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by
dean hughson |
October
19, 2005 |
He
Taught Northeast to Dance
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The
Eddie Oyer of yesterday taught hundreds of Northeast kids
how to play piano or dance. He’s still teaching
from his St. John Avenue studio. He’s pictured above
with Arlene Francis.
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If you grew up in Northeast anytime since 1954, the odds are
pretty good you took music lessons from long-time music and
dance teacher Eddie Oyer. Literally thousands and thousands
of hopeful musicians have studied under this man, and some went
on to music careers – including playing with Lawrence
Welk’s orchestra. We caught up with Eddie recently by
telephone and asked him a few questions.
How long have you been involved in music?
Well, I joined the union when I was 12, but became a musician
in earnest when I was 15 playing in bands. I played for my sister’s
dance classes also.
How did you come to be involved in teaching music and
dance?
My sister Donna Elnor May Oyer owned the studio, and I took
it over in 1954 when she left to raise her family. I started
as a dance teacher, but ended up teaching music. My speciality
has always been piano, and now I teach keyboards a lot also.
Eddie, have you had a favorite music style personally
and to teach?
I like classical, jazz, rock and country and western. I learned
to be successful that you teach what it is that the customers
want.
Eddie, tell us about your personal life.
My dad was a railroad man and worked for the Missouri Pacific
Railroad. My mom saw to it that I learned to play the piano.
I graduated from Northeast in 1947. I went into the Army as
a combat engineer but ended up in the music part of the military.
I married my wife, Patty Oyer, 38 years ago. I’ve lived
here my whole life.
Eddie, what changes have you seen in Northeast during
your 75 years of living there?
Well, it has changed a lot. None of the people who originally
lived around my house are living anymore; I have new neighbors.
Most of the businesses in Northeast have changed hands except
just a few of us. My business has changed a bit. I used to teach
dance but my balance isn’t as good at this age so I teach
piano a lot because that and keyboards are what the kids are
most interested in these days.
Eddie, what are your hobbies?
Music is my hobby also, I guess. I play for Budd Park Christian
Church on Sundays and also teach Sunday school there.
Eddie, was there a teacher at Northeast High School
who you remember helping you the most?
Mr. Nebin Wassen. When they had school shows, like the Viking
Varieties he used me in the orchestra. He was a good teacher
and stressed good music with a band but also had Glenn Miller
arrangements for the band, which kept us interested. If you
are a musician, you play whatever music there is; too many people
specialize and when their type of music dies, so does their
career. I learned from him and from a singing teacher whose
name I can’t remember.
Eddie, what do you think is the future of the Northeast
Community?
It depends on the people. If they want it to be good, it will
be. There are people who don’t care but there are enough
people who care and the future of Northeast will be great in
my opinion.
Do you have advice for the young people of Northeast
considering music as a career?
Do the music but have something to fall back on. It is a tough
business.
In closing, I asked Eddie what his plans are for retirement
and he laughed and told me “Die at my piano.” Indeed,
Eddie is one of a kind and an icon for Historic Northeast. On
behalf of the many of us who love music, I would like to extend
thanks to this wonderful man who has given so many people the
gift of being musicians. Eddie Oyer is a musician’s musician.
Thank you from all of us who learned so much from you, and your
Northeast Viking spirit is a strong one.
Eddie Oyer’s Music Studio is located at 5240 St. John
Ave. The studio’s number is 816-231-5242. Budd Park Christian
Church, 4925 St. John Ave., will be honoring him with an Eddie
Oyer Day on “Bring a Friend Sunday,” October 23.
Dean
Hughson is a consultant in the egg industry residing in Fountain
Hills, Ariz. with his wife, Yoly. He can be reached at deanhughson@gmail.com
or through the Northeast High School Class of 1969 Web site
at www.neclassof69.com.
