I write with the sad news of the passing of Jane Koopman, a former lecturer in the Conservatory of Music. Jane began her time at Lawrence in 1990 and retired in June 2000. She was married to John Koopman, who retired as a Professor of Music in 1994 after 34 years of service to Lawrence University.
The words below express memories of Jane from some of her Conservatory colleagues.
“The Conservatory acquired Jane Koopman’s services in 1990 after her retirement from a highly successful career as an elementary music specialist in the Appleton Public Schools. She developed an outstanding sight-singing curriculum for the Conservatory, and for 7 of her 10 years at the Conservatory taught every music major for a 5-term sequence, and for the last 3 taught approximately 2/3 of the music majors in the same sequence – more than 700 students. The impact she had on the Conservatory was almost incalculable, in developing the musicianship of all students, instrumentalists and singers alike, and in being a superb role model for students and faculty as a music educator who truly loved teaching and communicated her subject at the highest level.
Before joining the Conservatory faculty, Jane contributed to Lawrence’s professional music education curriculum as an elementary specialist with particular reference to the Kodaly method, and frequently as a supervising teacher of choice for student teachers. Her experience with children and her success in enriching the creative experience of her pupils was well-known in the community and recognized throughout the state, and that experience translated well into her program at the Conservatory. She also taught effectively at every age-level, including graduate students in the Silver Lake College Kodaly certification and masters degree programs.”
Jane passed away peacefully with her family by her side on December 30, 2009. Memorial services are pending.
Sincerely,
David Burrows
