Blue Bear Waltzes School of Music (1972)

KPIX-TV news footage from October 18, 1972 with reporter Ysabel Duron featuring scenes from the Blue Bear Waltzes School of Music at 2403 Ocean Avenue in San Francisco. Established in 1971 by rock band 'Wolfgang & Strauss' and referred to by Duron as a "Rock n Roll College" it has an enrolment of 70 students who take a 6 week course. Includes views of students playing music (with Steve Savage on drums, Bonnie Hayes on keyboard and Donald Maus on bass) and an interview with co-founder Richard Strauss, who explains they started teaching because: "In general music education is not very practically oriented. It's made very esoteric and intellectual ... we orient most of our education here towards practical aspects of music." The school moved to Fort Mason Center in 1978, is now known as the Blue Bear School of Music and as of 2022 teaches over 850 students per quarter. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.

Thanks to current Program Director of the Blue Bear School of Music Dennis Criteser for providing additional background information and also positively identifying some of the people seen on-screen in this newsfilm.

Note: this reversal print was transferred in 4K (4096 x 2970) using a Lasergraphics ScanStation film scanner, in February 2022.