Harold Popp
professor, trombone, composition, School of Music, College of Fine Arts
Harold Popp’s life as a teacher is far from over, even after 50 years. From early stints in public schools in Kansas and Iowa to six different universities across the country, his passion for bringing out creativity in his students has never waned.
“It’s been a wonderful trip,” said Popp. “I’ve always had, even as a young kid, such a tremendous fascination with music and always had an insatiable drive to share it with others.”
That’s why he is still teaching a fall honors course for Wichita State. Named for his book “Discovering the Creative Impulse,” the class offers an environment that nurtures self-discovery of hidden talents.
It’s a course that the W. Frank Barton School of Business asked him to create and he was happy to oblige. Although he spent several years in administration at universities, he always kept his focus on creative growth for students and faculty.
Wichita State, which welcomed Popp in 1993, is where he finally promoted himself “up” by returning to teaching only, after serving as chair of the School of Music. Popp said he and his wife, Vicki, are Midwesterners at heart so it’s felt like home and allowed him time not only to teach, but to concentrate on compositions and trombone performance.
“I love all my years at WSU,” Popp said, “and the students, the faculty performances; those are always highlights.”
In his final Faculty Recital on trombone, he presented an entire program of music that he composed. “My main goal was to share some of my musical ideas with the audience.”
He can't count how many pieces he’s composed, but they’ve been performed all over the world, he said, and he has managed to teach just about every kind of music course but vocal and piano.
World Music would draw the most students, he said, and was among his favorites – along with interrelated arts. Those courses attracted students from all over campus, including athletes.
“It’s been an incredible experience to watch students through the semester and by the end to see them realize they have something to say creatively. Especially in World Music, I’ve had students from six different countries in one class,” he said.
“I’ve learned so much from my students; I think they’ve realized that I’m not just there to teach but to share. And that’s what music is all about.”
In retirement, Popp intends to continue reading, researching and composing. He suspects the university would allow him to continue teaching the honors course for about as long as he’d like. That suits him just fine.
“I can think of little in life that could be more meaningful than helping people know who they are, what they are and what kind of full life they can lead,” he said.
Popp’s own life will definitely remain full.
“I’ve played trombone for over 60 years; I can't put that thing away,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing as bored.”