Massachusetts Music Teachers Association. Fall Newsletter

Transcription

1 Massachusetts Music Teachers Association Fall Newsletter 2016

2 President s Message September 2016 Dear MMTA Colleagues, Happy Autumn! An enthusiastic hello and welcome to all my fellow MMTA members in writing my first President s Message! I am honored and excited to begin serving my first term as your MMTA President and representing our flourishing organization. I recently attended an inspiring and informative MTNA Leadership Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio. There were many ideas, discussions and debates. There I learned about newly innovated MTNA programs and networking shared with State, Divisional and National leaders. MTNA recognizes the necessity to work closely with State Music Teacher Associations and their memberships. The MTNA website and The American Music Teacher Magazine are primary member resources that include informative MTNA Association news, member benefits, webinars, scholarships and grant programs. The success of our MMTA organization and membership depends on you, our dedicated teacher-volunteers who have served on MMTA s past and present Executive Boards. I am thrilled and pleased to welcome our new Executive Board members Caroline Ly, Ellyses Kuan and Karin Wilks. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation for our Newsletter Editor and twice past President, Alison Barr for all of her years serving MMTA and our Webmaster/Technology Chair and Past President, Vivian Tsang. Dorothy Travis has successfully completed her term as MMTA President. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dorothy for her outstanding leadership as both President and the many years serving as MTNA s Competition s Chairperson for MMTA. Dorothy s invaluable guidance and talents will continue to benefit MMTA as our Immediate Past President. We are thrilled to announce a newly approved Student Grant program as an addition to other grant programs. MMTA s Student grants are intended to aid worthy students in their pursuit of MMTA/MTNA contests, and competitions. All Grants and Scholarship Guidelines and applications can be found on our MMTA website: The Student Grant guidelines and applications can also be found elsewhere in this newsletter. MMTA s highly successful programs such as the Bay State Contest, Musical Achievement Evaluations and the Judged Festival all provide motivational performance opportunities for your students. Links can be found under Student Programs on our website. Exciting news! The MTNA Eastern Division Competitions will be held in Massachusetts at Boston University on January 7-8, Please note* The MTNA State Performance Competitions will be held at Brandeis University on Sunday, November 6, Divisional competition winners will advance to compete at the MTNA National

3 Competitions during the MTNA National Conference 2017, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, on March Travel down the East Coast to Baltimore! The annual MTNA National Conference is a motivational, inspirational and fantastic time! I highly recommend that you experience and benefit from your MTNA membership in meeting and networking with your fellow State Music Educators, attend incredible concerts and Master Classes and explore informative sessions and exhibits. Legendary pianist and Master Teacher Leon Fleisher will be featured in concert and conducting the Advanced Piano Master Class. Please find member Travel Grant information elsewhere in this newsletter! As a long time MMTA member, I have been rewarded with many special colleagues and friends with whom I ve shared student experiences and joys! I have seen my students supported, respected and encouraged by my fellow MMTA colleagues and their students. I am extremely proud to be representing our State as your MMTA President. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming events this year. Have a wonderful and rewarding teaching year! Respectfully yours, Janet Ainsworth MMTA President **MTNA National Conference** There is NOTHING better then sharing the excitement and camaraderie of MTNA s National Conference with your fellow MTNA members from all over the country! The energy and growth is phenomenal. I should know, since I ve attended almost every year since Please know that there are travel grants available for members who have volunteered (still time left to do that!) and/or served on our Board. Baltimore, March is attainable and reasonable. Please mark it in your calendar and I ll see you there at our Massachusetts Social Hour! Please me if you would like more info: Abarr54@verizon.net Alison Barr, Newsletter Editor Guidelines and Applications for the Reed Family Teacher Enrichment Fund and the Teacher Enrichment Travel Grants, please see:

4 MTNA State Performance and Composition Competitions Caroline Ly, our new MTNA State Performance Competition Chair, reports that there are 27 registered entrants: 12 Juniors: 6 piano, 5 strings, 1 clarinet 8 Seniors: 5 piano, 2 string, 1 clarinet 7 Young Artists: 6 saxophone, 1 violin The competition will be held at Brandeis University on SUNDAY, November 6, This date is on a Sunday and earlier than is customary. It is based upon the availability of space at Brandeis. Leslie Hitelman, our MTNA State Composition Competition Chair, reports that there are 19 contestants in all, representing 7 teachers: 3 Elementary 8 Junior 4 Senior 4 Young Artist 3 judges: Charlotte Bray, Mark Kross, and Tish Kilgore. Congratulations to all the participants and their teachers! ********Upcoming Newsletter Deadlines******** December 6, 2016 June 6, 2017 Announcing our Latest NEW Program! MMTA Student Grants Your Board has been working hard over the summer to create this wonderful new program, the brainchild of Vera Rubin. Instrumental in its creation were Vera Rubin, Dorothy Travis, Vivian Tsang, Janet Ainsworth, Valerie Stark and Alison Barr. Please read below to find out how this program might benefit your students!

5 Student Grant Program Guidelines MMTA s Student Grants are intended to aid worthy students in their pursuit of MMTA/MTNA contests, competitions. Grant monies must be used for expenses directly related to MMTA-sponsored events. These expenses may include collaborative pianist fees, registration fees, travel and accommodations (as in the Eastern Division or National Competitions). The specific expense must be outlined in detail on the application form. Grant Amount and Frequency The amount of each Student Grant will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students may apply for this grant in consecutive years. Application Deadline and Procedure: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. The MMTA Board will have 30 days to act upon an application once it is received. Once the MMTA Student Grant Subcommittee has received and approved the student's application, it will then procure an vote of the majority of the MMTA Board. After a positive vote, our Treasurer will send a check payable to the Student listed on the application, or, in the case of students UNDER the age of 18, to the Parent/Guardian listed on the application. Age and Residency Requirements Student Grant applicants must have age and residency qualifications conforming to those for the MMTA/MTNA contest or competition for which he/she is applying. Student s MMTA Teacher/Member The applying student s teacher must be a member in good standing of MMTA at the time of application. If, for any reason, the student is unable to participate in the event listed on the application, the grant funds must be returned in full to MMTA.

6 Student Grant Application Student s Name: Student s Address: Student s Home Phone: Student's Cell Phone: Student s Address: Student s Birthdate: If you are under 18 years of age at the time of application, please provide the following: (Note: your award check will go to the party below) Parent/Legal Guardian's Name: Parent's Address: Parent's Cell Phone: Parent's All applicants please provide the following: MMTA Member Teacher s Name: MMTA Teacher s MTNA Member Number: Teacher s Address: Teacher s For which MMTA/MTNA Contest/Competition will you be using this award? Please provide below a detailed estimate of all the expenses you expect to incur. Include the category and amount of each expense on a separate line. For example: Accompanist s fees: $60/hour for 3 hours = $180.00

7 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Total Funds Requested: Please sign below, AND, if you are under 18 at the time of application, please have your Parent or Legal Guardian sign below to attest that all the information above is true and correct: I attest that all the information provided above is true and correct: Student Signature If student is under 18 at the time of application, please sign: I, the Parent or Legal Guardian of the aforementioned student, attest that all the information provided above is true and correct: Parent/Legal Guardian Signature

8 Judged Festival Incoming Chair Heather Riley reports the following: Judged Festival is Saturday March 4, Gordon College Theme: Romantic Non-member fee is $70. Must join MMTA by Jan. 15 to avoid fee. Registration for event will be open Dec. 1 - Feb. 1 Judged Festival details are up on now, including Repertoire List & Rules. Find it under: Student Programs > Judged Festival or use this link: Judged Festival Music Achievement Evaluations Amy Lee, MAE Chair, reports the following MAE dates and venues: MAE North Shore at Gordon College Center contacts: Diane Anderson and Nancy Morgan Slated for March/April 2017, date TBD Piano Only MAE Littleton at Indian Hill Music Amy Lee, center contact Sunday, April 23, 2017, 12 5pm For Piano and Strings Registration will begin in March, until filled. For more information, please go to: Bay State Piano Contest We are happy to welcome our new chair, Esther Ning Yau, who is hard at work planning the 2017 Bay State Piano Contest, to be held at Boston Conservatory in May. She is being assisted by John Stapp and Vivian Tsang. For more information as it becomes available, please check the website at

9 Bay State Strings Contest Vera Rubin, Bay State Strings Chair, is happy to announce the date for 2017 s Bay State Strings Contest: Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Boston University College of Fine Arts Registration is open from Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to Monday, May 1, 2017 and more information is available at Quad-State Conference 2017 in New Hampshire The bi-annual Quad State Conference will be held at the Concord Community Music School in NH on 10/14/2017. This is a wonderful event and recommended for all. Please mark it on your calendar and look for more information in the December Newsletter. Neighboring State Conferences Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont MMTA s have all graciously invited our members to attend their fall conferences. Maine s is Saturday, October 1, 2016, in Orono New Hampshire s is Saturday, October 15, 2016, in Concord Vermont s is Saturday, October 22, Thanks for including us! Member News Chopin and Friends - A Benefit Concert for Cradle and Crayons Ellyses Kuan, pianist, Julie Reimann (Duo Amie) November 5, 2016, 7:30-9:30p.m. First Parish of Watertown (35 Church Street, Watertown MA 02472) Suggestion donation: $20 (profits go to Cradle and Crayons) Program: Chopin Cello Sonata, Schumann Fantasiestucke, Ginastera and others For details please visit their Facebook page at:

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11 And Diane Anderson is performing in a special benefit in memory of her mother: Presented By Diane Anderson and Suzanne Maxwell O C varian ancer BENEFIT CONCERT In Loving t Memory of ehe ir Moth r LORRAINE ANDERSON Sat., Oct. 8:00pm Second Congregational Church 35 Conant Street Beverly, MA A music-filled evening featuring the Hope Chorus and many talented professional musicians performing a little something for everyone! $25 Donation at the Door