Printed on 12/1/08
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August 2005
New Meeting Schedule
A great line up meetings has been set for the coming year. You may view the calendar now by visiting the Activities page.
Piano Festival
By Debi Strick
This year's Piano Festival will be held Saturday, November 12, 2005, at Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
Please consider having your intermediate or advanced students in the Festival. We need many students involved in order for the Festival to be a success.We don't know how many Ft. collins teachers will be involved this year.Since the Festival is not at CSU, the number of Ft. Collins teachers might be less; therefore it is very important for all LAMTA teachers to have students in the Festival.
The summer is the time to have your students work on memorizing quality pieces so that they will be ready in time.It is required for one piece to be a DANCE from any time period:Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 1900-1950, or 1951-present.The other piece must be from a different time period, and it may or may not be a dance.There is also a "noncompetitive" category where pieces do not need to be memorized.
The forms will be handed out at the first meeting in Septemeber, or you may download the pdf forms now by clicking HERE.
Please LAMTA teachers, see if each of you can have at least one or two students involved in the Piano Festival.We need you!!!
CSMTA Conference Reports
... from Debi Strick
The CSMTA Conference in Bouler was wonderful. I loved Barbara Lister Sink's performance, and her talk on piano posture to avoid injury.Itwas so important, not just to prevent injuries (back, shoulders, wrists, etc.),but also it is the ultimate way to play the piano for best results in technic. I bought her video "Freeing the Caged Bird" and it is excellent. She seemed like such a kind and caring person also. I also enjoyed all the seminars, especially the one onimprovisation.I thought it was interesting that the lady who gave the talk did not learn to read music as a child, but learned to play the piano by improvisation.She taught others in that way.Her studio must be a really fun place to learn. Hope everyone is having a fun summer!
... from Ruth Hale
I felt observing Barbara Lister-Sink's Master Class was very inspiring. It was very important noticing how she kept her own self throughout so calm and relaxed.
... from Judy Johnson
The conferencewas a great experience this year.Although I really liked having everything in one place, as at Silvercreek, it did work in Boulder.We got very wet walking the long way to our car in the rain at least once, but the programs were excellent and the meals were good.Our group was well represented with 10 attending. Barbara Lister Sink was a delight!Her sessions were very easy to listen to and reflected her energy and excitement about her topic.I was very interested in her summary of the various schools of thought about movement and injury prevention. She feels that her approach encompasses both the Alexander Technique and the Taubman Method, taking the important points from each and making them her own. Her concert was absolutely wonderful!Her energy was contagious and the things she had talked so much about were very obviously a part of her playing.Her book "Freeing the Caged Bird" is on my reading list for this year.
Here are a fewof my favorite quotes from the presenters:
Barbara Lister Sink: Technique is the means whereby we create great music. The causes of injury are skeletal misalignment and inefficient muscle use. The solutions are optimal skeletal alignment and efficient muscle use. Don't translate musical intensity into excess physical tension. Release the neck and all else will follow.
Nancy Kaesler:Many say that if kids feel good about themselves they will do great things.Nancy saysthat is backwards.If kids do great things they willfeel good about themselves.If it is not a family affair to practice, then bring the students to me every day. Are we leaders or adapters?
Mary Lois Misken: (Alexander Technique) More brain activity is involved in inhibition than in movement.
Carol DuBe:(Chopin)Forget you are being listened to but always listen to yourself.Be bold &confident.Play with complete abandon.
Hazel Ramsbotham: When learning to play jazz,fake it until you make it.
Phyllis Pieffer: (Past President of MTNA)The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is an attitude.Playing keyboard music reduces stress.
... from JoAnn DeStigter
Attending the Colorado State Music Teacher's Convention is a gift I give myself after the long teaching year.I find that I glean so much information at the convention workshops, master classes, and delight in the evening concerts.Being able to converse with fellow teachers from around the state over meals and before and after workshops is so valuable to me.Over breakfast, our state President Kitty Keim and President-Elect Nancy Kaesler were eager to share teaching tips they have used for years as well as consider some of the studio questions I posed.The convention artist this year, Barbara Lister-Sink, was such an inspiration, whether lecturing, doing a master class, or in concert. Camaraderie abounds inthe few days together.Consider giving yourself this "gift" next June, and you'll unwrap a valuable teaching experience!
MTNA Updates
Did you know that MTNA recognizes the achievements of recent college graduates through the StAR Award and the Studio Teacher Fellowship programs? Over the past seven years more than 400 students have received the StAR Award, which in addition to recognition includes a free one year active membership. Due to the success of the program, this year the award has been extended to include students graduating with an associate degree from community colleges, in addition to those obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. Students receiving an associate's degree will be recognized with a collegiate membership to help them continue to grow professionally as they continue their music training.
Another new development has been the connection between the StAR Award and the Studio Teacher Fellowship. The fellowship, a $3,000 grant funded in-part by the MarySue Harris Endowment Fund, is presented to the candidate who most clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to the music teaching profession. It is designed to help music teachers develop and enhance their newly established studios. This year all StAR Award recipients will be eligible for the fellowship. This honor will be awarded at the 2006 MTNA National Conference in Austin, Texas, March 2529.
Scam Sweeping the Internet
MTNA has become aware of a scam directed toward music teachers. As many of you are likely aware, there has been a marked increase in the efforts of individuals performing acts of fraud via the Internet. Until recently these acts were not specifically targeted to independent music teachers, however, over the past few weeks many music teachers have received e-mails inquiring about having international students study with them. The person sending the e-mail poses as a parent interested in having their child or children study with them. The music teacher is offered prepayment for a certain amount of lessons, and once a cashier's check is sent and in the bank (still uncleared) the teacher is asked to refund a large portion of the check because of some emergency or to pay for the fees the "parent" incurred in transferring the money and obtaining the check. The cashier's check is an elaborate counterfeit and it takes the bank longer than usual to discover the fake. Some samples of the e-mail correspondence sent to teachers are below.
String Quartet Festival
By Ruth Hale
I will have all things put together to present at the September meeting about the new festival for students to play sonatinas with a string quartet. I will have a form printed out to give any teachers who wish to have their students take part. The music I already have for string quartets are: Clementi Opus 36 #1 and 3 and Kuhlau Opus 55 #1.
Bishop-Hoch to Perform!
Sunday afternoon, September 18, 3:00 p.m., as part of the Friends of Chamber Music series, Juliana Bishop-Hoch and Kathy Herbener with pianist Madeline Greeb are presenting An Afternoon of French Song. This will be held at 8133 Scenic Ridge Drive (it is a Fort Collins address, but one must drive east on the Windsor Exit from I-25, and then turn right at Scenic Ridge).Reservations are necessary; please call 970-663-7928. Specific directions will be given when the reservations are made. The recital should be very beautiful!
Recording Services Available
Chris Fournier offers the following comments on his services, which may be of interest to music teachers:
"I would be the perfect guy for recording LAMTA recitals, festivals, etc. Also, if LAMTA didn't want to specifically hire me for an event, parents of some of the students may want to hire me record their child's recital or something like that. My price is very reasonable and I get a great recorded sound. In addition to the on-location recording, I also mix and master these performances to audio CD so that my clients can then listen to their music on any CD player and/or have the CD master duplicated for distribution. I would be happy to attend a LAMTA meeting if that would be appropriate at some time as well."
Chris Fournier
Earth Shaper Audio LTD
chris@fonya.com
970-227-0807
A great line up meetings has been set for the coming year. You may view the calendar now by visiting the Activities page.
Piano Festival
By Debi Strick
This year's Piano Festival will be held Saturday, November 12, 2005, at Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Loveland.
Please consider having your intermediate or advanced students in the Festival. We need many students involved in order for the Festival to be a success.We don't know how many Ft. collins teachers will be involved this year.Since the Festival is not at CSU, the number of Ft. Collins teachers might be less; therefore it is very important for all LAMTA teachers to have students in the Festival.
The summer is the time to have your students work on memorizing quality pieces so that they will be ready in time.It is required for one piece to be a DANCE from any time period:Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 1900-1950, or 1951-present.The other piece must be from a different time period, and it may or may not be a dance.There is also a "noncompetitive" category where pieces do not need to be memorized.
The forms will be handed out at the first meeting in Septemeber, or you may download the pdf forms now by clicking HERE.
Please LAMTA teachers, see if each of you can have at least one or two students involved in the Piano Festival.We need you!!!
CSMTA Conference Reports
... from Debi Strick
The CSMTA Conference in Bouler was wonderful. I loved Barbara Lister Sink's performance, and her talk on piano posture to avoid injury.Itwas so important, not just to prevent injuries (back, shoulders, wrists, etc.),but also it is the ultimate way to play the piano for best results in technic. I bought her video "Freeing the Caged Bird" and it is excellent. She seemed like such a kind and caring person also. I also enjoyed all the seminars, especially the one onimprovisation.I thought it was interesting that the lady who gave the talk did not learn to read music as a child, but learned to play the piano by improvisation.She taught others in that way.Her studio must be a really fun place to learn. Hope everyone is having a fun summer!
... from Ruth Hale
I felt observing Barbara Lister-Sink's Master Class was very inspiring. It was very important noticing how she kept her own self throughout so calm and relaxed.
... from Judy Johnson
The conferencewas a great experience this year.Although I really liked having everything in one place, as at Silvercreek, it did work in Boulder.We got very wet walking the long way to our car in the rain at least once, but the programs were excellent and the meals were good.Our group was well represented with 10 attending. Barbara Lister Sink was a delight!Her sessions were very easy to listen to and reflected her energy and excitement about her topic.I was very interested in her summary of the various schools of thought about movement and injury prevention. She feels that her approach encompasses both the Alexander Technique and the Taubman Method, taking the important points from each and making them her own. Her concert was absolutely wonderful!Her energy was contagious and the things she had talked so much about were very obviously a part of her playing.Her book "Freeing the Caged Bird" is on my reading list for this year.
Here are a fewof my favorite quotes from the presenters:
Barbara Lister Sink: Technique is the means whereby we create great music. The causes of injury are skeletal misalignment and inefficient muscle use. The solutions are optimal skeletal alignment and efficient muscle use. Don't translate musical intensity into excess physical tension. Release the neck and all else will follow.
Nancy Kaesler:Many say that if kids feel good about themselves they will do great things.Nancy saysthat is backwards.If kids do great things they willfeel good about themselves.If it is not a family affair to practice, then bring the students to me every day. Are we leaders or adapters?
Mary Lois Misken: (Alexander Technique) More brain activity is involved in inhibition than in movement.
Carol DuBe:(Chopin)Forget you are being listened to but always listen to yourself.Be bold &confident.Play with complete abandon.
Hazel Ramsbotham: When learning to play jazz,fake it until you make it.
Phyllis Pieffer: (Past President of MTNA)The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is an attitude.Playing keyboard music reduces stress.
... from JoAnn DeStigter
Attending the Colorado State Music Teacher's Convention is a gift I give myself after the long teaching year.I find that I glean so much information at the convention workshops, master classes, and delight in the evening concerts.Being able to converse with fellow teachers from around the state over meals and before and after workshops is so valuable to me.Over breakfast, our state President Kitty Keim and President-Elect Nancy Kaesler were eager to share teaching tips they have used for years as well as consider some of the studio questions I posed.The convention artist this year, Barbara Lister-Sink, was such an inspiration, whether lecturing, doing a master class, or in concert. Camaraderie abounds inthe few days together.Consider giving yourself this "gift" next June, and you'll unwrap a valuable teaching experience!
MTNA Updates
Did you know that MTNA recognizes the achievements of recent college graduates through the StAR Award and the Studio Teacher Fellowship programs? Over the past seven years more than 400 students have received the StAR Award, which in addition to recognition includes a free one year active membership. Due to the success of the program, this year the award has been extended to include students graduating with an associate degree from community colleges, in addition to those obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. Students receiving an associate's degree will be recognized with a collegiate membership to help them continue to grow professionally as they continue their music training.
Another new development has been the connection between the StAR Award and the Studio Teacher Fellowship. The fellowship, a $3,000 grant funded in-part by the MarySue Harris Endowment Fund, is presented to the candidate who most clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to the music teaching profession. It is designed to help music teachers develop and enhance their newly established studios. This year all StAR Award recipients will be eligible for the fellowship. This honor will be awarded at the 2006 MTNA National Conference in Austin, Texas, March 2529.
Scam Sweeping the Internet
MTNA has become aware of a scam directed toward music teachers. As many of you are likely aware, there has been a marked increase in the efforts of individuals performing acts of fraud via the Internet. Until recently these acts were not specifically targeted to independent music teachers, however, over the past few weeks many music teachers have received e-mails inquiring about having international students study with them. The person sending the e-mail poses as a parent interested in having their child or children study with them. The music teacher is offered prepayment for a certain amount of lessons, and once a cashier's check is sent and in the bank (still uncleared) the teacher is asked to refund a large portion of the check because of some emergency or to pay for the fees the "parent" incurred in transferring the money and obtaining the check. The cashier's check is an elaborate counterfeit and it takes the bank longer than usual to discover the fake. Some samples of the e-mail correspondence sent to teachers are below.
String Quartet Festival
By Ruth Hale
I will have all things put together to present at the September meeting about the new festival for students to play sonatinas with a string quartet. I will have a form printed out to give any teachers who wish to have their students take part. The music I already have for string quartets are: Clementi Opus 36 #1 and 3 and Kuhlau Opus 55 #1.
Bishop-Hoch to Perform!
Sunday afternoon, September 18, 3:00 p.m., as part of the Friends of Chamber Music series, Juliana Bishop-Hoch and Kathy Herbener with pianist Madeline Greeb are presenting An Afternoon of French Song. This will be held at 8133 Scenic Ridge Drive (it is a Fort Collins address, but one must drive east on the Windsor Exit from I-25, and then turn right at Scenic Ridge).Reservations are necessary; please call 970-663-7928. Specific directions will be given when the reservations are made. The recital should be very beautiful!
Recording Services Available
Chris Fournier offers the following comments on his services, which may be of interest to music teachers:
"I would be the perfect guy for recording LAMTA recitals, festivals, etc. Also, if LAMTA didn't want to specifically hire me for an event, parents of some of the students may want to hire me record their child's recital or something like that. My price is very reasonable and I get a great recorded sound. In addition to the on-location recording, I also mix and master these performances to audio CD so that my clients can then listen to their music on any CD player and/or have the CD master duplicated for distribution. I would be happy to attend a LAMTA meeting if that would be appropriate at some time as well."
Chris Fournier
Earth Shaper Audio LTD
chris@fonya.com
970-227-0807
< Back to 2004-5 Newsletters
