Condolences

May 20, 2015

Ernestine was a wonderful influence on me as a piano student at OCU. I first met her when she accompanied me on the piano when I auditioned to play with the Oklahoma City Symphony in 1968. What an encouragement she was to countless young musicians such as myself.

Kelly McSweeney Zuercher, Colorado Springs, CO

May 15, 2015

Mrs. Scott was such an inspiration to me. I sometimes complained at how "precise" she was in the details of her teaching, yet looking back, that challenge to be our best was a great gift she gave each student. She was not a teacher to give a lot of praise, yet when she did, you absolutely knew she meant it.

I remember her sweet smile, her funny little laugh, and her incredible recitals at OCU. She also inspired me to attend the Van Clinurn with her one year, which was very inspirational to me.

I'm very blessed to have known Mrs. Scott and to have studied with her. (I still have cassettes she gave me of all the "greats" performing the repertoire we worked on!) I feel confident there is a huge grand piano just waiting for her to play in heaven!

Kim Williams, Edmond, OK

May 14, 2015

I had the great privilege of being Mrs. Scott's student from the age of 7 until I went off to college. She was an absolutely world-class teacher and a fixture of high culture in Oklahoma City. Through Ernestine's guidance, I grew up from being a fidgety little kid with many bad habits at the piano, up through Haydn and Beethoven and Chopin and Ravel and the rest, to what (I only hope) is some semblance of artistic maturity. A no-nonsense disciplinarian with a sweet touch and wide-ranging knowledge, she would plainly let me know when I was, and was not, performing up to the highest standards.

I have so many memories of her, Sub, her Yorkies and her studio I don't even know where to begin. The annual student recital at OCU was always a joy to behold and perform in (though that original theater was dark and scary to me); I still have all the program booklets. She travelled with my mom and I to competitions, performances, and to a piano masterclass in Texas. When she was still able, she made the pilgrimage every 4 years to the Van Cliburn event in Fort Worth and always came back with a great deal to say about it. She produced so many great students over the decades it's hard to believe. Yes, she was from a completely different generation - rock music and the computer age didn't exist for her, which induced a lot of guilt in me for having any interest in those things - which isn't entirely gone to this day. :)

There will never be another like her, but may her legacy carry on far into the future.

Emil Gilliam, Mountain View, CA

May 11, 2015

I started with Ernestine Holmes in 1943 when I was five. I played a piano/organ concert on May 3rd this year and, in the artists notes, I gave full credit to Ernestine for whatever expertise I might have. She loved dogs back then, also, and had a mean little Pekinese named Ching who disliked everyone but Ernestine. Moving to Edmond in 1966 was a great thing because Sherry could also take piano from the best teacher anywhere. I am forever grateful for having known her.

Mary Ann Becker Tipton, Edmond, OK

May 11, 2015

With the passing of this incredible human being come the memories of her fierce devotion to the teaching of all of us who were her flock. Petite she may have been in size but a true giant she was to all of us; sweet, fearsome, awe-inspiring. Her ability to sight read absurdly difficult compositions as though she had practiced them for years left many of us rather stunned and wondering what magic she possessed within her. In the end, the magic was simply her. Ernestine to her age peers, but to all of us, it was Mrs. Scott. Now and forever, not just a namebut a title and a reminder that all of us carry the eternal privilege being able to say, My piano teacher was Ernestine Scott.

Michael Thayer, Yukon, OK

May 11, 2015

Mrs. Scott (I never actually called her Ernestine in her presence) enabled her students to learn the technique of playing piano from one's heart. While encouraging us to hone our technique, she always preferred us to elide over a missed note or a difficult phrase in order to reach the soul of the music.

My memories are many, the monthly pre-recitals (what did she call them? I don't remember) in her home; travelling to Amarillo for competitions; to Maryland to observe master classes; learning music theory together with Michael Schnelling and Cheryl Pinckney; being caught at the music store by her and Sub purchasing - Heaven Forbid - rock and roll (jazz would have been acceptable); and of course, riding in the yellow Stingray.

Through Ernestine, I learned the value of persistence and the joy of playing beautiful music. I was very lucky to call her my teacher.

May her memory be a blessing.

Natalie Barkan, Israel

May 11, 2015

Mrs. Scott was a brilliant, inspired and devoted teacher of piano, and cultivated the highest performance standards throughout her long career. Her work will live on and inspire her pupils, and their pupils into the future! Well done, thy good and faithful servant...

Leon Whitesell, Edmond, OK

May 11, 2015

To the Scott Family,

Remember the joy and laughter shared with your beloved Ernestine.

ctp

May 11, 2015

Ernestine's life and love for music was a gift that represents the happiest memories of my childhood. No other adult illuminated those years or inspired me more profoundly than she. Could we have been more fortunate than to have Ernestine as our teacher?!

Ernestine means, literally, 'little serious one', and could she have had a better name?! She was utterly serious about music - it was as important to her as life itself - and this personal integrity was a living example for us all. Too many teachers merely 'talk the talk' but we all witnessed how she could toss off the most difficult passages with ease. Her sight-reading and finger technique were astonishing.

She taught me how to practice and to abhor making careless mistakes: "imagine Arthur Rubinstein is sitting in the next room listening to you practice!" But even with her exacting standards I always left her lessons encouraged and with my dignity intact. She was never excessive in her praise and yet I never doubted that she loved me! The way she got just the right balance between compliment and criticism was - I believe - entirely intuitive but also emblematic of how well she knew us individually and what it was that we needed. She cared for us!

My earliest childhood performances were in Ernestine's student recitals in OCU's Small Auditorium in the late 1960s where I heard brilliant, electrifying piano playing that remains etched in my memory: Rebecca McCord in the Chopin c-sharp minor Scherzo, James Head in the 'Ocean' Etude, and Ben Davis playing a hair-raising 'Octave' Etude that none of us could scarcely believe possible. The performance standard of Ernestine's pupils amazes me to this day. We were 'on fire' to play the piano - in Oklahoma City of all places! - and the inspiring force behind all of this was Ernestine.

For those of us on the receiving end of her love and enthusiasm over the years, Ernestine's death is a grievous, irreplaceable loss - there'll never be another one like her - but for me the overriding feeling is a humbling sense of gratitude. She gave us so much!

May I propose that we honor Ernestine's passing by setting up a website for the purpose of sharing our memories, photos, and anecdotes of our time with her? Is there anyone with the technical expertise? I would be so happy to hear from any and all of you about this, even if you only send your email address for future reference. (Perhaps someone is already working on this?) Warm wishes to you all, Michael.

michael.schnelling@hotmail.com

785-393-5537.

Michael Schnelling, Houston, TX

May 10, 2015

Our sincere condolences in the the memory

of Ernestine and Sub Scott.

Larry & Darlene Holmes, Pampa, TX

May 10, 2015

Our son, Jake Johnson, was blessed to be taught piano by Ernestine Scott for many years. She was a truly inspiring teacher of piano. Jake blossomed and became the pianist he is today because of her, and our family will forever remember her and her dedication to music. She will always hold an amazing place in our lives.

Tracey Johnson, Holdenville, OK

May 10, 2015

Living just up the street from Mrs. Scott, I walked to my piano lessons for years and would sit on the steps outside her house listening to students before me play wonderful music. She spurred my interest for all types of music, which continues today. She taught me the techniques but also shared her love of music with me. I will always be in debt to Mrs. Scott and every time I sit at the piano, I think of her. My condolences to her family. She was a great lady!

J Schneider, Oklahoma City, OK