Brooklyn Music Man Keeps Kids Happy

N.Y. and Brooklyn Daily, Tuesday, January 29, 1963

A Brooklyn music man who links pleasure for the student with progress in playing is headlining a “One Man Show” in this borough.

He is Albert Rozin, pianist and organist, teacher of both and, most pertinently, composer of lilting selections for beginners.

Rozin, member of the Brooklyn Music Teachers Guild, has developed a program of simple, appealing music which, in his own words,

“associates fun with learning because, when music is made pleasant for a student, then he or she wants to learn.”

It is his conviction, based on more than 25 years’ experience in the field, that this approach reduces the “fallouts” among music pupils by roughly 25 per cent.

“With children, who make up the bulk of beginners,” he explained, “the percentage is even higher.  I give my compositions catchy titles and tempos to suit.  And they’re all graded, from the earliest level of learning to the more advanced.”

For example, “Let’s Play a Joke” and “Let’s Play a Riddle” are staples for starters.  They comprise simple jokes and riddles to be sung by the pupil along with his first steps at the piano.  It is particularly popular with his younger students.

Rozin recognizes the juvenile attitude of school with “Examination Blues,” which composition carries the dedication: “To the students who are unduly jittery about their examinations.”  The piece has been described by its composer as “comically melancholy.”

It is his opinion that the traditional method of leading a young music student through tuneless, if necessary, exercises has had it. 

“That’s not the way to encourage youngsters,” 

he said, 

“It discourages before they’ve had an opportunity to appreciate the storehouse of wonderful excitement in all music.”

Rozin, whose compositions first were published in 1932, is a member of ASCAP and has also written serious music that were performed at concerts and over the radio.  He is organist and music director for Beth Sholom-Peoples Temple, Bay Parkway and Benson Ave.  He has written liturgical music for the Beth Sholom Choir, which has performed these on Sabbath Eve and other occasions.

Born in Russia, he studied at the Warsaw Conservatory before coming to this country as a teenager and continued his musical education in the U.S.