I was a piano student of Arlene’s at Brown in the late ’90s-early aughts. I remember clearly her warmth, generosity, and sense of humor. I was a difficult student, but she was unfailingly kind and I feel so fortunate to have studied with her. She was one of the main influences on me during my college years, and gave me a much needed nudge in the right direction (out the door) after graduation—at our last lesson together, the summer after (!) graduation, she told me “and if you come back, I’m charging you for your lesson.” We stayed in touch in the decades since, visiting when I was in town, and once even at her beach home in Oceanside. I ended up following in her footsteps, teaching piano at a liberal arts college, and she continues to be a model and an inspiration in my own teaching. She’ll be sorely missed.
William Fried ‘01