A unique aspect of Tabuteau’s colorful approach to teaching was his uncanny ability to pull out of the air, on the spur of the moment, imaginative expressions to help get an important musical idea across to his students. A never-ending wealth of analogies, examples (and chastisements!) spurted out of him like a spouting geyser producing vivid imagery to demonstrate or amplify the concept at hand. Tabuteau’s musical principles were inspired by life, nature, motion and other natural phenomena — or as he himself often said — “the natural laws of nature and logic.” These basic tenets ran as a thread through his teaching, and although he expounded favorite examples over the years, he continually added to his verbal ‘repertoire’ — finding creative new ways to express his ever-expanding ideas.    — M. M.

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