anything! Period.”
Where did you go to school before becoming a Roadrunner and what prior experience did you have as an educator before joining the faculty?
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University, did 1 year as a Graduate Assistant at Baylor University, and finished my Master of Music in Percussion Performance here at UTSA. At UTSA I studied with former Principal Timpanist of the San Antonio Symphony, Harvey Biskin. Mr. Biskin passed away last spring - in his 90’s! While I was working on my Master’s at UTSA I started teaching private
lessons in the Judson School District and playing as a substitute musician with the San Antonio Symphony. Early in the 1990s, I began teaching percussion at Texas Lutheran University part-time and I also started playing percussion with the MidTexas Symphony.
How did you hear about the opening in the percussion area and what enticed you to apply?
[Professor Emeritus] Robert Rustowicz mentioned it to me. I applied because I knew that working with him and everyone else on faculty at the time would be great fun as well as an honor. After a few years of part-time work at TLU, I also realized I truly enjoyed working with college-age students.
How does the percussion area differ now (with you as the head) than it did when you were a student?
When I was a student there were less than 10 majors and we only had Mr. Biskin’s office and maybe some space in the practice room area to work. Mr. Biskin was awesome - it was just a different position and time. Recruiting wasn’t really expected of the part-time teachers and his fulltime position was with the Symphony. I had time and interest in growing the studio so I worked hard to do so. I performed and presented clinics at festivals and schools around the state and I got involved in the state chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. My involvement with the Vic Firth and Zildjian companies as an artist/educator allowed me to present some teaching videos on the UIL region music that many students around the state watched. The marching band and my colleagues have also been a huge help and attraction. I am proud to say we now have 30 very talented percussion majors.
Soon after I had our son Matthew (2002) the studio grew to the point that it was time to hire an additional teacher. We put the word out and a number of people applied. Dr. Thomas Burritt at UT Austin told me about one of his DMA graduates that was in his words “fabulous - you should hire him!” That was Graeme Francis. Graeme was a wonderful colleague for 10 years. [When he left] we did a search and Mike Mixtacki joined us for 4 great years. He recently left for a position at Texas Tech and Paul Millette and Peter Breithaupt joined us in the Fall of 2020. They have been an excellent addition to the program! We had a lot less equipment when I first started teaching at UTSA. As the studio and band/orchestra programs grew it became obvious that we needed more. I wrote a grant for the steel pans and one for our 5-octave marimbas. They were approximately $15,000 each. One of the other marimbas was a gift from my dear friend Buttercup (Ruth Sparks). She was a member of the water fitness class I taught at the Concord Athletic Club for at least 15 years. She heard me discussing the need and the next week said she would write a check! She passed away last year at 104. Other instruments including another 5-octave marimba and a set of timpani were purchased through the music department. I appreciate how supportive the department chairpersons have been over the years!
Where do you want to take the percussion area in the years ahead?
The music world has grown and continues to do so. We have access to so many more instruments and styles at the touch of a computer button. I want to keep opening the students’ eyes and ears to all that is available. We have to stay global or we are behind. I want the students to be marketable and flexible. I don’t think we need to grow the studio, we just need to maintain the high quality and keep moving forward. What I’m super proud of is the “culture” of the studio. Everyone is encouraging and supportive - there is a very healthy competitive spirit. They are good humans! Texas has a number of awesome percussion programs and I think we are one of them. I want everyone else to think that as well!
What does it mean to you to be working at your alma mater?
I’m proud to be a part of this department and the University. We’ve grown and come a long way. The basic caring community I remember from the beginning is still strong. I am also honored that the faculty members that knew me as a grad student way back when trusted me enough to hire me!
