William P. Malm

Dr. Malm was a favorite teacher of mine at the U. Of Michigan! His warm personality and colorful teaching talent made him a memorable person in my life. I remember his classes in the Bell Tower vividly! Joyce Grika Sklar - class of 1963.

I believe that Dr. Malm started teaching at Michigan the year I transferred from Oberlin. He made History of Western Music class exciting. His scope of knowledge and enthusiasm in presenting it, made the class one of the few I remember.

He was my favorite professor! (I attended the School of Music from 1976 - 1980 and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Music History and Musicology.) Prayers and deepest sympathy to the family.

Professor Malm was a wonderful teacher, always eager to share his insights and experience. He was a warm and giving individual who impacted untold numbers of ethnomusicology students.

In 1973, I was one of the School of Music Freshmen who sat in Music History 139 and received our introduction to having our ears opened as Professor Malm spoke to us, garbed in his Doctoral robe. I have never forgotten that first lecture. Subsequent lectures were equally memorable (who can forget "There's no music like Noh Music!"). Truly, his was a life well-lived, with influence on so many people. My condolences to all in the family. --- Linda Bischak Etter

It was fortuitous that I signed up for one of Professor Malms courses when I was in the undergrad anthropology program in the 1960´s. He was the one and only professor who took me seriously and was interested in giving me real practical and useful guidance. My favorite in the department. Many years later I ran into him and learned we were living in the same neighborhood. Such a kind and genuine person. Truly one of the elders.

I was able to wangle my way in to Dr. Malm's intro to ethnomusicology class when I was in social work school. It was my most exciting class; I remember having to transcribe a Bulgarian women's chorus song and we had so many ideas of how to do that. I learned somujch! Thank you!

Bill was a delightful, thoughtful and creative colleague in musicology. Thomas Taylor (UMich, Assoc Prof, retired)

Professor Malm ("sensei") taught me about Japanese music, and I played in the Japanese Music Study Group for many years, even after graduating undergrad and law school. He was a wonderful teacher, extremely knowledgeable and beyond just musically talented. The Japanese Music Study Group had a memorable personal tour of Tokyo and the Kabuki theater there ( along with the Tsukiji Fish Market!) with sensei while he was there on sabbatical. Decades later I was able to attend the Bunraku ...