Alan Baer

I am so pleased to see that an old instructor of mine, Dr. Larry Tinnerman, is once again involved with drum corps. Back in the late 1970's and early 80's I had the unique opportunity to be taught by this individual. What really struck me was the unorthodox style of teaching that he used. He constantly came up with new techniques for brass instruction that were unheard of at the time. He decided that brass changed pitch over distance and designed a grade scale forturning different instruments so that their intonation was perfect at the point where it was to be received, in the audience. He guided every group though aprocess of imagery that totally connected the cognitive and emotional selves.No one could ever explain it. But it always worked. I think that LarryTinnerman has overseen more successful programs over the years than I can even count. Yes, there were a few duds along the way, but that is to be expected from a person who was more concerned with the performer than he was with his own ego. With the groups I performed in, he always had a vision that was AMAZING. He was able to have a group turn a crowd on it's ear on command. There are many who disagreed with his methods... but most of those individual found themselves leaving the field well before his groups. All the way back in HighSchool, where I first met Larry, McDowell had placed in the top three of Bands of America for several years and was locally undefeated for a dynasty of 10 full years. In each case, Larry wrote the wind book, taught the wind book andcoordinated the program with Drew Klaus. Later, he took a program and made asilks purse out of a cows ear (1995 Excaliber, from Erie, PA.) The very nextyear, he joined the staff of one of DCA's premiere drum corps, Steel CityAmbassadors, and helped propel that group, along with one of the finest staffcombination in the 1980's to international prominence. He has done every job known to man when itcomes to marching pageantry. He hasplayed bugle, Played Bass Drum, Spun a flag (although I do not think he wouldever admit that), and wrote some of the percussion parts (drum solo if I remember correctly) for McDowell when theytook 3rd in Summer Nationals. Wrote and created a drill program in 2 weeks for the 1981 or 82 ? Steel CityAmbassadors… taught it and took second in a DCA show where they had onlylearned the exit drill that afternoon. Larry has had an inspirational role in the lives of many of his studentswho have gone on to instruct other groups. He has taught alongside some of the best over the years. I wish I had the opportunity to see thislatest effort, but unfortunately, I will be on tour in Europe all summer. I do not know if you will see this, but, bestof luck, and Thank you. Alan Baer PrincipalTuba for the New York Philharmonic