Capitola Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Capitola L. Dickerson is a piano instructor in Summit, New Jersey
and graduate of the Juilliard School
in Manhattan
who is notable for teaching several generations of students and who has been honored by local authorities for her volunteer service. Some of her pupils have become renowned such as Tom Varner
and Lawton C. Johnson
. In 2009, she is years old.
Dickerson was born in Urbana, Ohio
but made Summit, New Jersey
her home. She graduated from the Juilliard School
in New York City
. She has been teaching piano for over seventy five years and, in 2009, continues to teach piano at years old. She emphasizes precision, sticking strictly to piano compositions as written, and practice; in 2004, she was quoted in the Los Angeles Times
as having said "the one about how rehearsing an activity leads to more precise performance of said activity." She taught local resident Lawton C. Johnson
of Summit who became a church organist as well as a locally recognized educational administrator; in 2004, the Summit Board of Education decided to rename the middle school after him. Mr. Johnson died in 2009. She taught piano to New Jersey's French hornist Tom Varner
who formed the Tom Varner Quartet. Varner wrote "I loved my teacher Ms. Capitola Dickerson–she would play 78s of Art Tatum for me." She taught Carolyn Schmidt who became director of the musical group named the Hickory Tree Singers.
Dickerson was regularly honored by the city of Summit
. She played on Martin Luther King day in 2008. She played piano and sang along with the protege performers in honor of one of the Tuskegee airmen
George Watson
, in a program of remembrance, sponsored by Summit Supports Our Troops. She received a Keeper of the Dream Award from the city of Summit, New Jersey
.
Dickerson loved teaching children, including kindergartners and preschool children. She taught preschoolers at the Westfield
Day Care Center from 1978 to 2000, teaching rhythm, movement, songs and music appreciation to thousands of children. She also taught children in Cranford, New Jersey
. Sally Rogers, one of her pupils, wrote:
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
and graduate of the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in Manhattan
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who is notable for teaching several generations of students and who has been honored by local authorities for her volunteer service. Some of her pupils have become renowned such as Tom Varner
Tom Varner
Tom Varner is an American jazz horn player and composer.Varner studied piano in his youth with Capitola Dickerson of Summit, New Jersey. He holds a B.M...
and Lawton C. Johnson
Lawton C. Johnson
Lawton Corbin Johnson, Jr. was a New Jersey-based educator and administrator notable for his hard work, devotion to excellence and long term of service at the Summit Public Schools. During 47 years, he never missed one day of work. In 2004, the middle school was named "Lawton C...
. In 2009, she is years old.
Dickerson was born in Urbana, Ohio
Urbana, Ohio
Urbana is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Ohio, United States, west of Columbus. Urbana was laid out in 1805, and for a time in 1812 was the headquarters of the Northwestern army. Urbana was named after the town of Urbanna, Virginia. It is the burial-place of the Indian fighter...
but made Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
her home. She graduated from the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She has been teaching piano for over seventy five years and, in 2009, continues to teach piano at years old. She emphasizes precision, sticking strictly to piano compositions as written, and practice; in 2004, she was quoted in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
as having said "the one about how rehearsing an activity leads to more precise performance of said activity." She taught local resident Lawton C. Johnson
Lawton C. Johnson
Lawton Corbin Johnson, Jr. was a New Jersey-based educator and administrator notable for his hard work, devotion to excellence and long term of service at the Summit Public Schools. During 47 years, he never missed one day of work. In 2004, the middle school was named "Lawton C...
of Summit who became a church organist as well as a locally recognized educational administrator; in 2004, the Summit Board of Education decided to rename the middle school after him. Mr. Johnson died in 2009. She taught piano to New Jersey's French hornist Tom Varner
Tom Varner
Tom Varner is an American jazz horn player and composer.Varner studied piano in his youth with Capitola Dickerson of Summit, New Jersey. He holds a B.M...
who formed the Tom Varner Quartet. Varner wrote "I loved my teacher Ms. Capitola Dickerson–she would play 78s of Art Tatum for me." She taught Carolyn Schmidt who became director of the musical group named the Hickory Tree Singers.
Dickerson was regularly honored by the city of Summit
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
. She played on Martin Luther King day in 2008. She played piano and sang along with the protege performers in honor of one of the Tuskegee airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
George Watson
George Watson (U.S. Army Air Corps)
George Watson Sr. was a supply sergeant and support personnel for the Tuskegee Airmen, the 332nd Fighter Group. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.Mr. Watson was sent to Italy in 1944 and served as a supply sergeant....
, in a program of remembrance, sponsored by Summit Supports Our Troops. She received a Keeper of the Dream Award from the city of Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
.
Dickerson loved teaching children, including kindergartners and preschool children. She taught preschoolers at the Westfield
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
Day Care Center from 1978 to 2000, teaching rhythm, movement, songs and music appreciation to thousands of children. She also taught children in Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark, Linden,...
. Sally Rogers, one of her pupils, wrote:
"I remember singing in kindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
and how important that was. And I also remember a woman in our town named Capitola Dickerson. I went to one class she did at the YYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
where she was sharing rhythm instruments with us. When she handed me a tambourine, her manner communicated kindness and inclusion. It may seem hard to believe because of how young I was, but she changed my life. I actually sought her out ten years ago and called her up and put her on the CMN quilt. She respected me, shy kid that I was, and modeled how to invite children to come into music their own way."