When I was 15 I saw “Mr. Holland’s Opus”. I was moved by the love and dedication he had and hoped that one day I would be able to have a teacher touch my life the way Mr. Holland touched the lives of so many. Little did I know my wish was going to come true.Later that year I started my Sophomore year at Cottonwood and I was introduced to Mr. Frohm. Mr Frohm taught band and orchestra and I was lucky enough to have him as my teacher.
Although I had been “playing” the flute since I was 11 I was no prodigy. Frankly I was horrible. But rather than belittle me and make me feel completely inept like his successor would do Mr. Frohm encouraged me to always keep playing-and he didn’t hesitate to show his disappointment that I didn’t continue playing the following year when I saw him at the Holiday Concert as a member of the choir rather than playing in the band. He stressed that loving music and having FUN playing music was far more important than being perfect. He had an uncanny resemblance to Richard Dreyfuss and because of this he was affectionately known to most of us as “Mr. Holland”.
I have many fond memories of Pep Band, Concert Band, and numerous classes. Memories filled with his infectious laugh, the good-natured joke at many a drum player’s expense, and mostly the love of music he gave to everyone.
Unfortunately for me Mr. Frohm took a promotion with the Granite School District at the end of my Sophomore year so I was only able have him as a teacher for one year. When I look back at my High School career, the one year I had in his class is still what stands out to me most.
In 2008 I ran into him at a production of “South Pacific” where he was Conducting the orchestra. I am so grateful I took the opportunity to go say hello and tell him “thank you”. Had I known it would be the last time I would speak with him I probably would have been more eloquent.
Sadly last week Mr. Frohm lost his battle with cancer and returned home to our Heavenly Father. As sad as this makes me-both for the loss of a great man, but also the pain his family is experiencing right now, I know he’s up there, playing his trumpet and cracking jokes. "Mr. Holland's Opus" is still my favorite movie to this day-I'm sure that's in large part to my being able to say I had my own Mr. Holland.
I love you Mr. Frohm and you will be missed by many. Maybe I’ll pull out my flute tonight and play him a song or two. :)
1 comment:
I was lucky enough to have a couple of Mr. Hollands in high school, too - my choir teacher and another adult musician in the community. One of them died within the past year, and the other has cancer. Luckily, he's still with us. Sorry for your loss.
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