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Maestro Richard Schneider
Thomas Beltran developed much
of his expertise from this great guitar builder!
Maestro Schneider's approach
to guitar building was not limited to the Kasha Model.
Instead, it can be applied to any instrument. He was very
open and generous with his time. For example,
Maestro Schneider allowed his students to look over his
considerable collection of notes and drawings, and to copy
anything desired. He maintained a sense of excitement
throughout his life, and imparted that to everyone he
knew. Maestro Schneider’s sense of craftsmanship, color
and design was unparalleled. He will surely be missed.
The above photograph at left
was taken on July 29th, 1983 when Richard was interviewed
by Della DiTietro, of WKZO-TV, Accent Program.
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"This page is in memoriam to
several great guitar
builders I've been fortunate to meet and learn from
along the way"
Tom |
Maestro Schneider grew up in
Ferndale, Michigan. He served in the military, and held
various drafting jobs before and after his military
service. He attended Northwestern College in
Minneapolis and later Macalester College. In 1963, he
went to Mexico City to study guitar building, and
studied with Juan Pimental. He returned to the U.S. in
1965, and opened his own guitar studio. He served as a
consultant to Baldwin Piano and Organ Company, and then
Gibson Guitars in Kalamazoo, MI. He collaborated with
Dr. Michael Kasha throughout his life, beginning in the
late 1960's. He also made wooden jewelry (about 800
pieces), including the beautiful “polychromatic helical
mosaic bracelet.”
Thomas Beltran first met
Maestro Schneider, while attended the Kasha Design
Seminar, which ran from July 23, 1983, through August
21, 1983 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and continued to
have frequent contact with him until the time of his
death.
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