In Memoriam: Kenneth Raessler

Kenneth Raessler, former professor of music education at Gettysburg College, former supervisor of music  for the Williamsport Area Schools, and Professor Emeritus and Retired Director of the School of Music at Texas Christian University passed away March 7 at his home in Fort Worth, Texas.  An inspirational leader in music education, thousands of students have benefited from his leadership and inspirational teaching.

 

Dr. Raessler was formerly director of music education in the Williamsport Area School District, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  The Williamsport Music Education Program achieved national prominence during his tenure, not only for excellence in performance but also for excellence and innovation in classroom music. The National Association for Music Education presented its “Exemplary Program Award” in 1985 to the District for its groundbreaking education vision.

 

Dr. Raessler holds a bachelor’s degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University and the School of Music in 2003. He also holds a master of music education degree from Temple University, and a PhD from Michigan State University.  He taught in the public schools of East Stroudsburg and Hatboro-Horsham, Pennsylvania, as well as Belvidere, New Jersey.  He also served for ten years as the director of music education and chairman of the department of music at Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) College.

A frequent guest speaker, lecturer, consultant, and clinician, Raessler served as state president of the Texas Association of Music Schools and college chair and vice-president of the Texas Music Educators Association from 1998-2000.  He has presented papers at conferences of the National Association of Schools of Music, and served as a clinician at the 2004 Music Educators National Conference and the 2003 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic as well as more than 45 state and regional music conferences.

 

He has been a keynote speaker for the California Music Educators Conference, the Connecticut Music Educators Association, the Oregon Music Educators Association, the Florida Music Educators Conference, the Nebraska Music Educators Conference, the New York State School Music Association Summer Conference, the South Carolina Music Educators Conference, the Alberta, Canada Music Educators Conference (Music Alberta), the Maine Music Educators Conference, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference, the North Dakota Music Educators Conference, the Alabama Music Educators Conference, the Oregon Music Educators Conference, the Vermont Music Educators Association, the Rhode Island Music Educators, and the Georgia Music Educators Conference. 

He has served as consulting editor of the Yamaha Corporation publication NEW WAYS and has presented weeklong summer seminars on music administration at such universities as the Eastman School of Music, The Hartt School of Music, Duquesne University, Villanova University, Texas Christian University, Vandercook College and West Chester University.

Raessler served on the Board of Trustees of the Phi Mu Alpha Foundation. He has appeared in numerous Who’s Who Publications, including the 2004, 2005, and 2006 editions of Who’s Who in America, and has received several Hall of Fame designations.

 

The author of more than 70 articles, Dr. Raessler’s recent book, Aspiring to Excel, (GIA Publications) is now in its second printing. This text is considered by many to be the “authority” for the development of exemplary school music programs. He has also contributed several chapters to the popular book by James Jordan entitled The Musicians Walk  (GIA Publications) as well as a recently released book by Jordan and Michele Holt titled The School Choral Program: Philosophy, Planning, Organizing and Teaching.