MSMTA Newsletter Spring 2016.pub

PUBLISHED Since 1968
Affiliated with the
Music Teachers
National Association
Spring 2016
Contents
MSMTA Officers………………………………..……………………..2
President’s Message………………………….……………………...4
National Conference……………………...…………………………..5
2015 Conference News……………...…………………………….6-9
Festival Winners…………...…...…………………………………...10
Competition Winners……...….……………………………………..11
Conference Photos…………..……...…………………………..12-13
MTNA Foundation News…….……..……………………………….14
MTNA Northwest Director News……....…………………………..15
University of Montana…………..…………………………………...16
MSMTA 2016 Conference……………………..…………………...17
Local Associations…………………….………………………...20-21
Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship………...…….24-25
Fall Festival…………………………………………..…………..26-28
Membership Recognition..…….………….………………………..29
June D. Werner Scholarship……………………………………….31
Meeting Minutes………..……………...………………………..32-33
DON’T MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT EMAILS AND NOTIFICATIONS!
Be sure to UPDATE your contact information
Go to http://www.mtna.org/ to update your membership status and contact information
Visit www.facebook/montanastatemusicteachersassociation
2016 MSMTA CONFERENCE &
FALL FESTIVAL
November 3-5
Great Falls
MSMTA OFFICERS
2015-2016
President
Judy O’Dell
(406) 761-4989
[email protected]
President-Elect
Jessica Olson
(406) 451-4848
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
Sharon Weaver-Knowles
406-549-6254
sharonweaverknowles
@gmail.com
Secretary
Charlene Loge
406-683-4344
[email protected]
Treasurer
Carla Bell
(406) 788-7181
[email protected]
Membership Secretary
Marcy Holston
406-752-8959
[email protected]
MTNA Northwest
Certification Director
Debbie Wallace
[email protected]
CHAIRS
(Standing Committees)
Advertising ......................................Joni Benson
Certification Chair............................Ruth Plesner
College Faculty.......................Christopher Hahn
Competitions:
Chamber/Young Artist………...Diane Volkman
Jr/Sr High…………………………………………
Composition Competition…….. ...........................
Facebook.....................................Diane Volkman
Fall Festival ..................Carole Hatley/Tami Park
Finance/Budget.....................................Carla Bell
Historian ........................................Linda Holden
IMTF.................................................Ruth Plesner
Legislative ................................Palma Wolverton
Library.........................................Patricia McBride
Local Associations ..........Dorothy Beck-Peterson
Membership..................................President Elect
Mentoring.........................................Betty Hanzel
MTNA Foundation ........Sharon Weaver-Knowles
Scholarship .....................................Linda Holden
Spring Festivals .............................Jessica Olson
Technology/Web Page..........................Carla Bell
LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS
Billings – Margaret McGillvray
406-656-7542
[email protected]
Butte-Anaconda – Donna Jean Pickett
406-494-4495/593-4495 (cell)
[email protected]
MTNA NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS
1 West 4th St.
Suite 1550
Cincinnati, OH 45202-3004
Phone: (513) 421-1420 or
(888) 512-5278
Fax: (513) 421-2503
MONTANA MUSIC
NEWS
is published 2 times annually by
the Montana State Music
Teachers Association affiliated
with the Music Teachers National
Association.
Editor…………….....Sandy Soltis
Deadlines: Jan. 15 and July 15
HISTORIAN - If you have any
digital photos (or hard copy
photos) you would like included,
please send them to our historian:
Linda Holden
540 Westwind Rd.
Valier, MT 59486
[email protected]
ADVERTISERS INDEX
Great Falls - Carole Hatley
406-453-0184
carolehatley@@yahoo.com
Kalispell Area - Joan Renne
406-844-3432/257-2676 (cell)
[email protected]
Missoula - Annelies Aiking-Taylor
406-543-4714
[email protected]
Southwest Montana - Jessica Olson
406-451-4848
[email protected]
2
Steinway Piano Gallery….……....3
Eckroth Music…………………….5
Wendy Weissman, CPA…….…..9
UM School of Music…………....19
Hansen Music………………..….22
Quality Piano…………………....22
Montana Piano………………….23
C. David Lamb……………….….29
Piano Technicians Guild…….....29
All About Pianos…………….…..30
Heppler Piano……………..…….30
My Music Staff……….………….30
Morgenroth Music…………..…..33
3
Message from the President
Happy New Year to all of you. I've recently returned from the NW District
competitions held in Missoula. What an inspirational weekend full of dedicated, talented students, teachers and colleagues. The Missoula Music
Teachers provided over the top hospitality. Special thanks go to the head
organizer, Lori Armstrong and her helpers Rita Herseth, Laura Morris,
Annelies Aiking-Taylor, Mike Evoch, Margaret Baldridge and Sharon
Weaver-Knowles. (If I've left anyone out, you have my sincere apologies.) Bravo and congratulations to the Chamber Music Division winners,
the Missoula Piano Trio with David Harmsworth, cello, Sarah Harmsworth,
violin and Adam Sears, piano and their teacher/coach Steven Hesla. And
further congratulations to Professor Hesla, our Foundation Fellow. Our
goal of $1,000.00 was reached entirely with contributions (no boost from
MSMTA necessary).
We had a great time at the conference in November. Anita King was an
excellent clinician full of insightful tips and ideas on how to best use our bodies. Many thanks to all who
wrote reviews of her sessions which you can read in this issue. We were also treated to a fantastic concert
by our own Julie Gosswiller and Angella Ahn. Their performance was world class. They also did great
sessions for us. I am so grateful for their generosity and contributions.
A huge congratulations to our own University of Montana students who won the MTNA collegiate chapter of
the year. Their sessions at our conferences have been top notch, not to mention their ingenuity in all they
do at the University and all the background help they provide us at our state conferences, the NW district
competitions and the MTNA national conferences.
Please note the March 20 deadline for scholarship applications for the Cinda Tompkins Memorial scholarship. The deadline for the newly established June D. Werner Memorial scholarship is May 15. If you
haven't donated to either or both funds, please know that donations are accepted at any time and greatly
appreciated.
Tami Park, our Fall Festival chair, has agreed to stay on as an on-site coordinator. Our new Fall Festival
chair is Carole Hatley. Many thanks to Carole for stepping forward, without being asked I must note.
Diane Volkman is our new Young Artist/Chamber music MTNA chair. We need a Junior/Senior High
chair. Please contact me if this is something you'd be interested in doing. I live in a dream world where
someone will come forward. Please make my dreams come true! Many thanks to our former chairs Ruth
Plesner and Laura Detrick for their dedication and hard work.
Our composition chair of many years, Lillian Reichert is stepping down so we will need a new chair for
this. Once again I'm hoping someone will make my dreams come true. Please come forward if this is an
area of interest for you.
Ruth Plesner has volunteered (made my dream come true) to be our new IMTF chair. Many thanks to Ruth
as she is also our Certification Chair.
Here's to a great winter and spring to all of you. I'm looking forward to seeing you November 3-5 in Great
Falls for our conference with Dr. Jody Graves.
Judy O’Dell
4
Put your boots on and come join us for this 5-day music education celebration in San Antonio, April 2–6!
The Grand Hyatt San Antonio will play host to nearly 2,000 music teachers, students and industry
experts, and we have a lineup fit for Texas. Evening recitals include performances by American trio Time for
Three and Grammy-winning pianist Emanuel Ax. Celebrated author and piano teacher Seymour Bernstein will
lead an advanced master class. Noted pedagogues Bruce Berr and Barbara Fast will also lead intermediate
piano master classes. And don’t forget about annual favorites like Pedagogy Saturday, the Exhibit Hall and
the MTNA National Student Competitions!
Along with the conference activities, you’ll have the chance to explore beautiful San Antonio—take a
stroll down the River Walk, visit the Alamo and enjoy all the Tex-Mex you can eat!
5
News From the MSMTA Conference in Bozeman
2015
Anita King Master Class
By Dorothy Beck Peterson
Anita King’s master class provided an excellent opportunity to observe the principles of the embodied
musician applied to students and their repertoire. The first performer was Grant Smilovic, a student of Ken
Christiansen. He performed the Chopin Etude in F Minor, Op. 10 #9. Anita urged him to utilize a larger
space in his performance, or as she put it, “Take a journey into the space.” Long notes provide the time
needed to take in the room with an upward and outward glance. She had Grant use a spiral motion that
allowed him to turn to listen to the acoustic of the room and communicate more with the audience. She
encouraged him to take as much time as he dared. After working with Anita’s suggestions, Grant was
playing with more intent to the music while the audience agreed that they felt more included.
Julian Jaszczak, a student of Christopher Hahn, then played a section of the Schubert Impromptu in G Flat
Major, Op. 90 #3. With Julian, Anita focused on playing with more use of the legs and torso. She had him
push on the outer edges of the piano to feel the lumbar region of the back and more support from the
legs. The resulting gesture resembles the “cat cow” position in yoga. Anita stressed the need for pianists
to be more aware of their bodies and to experiment with movements that enhance the musical line. Julian
remarked that he felt more fluid and free as he used more of his body to produce the sound.
The final performer was Adam Sears, a student of Steven Hesla. He played portions of the first movement
of Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 101. Anita worked with Adam to create longer phrases by engaging the torso
with a spiral gesture throughout the entire line. To reorganize for a new passage or thought, the body can
go into neutral without collapsing. Adam was soon becoming comfortable trying these suggestions and his
phrasing became more clearly shaped.
After listening to each of the performers and seeing the progress made under Anita’s guidance, it became
apparent that using the body to produce natural gestures at the piano allows music making to be more
expressive, comfortable and engaging. Anita’s movement based approach gave much food for thought, as
well as, practical applications to try as we continuously strive to improve as musicians and teachers.
Strings Master class
By Joan Renne
The class was scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2015. I attended hoping for a string master class as
per the tentative schedule had received in the mail, to be given by Angella Ahn.
I was pleasantly surprised when both Julie Gosswiller and Angella Ahn showed up. They proceeded to give
us some insights into their performance scheduled for Friday evening. They began by introducing two of
the composers and their compositions. They began by both offering their comments on Debussy's Sonata
in G minor. They collaborated in telling a history of the Sonata. It was Debussy's last and therefore reflects
his state of mind and health (he died shortly thereafter, of course) and the state of the world after World
War I. Both artists contributed parts from the sonata and quoted parts which reflected Debussy's situation. Julie pointed out the affirmative of the first movement Allegro vivo and illustrated that in the choice of
keys: starting in G minor and then going to major. Their discussion was followed by a fine performance of
the first movement.
They compared the Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94 for violin and piano by Sergei Prokofiev. It had been
written originally as a flute/piano sonata. Prokofiev rewrote it for violin and piano. The duo then played the
first movement of the Prokofiev sonata. In their subsequent discussion, they compared the two sonatas
and pointed out similarities between the two sonatas and gave history a significant meaning in both. They
invited a discussion after their performance and we got to hear how they have collaborated in their musical
and personal lives. This was a great heads up for us to hear them at the concert Friday night.
6
Vocal Master Class Workshop Session
By Linda Holden
We were privileged to get some insight and vocal teaching ideas at the MSMTA Master Class and Vocal
workshop led by Elizabeth Croy at our Fall Conference in Bozeman. Ms. Croy shared tips on finding the
right space and resonance, moving forward with your breath, articulating, and getting more sound as she
worked with several students. She explained a “trained voice” has a two octave range with a clear pure
tone. “When you have a resonant space-the sound is spinning forward rather than forced.” A trained voice
is more adaptable and is then able to sing other genre without hurting the voice. A resource -IMSLPinternational music score library project- http://imslp.org/ was mentioned for locating public domain music.
The Imagination Station
By Charlene Loge
At the MSMTA State Conference, Julie Gosswiller opened the second day on Friday, November 6, 2015,
with a delightful wake-up exercise by forming an amoeba circle to give and receive energy. We then
hopped aboard the train with its first stop at Imagination Station. She referred us to two books: Shelley
Carson’s Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity and Innovation in Your
Life (paperback published 2012) and Bruce Adolphe’s The Mind’s Ear: Exercises for Improving the Musical
Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners (pb 2013). Since musicians often hold high expectations connected to unhelpful negative self-chatter, she offered ways to overcome emotional hurdles.
From Carson’s book: 1) She urged us to connect to a comfort zone and to make associations between
divergent things rather than convergent “right” answers. 2) Apply our reason by using information in our
memory to solve problems. 3) Envision music by thinking with pictures. 4) Avoid evaluation with a critical
eye that constantly judges people around us or our own inadequacy. 5) Use imagination and improvisation
to escape stifling thoughts.
Julie asked us to take a “mental holiday” to imagine we see clearly a place of serenity and remain there, a
useful technique to get out of the rut of “executing” a passage. We can strengthen “aural imagery” by
imagining instruments and use “aural imagination” to convey a musical phrase five different ways. Music is
well-learned when in our mind we visualize the score, hear the score, and possess tactile playing. By
imagining our audience of friends or strangers, she asked us to connect our own feelings through deciding
what we want to communicate with their feelings. Extinguish critical self-chatter, experience creative works
in art and at concerts, eliminate what is toxic to creativity, find serene places, experiment and fail without
condemnation, don’t prematurely evaluate creative ideas. With this conclusion, we arrived happily with our
train conductor Julie Gosswiller at the Imagination Station.
"Rhythmic Vitality and Musical Gestures "
By Carol Mathew
Five University of Montana pedagogy students, all members of the UM Keyboard Society, presented a
PowerPoint program on "Rhythmic Vitality and Musical Gestures ". Adam Sears facilitated with assistance
from Dr. Steven Hesla.
Three categories were discussed:
1. The benefit of perceiving the beginning, duration and release of every note (playing with intention).
2. How rhythmic vitality is enhanced through time, space and energy (dance elements) ...as considered in
Eurhythmics.
3. Benefits of identifying anacrusic, crusic, or metacrusic notes in a phrase.
The students demonstrated various techniques and suggestions to draw our students into more active
musical listening and involvement. They led the audience in numerous physical movements which should
give us many ideas to take to our studios.
Many thanks to these future teachers /performers for sharing their ideas with us.
7
Dr. Anita King – Session I – The Attentive Musician:
Cultivating an Inclusive Awareness
By Carole Hatley
Dr. King opened the first session of the conference with this statement: “Approximately 40% of musicians
play with discomfort, pain or injury.” She explained that too often music training focuses on artistic goals,
with insufficient attention to the means for realizing artistic intentions through the coordinated movement of
the body in order to resolve or prevent injury and fatigue (which also improves technique.) Every activity
we undertake we do through movement. Every activity is a “whole body” activity. Performers need to get
the whole body to respond to the music. To do this we must have a healthy and secure somatic (body)
foundation.
“Body mapping” means an understanding of how the parts of our bodies---legs, torso, arms, head---are put
together and gives us choices about our movement. (Dr. King often used a model of the human skeleton to
illustrate how the body is constructed.) To demonstrate this concept, she had us sit in chairs, drop a pen or
other object on the floor, and pick it up. We repeated the process, taking note of how our bodies were
operating. Instead of “gripping” with the neck as we reached down, we were instructed to roll up vertebra
by vertebra from the sitting bones, while keeping the neck relaxed.
Dr. King also stressed training our senses: (1) Tactile sense (sense of touch) to develop a more conscious
and productive relationship with our instrument (Example: feel all the parts of the instrument) and
(2) Kinesthetic sense (movement sense) to enhance movement choices and perceive the quality of movement (Examples: tense/free; adjust body for intonation correction). We should be cognizant of our feelings
and emotions as we perform. Don’t suppress or block them, but don’t let them derail the performance. In
addition, we need to be aware of the performance space and invite the audience to take part.
In conclusion, Dr. King suggested distinguishing “focus” from “concentration”. She used as an analogy a
flashlight which has a direct beam but also produces peripheral light. Our attention should be “expanded
and organized into an inclusive field of attention.” Dr. King summarized her philosophy as follows: “The
ability to pay attention to yourself, your instrument, your collaborators, the space around you, and the music
all at the same time is a skill that can be learned.”
Suggested resources on body mapping:
What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body by Barbara Conable
What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body by Thomas Mark (GIA Publications)
Move Well, Avoid Injury (DVD version of “What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body”)
8
Dr. Anita King Presentation The Embodied Musician, Session 2:
Body Mapping Short Course
By Lillian Reichert
Dr. King, with a friendly and sincere demeanor, gave a presentation that was both “hands-on” (including
exercises for us at our seats or on the floor) and academic (using outlines and a skeletal model). She
started by defining our “body map” as being our knowledge of the organization of our own bodies, mainly
the skeletal system to transfer weight and the muscular system to move us. This knowledge enables us to
use optimal coordination and translates into movement change so we can play and feel better. It gives us
the means to avoid contortion or compression and play our instrument with full stature (a neutral body).
Using a skeletal model, Dr. King demonstrated the structure of our various parts, their locations, and their
functions. Balance while standing, sitting, and walking reduces any pressure or pain. A “free” head enables
us to re-balance and give nuance to our music. “Posture” she defined as sitting up straight with shoulders
back, which pushes on the lumbar curve and is hard on the body. “Slump” she described as sitting leaned
over, stretching the lumbar, pulling in the collarbone, and losing freedom- of-movement in the upper arm.
Dr. King encouraged us to find a sitting position that is neither posture nor slump, but a balance in between,
while using our legs and torso for support.
Next, Dr. King explained the structure and movement of the arms, so we can be free to gesture with them
and be in control of the piano key. She said we want to perceive ourselves with a combination of two
things: information and sensation. For the proper sequence of movement, we start with our legs and sitting
bones. To find the movement we want, we get closer to the keyboard. Dr. King encouraged us to feel our
spines and let our arms flow right out of our backs, thus including all four limbs in our intention of
movement. In order to preserve a healthier organization of the arms and legs, she said to always engage
them together at our instrument. Her session was inspirational and educational.
9
MSMTA Fall Festival 2015 Winners
SHORT PROGRAM
STRINGS
1st place Elementary - Lydia Johnsen
1st Place Junior - Catherine G Pierce
1st - Elementary level - Nathan Adams
1st - Junior level - Emmaus Michel
2nd - Junior Level - Aunika Hammatt
1st - Senior level - Austin Hammatt
SINGLE PIECE PROGRAM
1st place Elementary - Kian Cameron
2nd place Elementary - Suzanna Lester
3rd place Elementary - Ewan Cameron
10
MTNA Montana State Performance
Competitions 2015
Young Artist Piano
Michael Zarling, Winner
Tess Michel, Alternate
Young Artist Strings
Sarah Harmsworth (violin),
Representative for MSMTA at Divisional
Young Artist Woodwinds
Natalie Law (bassoon),
Representative for MSMTA at Divisional
Chamber Music
Sarah Harmsworth (violin),
David Harmsworth (cello),
Adam Sears (piano),
Representatives for MSMTA at Divisional
Junior Piano
Dylan Batista, Winner
Benjamin Roberts, Alternate
Matthew Knight, Honorable Mention
Michael Zarling, Tess Michel
Senior Piano
Magnolia Chinn, Winner
Elissa Taylor, Alternate
Britta DeGroot, Honorable Mention
Matthew Knight, Dylan Batista, Benjamin Roberts
Magnolia Chinn, Elissa Taylor, Britta DeGroot
11
MSMTA 2015 State Conference—Bozeman
MSMTA Group photo at Nov. 7, 2015 Luncheon taken by Bill Knowles
MSU Professor of Music, Beth Croy working with
Kelley Tellera – Sarah Brownell, Accompanist
12
Linda Holden shopping at
Morgenroth’s Display
MSMTA Past President Sharon
Weaver –Knowles receiving
Teacher of Year award
from Pres. Judy O’Dell
Alethia Heide - Vocalist
UM Student Delegation with Professors Steven Hesla and Christopher Hahn
13
MTNA FOUNDATION NEWS
2016 Foundation Fellow: Steven K. Hesla
Congratulations to all our MSMTA members and Local Associations for your wonderful support of the
MTNA Foundation and our Foundation Fellow, Steven Hesla - our dear friend, colleague and mentor. The
$1,000 has been sent to the MTNA Foundation Fund and we are preparing to celebrate this highest honor
with Steve at the National Conference Banquet in San Antonio the first week of April. If you would like to
join us at a Montana table for the Banquet please let our president, Judy O’Dell, know. As Steven said to
me, “It’s always fun to be honored, but the most important part of this program is the support we give to the
Foundation which in turn helps our students through its support of our competitions, our teachers through
grants for continuing education, our local chapters for their special work as well as furthering music education in so many other ways.”
Also, it is with great joy that I announce that our UM Collegiate Chapter was just notified that it has been,
for the second time, awarded the Benjamin Whitten National Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award of
$1,000 for the outstanding work done by the collegiate members at UM and their faculty sponsors, Steven
Hesla and Christopher Hahn. They have many service projects such as monitoring for our Montana Competitions and for the Divisional Competitions whenever they’re in Missoula. They’re learning about the
importance of “giving back” and are becoming more and more involved in MTNA and MSMTA Conferences
and the Missoula community. We can all be so proud of the work they are doing and what they’ve accomplished! Just to be clear, this financial award comes directly to them from the MTNA Foundation! Be sure
to read the additional article by Christopher Hahn regarding all the work these students have done to
deserve this award.
And, just a reminder that in early April we will all receive our Membership Dues statement from
MTNA. Please note the space provided for individual donations to the MTNA Foundation and feel free to
add any amount there to your total dues as your individual support of the Foundation.
Thank you again for your outstanding continuing support of the Foundation and especially, our Fellow
program! Hoping to be with you in San Antonio!
Sincerely,
Sharon
Sharon Weaver-Knowles, NCTM
Immediate Past President, MSMTA
Foundation Chair, MSMTA
Spring Festival Certificates
Orders for Spring Festival Certificates may be sent to Jessica Olson, Spring Festival
Chair, at [email protected]. Please include the number of certificates requested, your city, festival date, and the number of honors seals needed, if any. A two week
processing period is required for all certificate orders. Please email or call Jessica at
(406) 451-4848 with any questions.
14
Greetings from MTNA and your Northwest Director!
Do you know how YOUR national organization works for you? You are probably most familiar with
some of the programs such as Competitions, Commissioned Composer and the National Conference, to name a few, but perhaps you are not aware of all the "resources" MTNA provides its
members. For example: Insurance Services, Professional Support Line, Legal Resources, Leadership Resources, Teaching Tips, Studio Resources and Parent/Student Resources. MTNA is
also working with companies to provide discounts for members, such as prescriptions, car rentals
and hotels. The most significant discount is through Office Depot/Office Max where you can get
BW copies for 2.5 cents!! That is a huge savings to your studios and chapters!
Did you know that MTNA is now offering a 6 month membership? This is available from January 1
to June 30 for people who have never joined MTNA before but would like to try us out!. What a great incentive to
recruit new members! Reach out to other music educators around you and share the good news of what MTNA
means to you along with the value and opportunities of an MTNA membership. Hopefully they will get their feet wet
and will be hooked!
Do you like more technology? Your American Music Teachers magazine is now online. Wherever you are, AMT is at
your fingertips. Issues since June 2015 can be read by going to www.americanmusicteacher.org. As the AMT is part
of your membership dues, this site is MTNA members only. There is also the MTNA e-Journal, which features
in-depth, scholarly, research-oriented articles enhanced through the use of sound, image and video. This can be
accessed through the MTNA website. Also new are the MTNA Webinars. The first one was in November and if you
missed out it can be viewed on MTNA's YouTube Channel. Another webinar is being planned and will also be
available soon.
The above is only a sampling of what MTNA has to offer. MTNA is a unique organization that is constantly looking for
ways to provide services that will benefit all members. If we, as members, want to get the full potential and value from
our membership, then it is our responsibility to take the time to learn more about what is being offered.
Do you know who the other leaders are for your Northwest Division? The MTNA NW Division Competition Chair is
Dianne Johnston, WA. Coordinators for this event are Susan Todd, NCTM-OR (Junior), Diane Volkman, NCTM-MT
(Senior) and Mary Kaye Owen, NCTM-WA (Young Artist/Chamber). The MTNA NW Division Composition Chair is
Patrick Stephens, NCTM-WA and your MTNA NW Division Certification Commissioner is Karen Hollenback, NCTMWA. A huge thank you to all of these fabulous leaders who give of their time to ensure the success of the MTNA
programs for all the Northwest states.
Did you know that all Northwest members are invited to attend a NW Divisional meeting and a no-host dinner? If you
are planning to be at the MTNA National Conference in San Antonio then please pencil these events into your calendars. If you haven't met colleagues from the other NW states then it's a must. It's a great group of people and we
have a fantastic time. You should not miss out! Those who are registered will receive more information or it will be
posted on the NW Division Portal on the MTNA website.
Did you know that as members you have the opportunity and privilege to select your future leaders? Beginning in
February, voting will be opened to select the next Northwest Division Director-elect. There are two very well qualified
nominees and each would make excellent leaders: Mary Kaye Owen, NCTM from Washington and Cindy PetersonPeart, NCTM from Oregon. The Director-elects serve 2 years as part of the MTNA Membership Committee and aid
the Division Director as needed. The following 2 years they will be your NW Division Director and serve on the MTNA
Board. Please take your responsibility seriously and don't forget to vote.
Being part of the National organization is as important as your local and state associations. At each level different
programs and services are provided to enhance your membership - services that National offers us, which the local
associations could not and vice versa. We need the whole package! Take ownership of your membership by becoming more involved and help shape the future of the associations. Be an advocate for MTNA by inviting and sharing
with others. Be proud of MTNA and advertise in your studios that you are a member of a professional organization.
On a personal note! Thank you so much for inviting me to your State Conference. It was such an honor to be with
you all and I so enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones! I would also like to thank the Missoula Local
Association and the University of Montana for hosting the MTNA NW Division Competitions. Such a wonderful
location and we are always well taken care of! We are truly most grateful for your hospitality.
MTNA is your MTNA
MTNA is your Partner in Teaching
Jani Peterson, NCTM
NW Division Director
15
News from Your University of Montana
It’s true – all of our schools, whether public or parochial, pre-school, elementary, middle, secondary, or post
-secondary – truly belong to everyone! Schools are heartfelt and essential gifts to our children and young
adults. Education is the greatest investment that can be made in young people. At every level, students
are finding their way toward successful careers in a variety of specializations.
Not long ago, UM’s former President Dennison pointed out that college graduates will earn ca. $2 million
dollars more than the non-college graduate over the course of their careers. That amazing figure certainly
illustrates how important it can be for young adults to pursue their passions beyond high school, raising
themselves up to become responsible, productive, and professionally fulfilled adults. Thanks, colleagues,
for your part in preparing students for their collegiate years!
MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award
The UM Keyboard Society had a great semester. Activities included a parade float in the homecoming
parade, participation in the Pianissimo! concerts and subsequent tours, and bringing 15 students to
Bozeman for the State Conference in November. UM’s ever-popular Pianissimo! was featured on
Kalispell’s Live On Stage Community Concert Series where UM students and faculty performed for over
400 enthusiastic people, as well as two sold-out concerts at the Spokane Steinway Gallery. These and
many other exciting activities led to UM Keyboard Society winning the 2016 MTNA Collegiate Chapter of
the Year Award. With Chris and Steven’s help, UM students are experiencing previews of their upcoming
professional lives. They are all honored to have received this recognition.
Faculty Updates
Christopher Hahn is pleased to have received his promotion to full professor from the University of
Montana this fall. His summer was packed with fun events, including performances at the Methow Valley
Chamber Music Festival in Twisp, WA, teaching for the UM Piano Camp (a whopping 32 campers this
year!) and for the Calgary Arts Summer School Association Piano Camp, and staying involved with the
Play It, Missoula! downtown pianos project he started last summer. Chris’s autumn performances included
performances of Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder Waltzes with the piano and voice faculties from UM and Idaho
State University. They performed at both ISU and UM, and also on KUFM as part of a new program Chris
has developed with station manager, Michael Marsolek, to feature UM music faculty in live-to-air
performances.
As Director-Elect for MTNA’s Northwest Division, Chris attended the MTNA Summit for Leadership in
September. Chris and co-author Karen Beres’s long-awaited book, The Pianist’s Guide to the Standard
Performance and Teaching Concertos, is in final edits at Alfred Publishers, and scheduled to be released
this summer. We’ll keep everyone posted.
Nancy Cooper, theory, organ and harpsichord instructor at UM, has spent the past year researching the life
of Anna Maude Van Hoose, early 20th-century pianist and accompanist. She had an article published in
the Spring 2015 issue of Montana: the Magazine for Western History, on circuit chautauquas in Montana,
and an article in the Summer 2015 issue of the Journal of the International Alliance for Women in Music,
about Van Hoose's years on the chautauqua circuit. She is currently investigating Van Hoose's decadelong collaboration with Spanish-American baritone Felipe Delgado, and their concert tours throughout the
1930s, and is planning to publish her research in 2016.
Steven Hesla remains busy as ever keeping things afloat at UM, including helping the fourth season of the
Celebrate Piano Series continue to grow and reach an ever increasing audience base. November’s
appearance by Chester, MT native, Philip Aaberg, thrilled more than 600 Missoula area 5th graders as well
as a great audience in UM’s Dennison Theatre. Steven is honored to be Montana’s 2016 MTNA
Foundation Fellow, and looks forward to receiving this honor at the Foundation Gala in San Antonio in
April. Thanks to all who gave so generously to make this possible!
Steven was especially proud to serve as coach for the Missoula Piano Trio, who just won the NW Division
of the MTNA Young Artist Chamber Music Competition. Steven’s student, Adam Sears, and violinist Sarah
Harmsworth and cellist David Harmsworth are now preparing for the MTNA national chamber music
competition in San Antonio. Chris’s student, Michael Zarling, a senior in pharmacy at UM, was declared
the alternate winner in the MTNA-Steinway Young Artist Piano Competition. Congratulations to these
hardworking and accomplished UM students!
UM Piano Camp will take place on the beautiful Mountain Campus this coming June 19-25, 2016. Details
will be available online, and we look forward to working with many of your students then!
Best wishes, all, for a great Spring Semester from your friends at UM!
16
2016 MSMTA Conference
Jody Graves-Clinician
November 3-5
Great Falls
Jody Graves maintains an exciting, diverse and active performing career and
is recognized nationally and internationally as a distinguished performing
artist, public speaker, and master teacher of piano. Recital engagements as
a soloist and collaborative artist take her across the U.S. and abroad. Dr.
Graves is also the pianist with the acclaimed chamber group The Sapphire
Trio (est.1998) and their concert tours take them all around the world.
She has presented for prestigious organizations such as the National Music
Teachers National Association (MTNA) conferences, and as the guest
artist for the Nebraska State MTA Conference, and the Utah State MTA
conference. She has been invited to be the guest artist for the Idaho State and Montana state
MTA conferences in 2016. In 2015 Dr. Graves was a keynote speaker at the National
Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. She has had the honor of serving as a cultural
ambassador for the U.S. State Department in the Middle East regions since 2006. Dr. Graves
released her 4th solo recording in 2015 ‘ANANDA-Notes from the Heart’ featuring the music of
Liszt, Berg, Copland and Brahms. Additionally she has authored articles for the American Music
Teacher and Clavier.
Her active career covers an extensive array of offerings including concerts, master classes, artist
retreats, workshops and lectures on living a beautiful and healthy artistic life. Each presentation is
laced with poignant stories and humor, engaging the audience and participants in a rich collaborative experience. Dr. Graves is recognized for her creative ability to engage the audience during
her concerts with anecdotes, historical perspectives and humor. She holds a Doctorate Degree in
Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music and has been the recipient
of two Faculty Meritorious Awards for her performances and publications, as well as the Fosseen
-Kusaka Exchange Award at EWU (2014), a Distinguished Professorship awarded in
collaboration with the Mayor’s office in Spokane, WA., which included performing solo concerts
and giving presentations in Nishinomiya, Japan.
Concerts and bookings at www.drjodygraves.com
Additional information at: www.thesapphiretrio.com
17
VIP Membership Newsletter
Building Membership Through Arts
Advocacy—Throw Open The Doors!
Debra Florian, NCTM
Arts Advocacy Chair
Washington State MTA
February 2016
Issue 34
We encourage you to share the content of this message with your membership through state and local association newsletters and communication.
My guess is that most of you, like myself, really had no idea how much you and your students would benefit from MTNA membership until
after you had joined and began actively participating in local, state and national programs. In this new year, let’s resolve to not be a well-kept
secret, an exclusive music club. Rather, let’s choose to throw open the doors! Let other students, non-member teachers, other arts organizations, and the public in general see what great things we’re doing—from the inside! To do this effectively, we must be intentional about
outreach and publicity. The good news is that it really only requires a small adjustment to add an outreach focus to what we are already
doing.
As an example, for many years, my local association (Kitsap MTA in Washington State) has presented holiday recitals at our local mall over
two weekends in December, with individual teachers signing up for time blocks. This year, we were intentional about expanding to include
other arts groups. The mall administrators were delighted to work with us, and offered all four weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas. As
the official sponsor of this holiday festival of music, Kitsap MTA extended an invitation to other arts organizations, local school ensembles,
music academies, dance academies and the like, to participate free of charge. We provided a grand piano; the mall graciously provided
festival setup and décor, sound system and large professional signage that listed the schedule of all participating groups for the whole
month, with our association name in large lettering at the top. We had brochures displayed on a table, and the other participants were invited
to place brochures as well.
I’m pleased to report this collaborative effort was a huge success! With many outside groups participating, appreciative of the opportunity,
we ALL benefitted through sharing resources and joint publicity. It provided tremendous variety of musical offerings, visibly enjoyed by the
shopping public. Students and teachers had a marvelous time sharing music. And it only required a small shift of focus from an in-house
activity to a collaborative one!
A few thoughts to consider:
As state/local affiliates of MTNA, are we visible in our communities? Are we working alone or do we truly see ourselves as a vital force within
the larger arts community?
When we are visible—we build awareness which engages the enthusiasm of our current members and students, and creates interest among
non-members.
When we are visible—the importance of the arts in our lives, individually and collectively, is elevated.
When we are visible—we support one of the three pillars of the MTNA Strategic Plan—to “Engage the Public”—by increasing the number of
people making and teaching music.
When we are visible—we also support the second pillar, “Sustain the Profession,” especially the objective to “promote the music teaching
profession as a worthwhile, respected and financially viable career.” When the community can see us in action at local or state venues, they
see a thriving, productive and valuable profession at work.
When we are visible—WE ALL WIN!
As we look ahead to a spring season filled with exciting programs and activities, let’s encourage our state and local leadership to shift focus
outward. A non-member fee can be applied to activity registrations to help offset expenses that membership dues would normally support.
Allowing non-members to participate and experience MTNA from the inside is a great marketing strategy!
18
19
LOCAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
Billings
Greetings from Billings! We hit the New Year running with a fun and informative presentation by three of
our local members. Trudy Poirier, Sherlon Orth and Carol Matthew each presented some of their favorite
Festival/recital pieces and talked about why they are great teaching pieces. It was wonderful! On tap in the
next months is our Sonatina Festival (Molly Morrison is our adjudicator - lucky us!), a presentation about
good business practices and a fun exchange guided by Brad Knutson about using phone apps in your
studio. Then we'll finish up with our Spring Festivals. Should be a great 2nd half!
Happy teaching everyone!
Margaret McGillvray, Pres. BMTA
Great Falls
Thanks to Carla Bell the GFMTA website (gfmta.org) is up and running. The site offers information about our
association, our mission statement, and a list of our local members. It also provides a calendar of upcoming
events and links to other related organizations.
As part of the teacher enrichment component of our monthly meetings, members have presented informative
programs on the composers Jean Sibelius and Antonin Dvorak. In December, many of our students joined
with students of non-members to provide several hours of festive music at Quality Piano during the
downtown Christmas stroll. Our December meeting included a potluck luncheon and cookie exchange.
The GFMTA January meeting will feature a program by Dylan Bautista (piano student of Carla Bell), who
won the MTNA Montana State Junior Piano Competition and will be advancing to the Divisional Competition
in Missoula in January.
The GFMTA Spring Festival is scheduled for April 15-16, with adjudicator Dorothea Cromley, who will also
present a workshop for teachers. We hope to see you all at the MSMTA Fall Conference in Great Falls on
November 3-5, 2016, with clinician Jody Graves!
Carole Hatley, Pres. GFMTA
Southwest
The Southwest Montana Music Teachers Association began the fall with several impressive events. Our
October program, specifically designed for our teachers and professional development, was presented by
Anne Keith. Anne is a middle school teacher in Bozeman and recently was awarded the “National Teacher
of the Year.” In honor of her achievement, she was invited to a ceremony at the White House and was
presented her award by President Obama. Her presentation for the SMMTA was entitled “Mindsets + Music
= Magic!” The base of her presentation was to communicate and explain growth mindsets in students. In
November of this past year many of our members were engaged in helping host the Montana State Music
Teachers Annual Conference in Bozeman! The conference was a wonderful success and a great thanks to
our MSMTA President-elect, Jessica Olson for being such a great sight coordinator!
In January two of our members who recently relocated to Bozeman will present a program in regard to
collaborative performing as well as exploring various levels of repertoire. Our spring line up will include our
Spring Student Recital, which will be held at the Reynolds Recital Hall in March. Following that event,
SMMTA will host its annual Spring Festival and Adjudications April 22 – 23, 2016. Marilyn Snyder from
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho will be our featured adjudicator and presenter.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth Christensen, NCTM
20
Missoula
Greetings from Missoula!
This year we incorporated a new element into our meetings: "Mystery Musicians". It means that there is
some live music in every meeting, played (until now) by students or members, often showing off their own
compositions. Who and what it is, is kept a surprise as much as possible. Our "programs" have been about
Teaching Composition to Beginners (Lillian Reichert), and Coaching Competition Candidates, which was a
piano trio master class by Steve Hesla (the MMTA is excited to host the MTNA Divisional Competitions this
January!), as well as a Discussion about our Fundraising in 2016. The fruits of that discussion will be three
"kids for kids" Play-a-thon Concerts, to be held in March '16, with the pledges mainly collected for UM
Summer Camp kids that need a scholarship, since there is no financial help program for them in place yet;
and, if we can, we'll collect for our UM scholarship fund as well. Since these concerts are planned a week
before the Spring Festival, they can also work nicely as extra prep for the Spring Festival students. The
coming semester will include three Ensemble Recitals for students of all instruments and programs about
Articulation (Chris Hahn), and about the Carillon, with live playing, by Barbara Ballas, as well as a Piano
Recital by UM students, which is always a real treat!
Best wishes to you all,
Annelies Aiking-Taylor, MMTA President
Kalispell
Happy New Year from the Kalispell Area Music Teachers Association!
We just held our 15th Annual Scholarship Alumni Concert on December 27, 2015. The performers were
Griffin and Cindy Browne, Nathan Connell, Jacqueline Fallon, "Nonno" Shang Jung Lin, and Jordan
Neiman. Musical performances included cello, flute, marimba, piano, and violin.
We are excited for 2016. In January Suzanne Rohrbach presented a program called "The Boy's Changing
Voice." On January 16, we will hold our 17th Annual KAMTA Vocal Festival with Dr. Micah Hunter
adjudicating. In February, members of KAMTA are looking forward to a book forum discussion about A
Soprano On Her Head, by Eloise Ristad. In March, Molly Morrison will present our program and serve as
piano adjudicator at our annual Spring Festival. We are looking forward to a music history program
presented by Jan Hoffman in April, and in May, we will cap off the year with our annual Teacher Musicale
and Luncheon.
This past Fall we hired a website designer. Look for the debut of the KAMTA website soon! We will also be
presenting KAMTA Scholarships to students attending music camps or with a music major or minor in
college in May.
Suzanne Rohrbach, President Kalispell Area Music Teachers Association
21
22
23
MSMTA Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship
Sponsored by the Montana Music Teachers Association
This scholarship honors Cinda Tompkins, an MSMTA member, who devoted her life to the profession of
piano teaching. The purpose is to encourage and give support to a music student whose goal is to teach
piano. It is to be awarded during the student’s junior or senior year of undergraduate studies in music.
Criteria for Application
The student must be a (sophomore) or upper classman working towards a degree in music, who intends to
teach piano. The degree should be in piano pedagogy or music education which included piano pedagogy
classes.
1. The student may be enrolled in an in-state or out-of-state program to qualify.
2. The student’s former teacher must currently be a member of the Montana State Music Teachers
Association and have been a member during the last year of the student’s study before college.
3. Students may be nominated by the student’s pre-college MSMTA teacher or by their current
collegiate teacher. A letter of recommendation is sent to the MSMTA Scholarship Chair.
4. The student must meet an appropriate degree of proficiency decided upon by the keyboard faculty of
that institution.
Procedure
1. An application form and a MSMTA teacher recommendation must be submitted to the Scholarship
Chairman by March 20.
2. A recipient will be selected by April 15th by the scholarship committee, which will consist of the
Scholarship Chair, the MSMTA President and another member.
3. The recipient and teacher will be notified in writing by the end of April. The scholarship money will
be disbursed to the student the next fall semester for the enrolled student’s undergraduate studies.
4. The award will be for $500.00
Linda Holden
MSMTA Scholarship Chair
540 Westwind Road
Valier, MT 59486
[email protected]
24
Application Form
MSMTA Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship
Date ___________________
Name of Student ________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________
Studying in the Department of Music at ______________________________________
Degree Program Pursuing__________________________________________________
Expected Graduation Year _________________________________________________
Current Teacher__________________________________________________________
Former MSMTA Teacher___________________________________________________
Return to:
Linda Holden
MSMTA Scholarship Chair
540 Westwind Road
25
MSMTA FALL FESTIVAL: Short Program Compeon
Dates: November 3-5, 2016
Locaon: Holiday Inn, Great Falls
Entry Deadline: Postmarked September 15, 2016
Entry Forms are available for download on www.msmta.com (click on Fall Fesval or Student
Acvies). Online registraon is also available (click on Conference Registraon bu0on).
Students who are entered in the MTNA compeon may not be entered in the Fall Fesval compeon in
the same category.
The Fall Fesval may be entered for comments only or for compeon.
Adjudicators’ decisions are final.
Program Requirements for All Entry Categories
I. SOLO
A. Elementary: Ages 9 - 12 as of January 1, 2017
1. Maximum performance me: 10 minutes
2. Open to all instrumentalists; no voice
3. Pianists:
a. Memorizaon is required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least two (2) pieces of
contrasng style/periods; quality pedagogical material is encouraged (See
“Repertoire Selecon Guidelines”)
4. Instrumentalists:
a. Memorizaon is not required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least two (2) selecons
from contrasng style periods
B.
1.
2.
3.
Junior: Ages 12 – 15* as of January 1, 2017
Maximum performance me: 15 minutes
Open to all instrumentalists and vocalists
Pianists:
a. Memorizaon is required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least two (2) works from
contrasng style periods of the following:
(1) Baroque
(2) Classical (including Beethoven)
(3) Romanc
(4) Contemporary (Impressionism)
(5) Educaonal Composers
4. Vocalists:
a. Memorizaon is required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must be made up of three art songs (one
non-English and two English)
c. Include the name of any idenfying work from which a song is taken
d. Difficult arias are discouraged
5. Instrumentalists:
a. Memorizaon is not required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least two (2) selecons
from contrasng style periods
26
C. Senior: Ages 15* – 19 as of January 1, 2017
1. Maximum performance me: 20 minutes
2. Open to all instrumentalists and vocalists
3. Pianists:
a. Memorizaon is required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least three (3) works from
contrasng style periods of the following:
(1) Baroque
(2) Classical (including Beethoven)
(3) Romanc
(4) Contemporary (Impressionism)
(5) Educaonal Composers
4. Vocalists:
a. Memorizaon is required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program should include only four (4) selecons (two
non-English art songs, one English art song, and one song of the entrant’s
choice)
c. Include the name of any idenfying work from which a song is taken
d. Difficult arias are discouraged
5. Instrumentalists:
a. Memorizaon is not required
b. Repertoire requirement: Program must include at least two (2) composions
represenng contrasng style periods
II. PIANO DUET
All Levels (Age classificaons are the same as for Solo Elementary, Junior and Senior)
1. Students must be able to perform on ONE PIANO
2. Music does not have to be memorized
3. Repertoire requirement: Same as listed for solos (Also see “Repertoire Selecon
Guidelines”)
4. Students entering the duet compeon may also enter the solo compeon in Fall
Fesval
5. Teachers may jointly enter a duet team
6. Page turners are allowed
* The teacher may elect to enter a 15-year-old student in either the Junior Division or the
Senior Division but must meet the program requirements of the chosen division.
TEACHERS, PLEASE NOTE:
• Because of me constraints and the number of students who compete in Fall Fesval,
your student’s performance may be stopped if it exceeds the me limit.
• If your student wins or has won Fall Fesval, he/she cannot compete a second year in the
same division. Your opons are to perform “for comments only,” to move up a division,
or to enter the MTNA compeon.
• If your student has won MTNA in a previous year but wants to perform in Fall Fesval,
he/she may only perform “for comments only.”
• Teachers or students are responsible for obtaining, compensang, rehearsing with, and
scheduling an accompanist for performance. This is not handled by fesval organizers. If
you would like to hire someone in Great Falls, please contact Carole Hatley by email at
[email protected] or by calling 406-453-0184.
• The teacher is responsible for correctly selecng classificaons and music. The teacher is
responsible for complying with the above direcves and meeng all deadlines.
27
REPERTOIRE SELECTION GUIDELINES
Only commercially published works are permi0ed, and the score must be provided for the adjudicator. Jane McGrath’s, The Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance is an excellent resource for
repertoire selecon and level of difficulty. Entrants may use legally-produced scores from vendors such as
CD Sheet Music, provided the le0er of permission that accompanies this music is included. Music downloaded from the Internet (music in the public domain) may be used; however, the teacher should be
certain that such music is an original edion and not an arrangement or transcripon. No photocopied
music is allowed in the adjudicaon room unless accompanied by wri0en permission from the publisher,
stang that the selecon is out of print. (Teachers are cauoned to seek this permission well in advance of
the Fall Fesval date.)
No arrangements, abridgements or transcripons may be used. Hymns, American folk songs, and “pop”
songs (from radio, TV, movies, videos, etc.) are not acceptable. Songs from method books (such as Lesson,
Theory, Technic, Top Hits Solos) are not acceptable. Quality pedagogical material (recital or performance
pieces) by composers such as Dennis Alexander, Melody Bober, Jennifer Linn, Eugenie Rocherolle,
Catherine Rollin, and other similar contemporary composers may be used.
Fall Fesval Fees (No Refunds)
Students:
Elementary - $35.00
Junior - $40.00
Senior - $45.00
Piano Duet - $40.00 (for the duet team)
Teachers: One-me annual feel for all entries
1. Current MSMTA member** (Registered for Conference) --- Fees are waived
2. Current MSMTA member** (Not registered for Conference) --- $20.00
3. Non-Member (Not registered for Conference) --- $40.00
** Membership dues must be paid before 10/1/16
Send entries and fees (checks payable to MSMTA) to:
Carole Hatley
3108 – 5A Street N. E.
Great Falls, MT 59404
Phone 406-453-0184
Email: [email protected]
Registraon is available online at www.msmta.com (click on Fall Fesval or Student Acvies)
28
Membership Recognition
5yrs. 2010
15yrs. 2000
25yrs 1990
Rita Herseth
Trudy Poirier
Carly Seifert
Lori Armstrong
Julie Gosswiller
Madeleine McKelvey
Diane Dwyer
Maryruth Fallon
Jodell Winter
10 yrs. 2005
20yrs. 1995
30yrs. 1985
Laura Detrick
Suzanne Gorder
Jean Alexander
Robin Cheetham
Micheal Evock
Beth Pirrie
Margaret McGillvray
29
30
Montana State Music Teacher’s Association
June D. Werner Memorial Scholarship Registration
(This scholarship honors June D. Werner, who was a devoted member of MSMTA.)
MSMTA will award one $100.00 scholarship for summer study at the camp of the student’s
choice for summer 2016. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
•The student’s teacher must be a current member of MSMTA.
•The area of focus of the camp must be on the instrument the student studies with the MSMTA
member.
•The student will record 2 pieces, contrasting in style.. The recording must be on the instrument
the student studies with the MSMTA member. Please DO NOT put your name on the
recording. The student will write a brief paragraph on a separate sheet of paper, about their
reasons for studying music and their motivations for attending a camp. Please DO NOT put
your name on the paragraph.
•The award will be made directly to the camp the student wishes to attend. (If all fees have
already been paid, the student will provide proof of registration to MSMTA.)
•The application, application fee, tape and paragraph must be submitted by the deadline.
Student’s Name__________________________________________________Age_____
Student’s Address________________________________________________________
Student’s Phone________________Teacher’s Name____________________________
Name and Address of Summer Camp
Application Deadline: March 20, 2016
Please send the completed application, the application fee, and your recording and paragraph
to:
Judy O’Dell
1108 24 Ave SW
Great Falls, MT 59404
[email protected]
th
31
MSMTA ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Holiday Inn, Bozeman
The MSMTA Annual Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by President Judy O’Dell. Twenty-five members were
present. Minutes of MSMTA’s Annual Meeting on November 21, 2014, were approved.
Treasurer Carla Bell distributed the attached Treasurer’s report.
Montana Arts Council.
In March, MSMTA received a grant from the
A motion carried to approve paying expenses for conference chair Tami Park.
A motion carried to waive the registration fees for MTNA representatives (such as NW Division Director Jani
Peterson) who are not MSMTA members.
There was discussion about waiving a portion of the conference fees for competition chairs. In the past, the entire
conference fee was waived for Elinore Quander who chaired all competitions at the annual conference. In 2016,
Diane Volkman will chair MTNA Young Adult Artist competition but a volunteer is needed for MTNA Junior and Senior
divisions. Carol Hatley offered be Fall Festival competition chair. Tami Park has agreed to be the 2016 Fall Festival
conference event coordinator; she will run the Fall Festival during conference but not handle the application process.
Ken Christensen moved and the motion carried to establish a new chair for grant writing and soliciting conference
sponsors, and to offer to pay the MSMTA dues of a non-member who would take the position.
Ken Christensen moved and the motion carried to provide a hotel hospitality basket in lieu of gifts for our conference
guests, namely, the clinician, adjudicator and presenters.
President Judy O’Dell encouraged members to donate to the MTNA Foundation to support Steven Hesla’s Foundation
Fellow nomination.
Ruth Plesner volunteered to become chair of the Independent Music Teachers Forum (IMTF).
A motion was approved to establish a June D. Werner Memorial Scholarship that Linda Holden Judy O'Dell
will oversee. It will provide music camp scholarships to students of MSMTA members for the next seven years when
former Great Falls music teacher June D. Werner would have turned 100. Her husband and children, other individuals, and the Great Falls chapter of MSMTA have donated $600 so far and welcome additional contributions.
The self-audit of Treasurer Carla Bell’s financial records was successful.
Sharon Weaver-Knowles nominated Jessica Olson of Bozeman for the office of President-elect and a unanimous
ballot was cast. Jessica Olson will become president at the completion of the two-year term of President Judy O’Dell
at the conclusion of the annual conference in 2016.
Past-president Sharon Weaver-Knowles volunteered to chair the Nominating Committee consisting of Ken Christensen, Steve Hesla and Linda Holden.
There was discussion about holding a combined brunch and business meeting of members on the final day of conference which would include a raffle drawing and distribution of honors, awards and certificates. It would be followed by
the last session of the conference and would take the place of a banquet or luncheon. Some members proposed a
recital be given only every other year which would allow for a banquet, or that a recital and awards luncheon both be
held on Friday of the conference. Next year’s conference will be in Great Falls November 3-5, 2016, with Jody
Graves as our clinician.
The budget committee met but the budget is not final because of uncertainties about some of the costs. President
Judy O’Dell will continue to develop the budget.
An online survey will be sent to conference attendees to help in planning future conferences.
President Judy O’Dell thanked Chris Hahn for involving collegiate members in the conference and welcomed them to
become involved in committees, serve as social media liaisons and as student advisory members on the
Board. There was discussion about getting members to serve MSMTA as officers and committee chairs.
32
Steve Hesla and Chris Hahn are planning a piano teacher pedagogy seminar to re-invigorate teachers in June prior to
piano camp (similar to the Big Sky Piano Teachers Workshop).
The meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlene Loge, MSMTA Secretary
Committee Reports attached to Minutes:
Certification Committee Report, Fall 2015, Ruth Plesner
MTNA Composition Chair Report, November 5, 2015, Lillian Reichert
Facebook Chair, Diane Volkman
MTNA Foundation Report, Sharon Weaver-Knowles
MSMTA Scholarship Chair Report, Linda Holden
MSMTA Spring Festivals Report, Jessica Olson
Need: Treasurer Carla Bell’s report
Membership Secretary Marcy Holden’s report
Library Patricia McBride’s report
MSMTA STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Holiday Inn, Bozeman
President Judy O’Dell opened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. with reference to MSMTA’s Strategic Five-Year Plan, adopted
in 2014. Of its four Priorities, Embrace Technology seeks to encourage local chapters to establish websites. The
meeting was an opportunity to see a demonstration of websites and facebook pages for local associations in Great
Falls, Missoula, and Kalispell (in process) and for state association MSMTA developed by Diane Volkman. Jani Peterson discussed WSMTA’s site (Washington State Music Teachers Association). Carla Bell brought the discussion
around to video conferencing.
The meeting was adjourned.
33
34
35
Montana Music News
Montana State Music Teachers Association
Judy O’Dell, President
1108 24th Ave. SW
Great Falls, MT 59404