February 2021 High Notes

JMTA High Notes

February 2021—Vol. 24, no. 5

JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM):

February 10, 2020: 9:30am - District IV meeting and program:

The Taubman Approach: Playing and teaching trills, Alberti bass, and broken octaves with greater clarity and ease--

A Presentation by Master Taubman Teacher Robert Durso

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From the President’s Pen:

Greetings to each of you in 2021!  As you look for new music and resources to use with your students this winter and spring, consider the websites for each of the military service bands/choirs. I saw an ad on p. 43 of the latest AMT magazine regarding the US Army Virtual Music Classroom.  Under the Education tab is a list of CDs and Videos. I selected In My Dream – a celebration of African American music. The titles include an African chant, Soon I will be Done with the Troubles of the World, Maple Leaf Rag, and Oh Freedom as well as a few pop tunes.

While you are looking through the new AMT rag, check out Karen Thickstun’s article, The Three Box Solution for Innovation:  Manage the Present, Selectively Forget the Past and Create the Future. I believe this sums up what we are trying to do in MTNA, FSMTA and JMTA. We have to deal with our current situation with all of its challenges and find creative ways to forge new paths. We’re not forgetting all of the beautiful musical experiences of the past, but using those as stepping stones to inspire the future.

The Winter, 20-21 issue of Piano Magazine contains an excellent interview with Michelle Cann on “Building Diversity.”  (Ms Cann is the Curtis Institute of Music Staff Pianist.) This inspiring discussion reminds us to be open to new opportunities that allow us to grow.

Let’s ensure that JMTA is a welcoming affiliation. The more inclusive and diverse our membership is, the broader and richer our footprint in the community can become.

As we prepare students for Student Day, festivals, and recitals, let’s be in tune with our students – wear a smile, show a positive attitude and be open to their ideas.

I look forward to seeing you on ZOOM for our February meeting and program.

Anita 

Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM

JMTA President

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Monthly Meetings

February 10, 2021 - JMTA General Meeting

The Taubman Approach: Playing and teaching trills, Alberti bass, and broken octaves with greater clarity and ease--

A Presentation by Master Taubman Teacher Robert Durso

All are invited to join next month's meeting on Zoom at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 10th. We will host Robert Durso, Master Teacher of the Taubman Approach to Piano Playing and founding director of the Golandsky Institute.  The Golandsky Institute is the premier teaching institute for the Taubman Approach. 

Mr. Durso will focus upon how the principles of the Taubman Approach can assist the teaching and learning of trills, Alberti bass, broken octaves and how to play them with greater clarity and ease. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. on Zoom: The link to the meeting and the program, which begins at 10:30 am is:  

https://unf.zoom.us/j/92522070004?pwd=TDNiUFBRcHVzV0ZNZHJQQ3lXNGVUUT09

Dr Michael Mastronicola

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2021 JMTA Scholarships

2021 JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition will be held virtually. This audition is for high school seniors that will be attending college as a music major.  The repertoire must consist of 3 pieces of different periods (example: Bach Prelude and Fugue, Beethoven Sonata movement, piece by Debussy). Entrance fee is $25, and there will be three judges on the panel.  The deadline to submit application for the High School Senior Scholarship Competition is March 6, 2021. The deadline to submit video materials is March 20, 2021. Send 3 letters of recommendation for the student, a check with $25 made out to JMTA, and the repertoire list to Kamila Shahtakhtinski, 7990 Baymeadows Rd. E unit 202, Jacksonville, 32256.  For more info, email: [email protected] or call Kamila, 904-645-6481.

JMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship will be awarded annually to the students of JMTA teachers to attend summer music camp of their choice. Scholarship may be awarded in full or partially and will be based on family need. Teachers must submit short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board. Students must show evidence of attendance at a camp. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA. Applications should be submitted by March 27, 2021 by mail or e-mail to JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair Kamila Shahtakhtinski.

All information, guidelines and applications for both scholarships can be found on the JMTA web page (jaxmta.org).

- Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair
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DISTRICT IV NEWS

2021 District IV Student Day

The 2021 District IV Student Day is planned for Saturday, March 27, 2021. It has been decided that this event will be held over Zoom. Students can still choose either the morning or afternoon section. More information will be forthcoming, but students will join the Zoom “waiting room” prior to their appointment time, and the judge will select them at their time.

The Student Day application deadline has been extended to Saturday, February 20. Please include one check for all fees, payable to FSMTA District IV. Individual student fees are $30 for all levels. Please include:

The “FSMTA District 4 Student Day Achievement Application”, which can be found on the FMTA.org website under the Student Activities tab, under FSMTA Non-Competitive Events. Log in to the “Members of FSMTA Only” and click on the “Student Day Registration Form”. You can fill this out interactively and print it out, or just print out and fill it in with all of your students that are participating.

A separate “Interactive Examination Sheet” for each student (aka Adjudication form). These forms are found on the same page as the application mentioned above. Scroll down to the “Sample Tests, Guidelines, and Adjudication Forms”, and the Piano Interactive Examination Sheets are listed in the right-hand column. Click on the appropriate level and fill in the student name under Section I, and then list the repertoire title, composer name, and timing of the piece under Section II. This can be done interactively as well and printed out, or just print out and fill it in. This is the form the judge will use to adjudicate your student.

For your assistance and to help your students prepare, you can use, under the “Sample Tests, Guidelines, and Adjudication Forms” section mentioned above, the Aural and Written Theory Guidelines (which include sample tests) located in the left-hand for each level primary through 12, and Suggested Repertoire located in the middle column. (You do not have to use any pieces listed, it is a guideline.) In addition, the Student Day Handbook may answer more questions that you have; you can refer to your student’s level in the handbook for specific requirements. You can print all or any portion of the handbook.

FSMTA has been working with a company to put the written theory and aural theory tests online. Once this is completed and sample tests are “live” and available online, an email will be sent out with this information. Thank you for your patience as any and all issues are being ironed out during this time.

An independent teacher in Florida has devised a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, aural theory, and written theory portions of Student Day, if you would like to purchase. The guidelines follow the same leveling and guidelines that are provided in your Student Activities Handbook.  These materials will assist students in mastering the FSMTA guidelines for Student Day.  Contact information is as follows: Music Masters, 4111 NW 79 Ave, Coral Springs, FL 33065, 954-752-2856, email [email protected]. Contact name: Sue Colvert

As it has been mentioned before, “participation in District Student Day really helps advance a student’s music education. While the preparation is comprehensive, the rewards are great! Students, parents, and teachers are all pleased to see the student learn so much about theory and performance. As certificates and medals are awarded to the students, it is exciting for everyone to see the merits of their effort and how much they have progressed. Additionally, students often remark that school music classes are easy because of what they have learned from Student Day.”

Please contact me by email ([email protected]) with any questions you may have. 

We are looking forward to a great 2021 District Student Day!

Angie Holt, Student Day Chair

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Over Coffee With . . .
     
This month we are getting better acquainted with Kamila Shahtakhtinski, our Scholarship Committee Chair. Thank you, Kamila, for taking the time to share your experiences with us!

KAMILA SHAHTAKHTINSKI

I was born in Moscow to a family of scientists-physicists from Azerbaijan while my mother was visiting her parents there. Despite not having professional musicians in the family I was always surrounded with music. My mother had a beautiful voice and would sing all kinds of songs and opera arias. Her mother, a former nurse, would sing with piano accompaniment by my grandfather, a famous surgeon in Moscow.

At the age of 5 1/2, I started my piano studies with the famous professor in child piano education, Lidiya Yegorova, in Baku (Azerbaijan), and after 2 years of studies took exams and entered the 11-year Special Music School for gifted children to continue my piano studies. This was a school with all music classes incorporated into the regular school program. I had my first big two-part solo recital at the age of 15. After graduating with honors, I continued studies at Azerbaijan State Conservatory (now Baku Music Academy) and graduated with Masters in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Chamber Ensemble Soloist and Accompanist.

After graduation I continued as an assistant professor at the same Conservatory, holding at the same time positions of staff accompanist with the vocal and woodwind departments. As a soloist, accompanist and member of the chamber group I performed in all major concert halls of Baku, toured through major cities of the former Soviet Union, as well as performed at the International Piano and Orchestra Competition (Madzarra Del Vallo, Italy) and several Recitals in Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach and Melbourne, in Florida. I also performed many times with Azerbaijan State Symphonic and Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestras and recorded for Azerbaijan State Radio and TV.

I have resided in Jacksonville since the fall of 1997 and continue teaching and performing as a soloist and accompanist. I’m an NCTM, and my students participate and get awarded at the District, State, and International level on a regular basis. In 2007 I recorded an album of classical piano selections entitled “Dedication” with Twenty-First Century Studios (Jacksonville, FL). I also served as a musician (2003) and Music Director (2006-present) at the St. George Episcopal Church.

Some Memorable Musical Experiences

A couple of times at recitals my students have played their entire piece an octave higher and one of them did not even realize there was anything wrong; the other one said that once he started, he couldn’t stop. This reminds me of my school friend who, on our 10th grade final exam, accidentally started playing J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in a different key and played it all the way through till the end of the fugue! The judges were amazed and gave him the highest grade.

Advice on Getting Students to Practice

It’s always been a problem to get students into practicing every day. It is no secret that actually nobody wants to practice, especially younger students. I’m always trying to have parents involved as much as possible in their child’s practice at home. Some of my students are graded every lesson and they are checked by the parents. It is also helpful to have deadlines and remind them constantly that not that much time is left until the event. The best music to my ears is when parents are telling me that they don’t have to ask their kids to practice anymore, but that usually happens after they turn 12; it happened to me at the age of 12, too.

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Accompanist Available

Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is [email protected], or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068.

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Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org

Teachers,

Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page.  If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at [email protected].

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Need a Sponsor?

Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at [email protected].

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Music Exchange (Will be on again once meetings are in-person)

Do you have too much music collected in your studio?  Is there some you think you'll never use?  Let's have a music exchange!  Bring your unwanted music to any JMTA meeting. Bring home something new to you!  Look for the "Free Music" spot.  Music does not have to be brand new.

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Have you found us on Facebook?

Follow JaxMTA on Facebook for the latest happenings, photos, videos, and more!
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Events Calendar

Please view our website for any updates or additions to these events, as well as for more details including application deadlines: www.jaxmta.org.

February 10
(on Zoom)
9:30am - meeting
10:30amprogram JMTA General Meeting followed by program:   “Playing and Teaching Trills, Alberti basses, and broken octaves” "
Zoom
(see email for link)"

March 10
(on Zoom)
9:30am JMTA General Meeting followed by program
Zoom
(see email for link)

March 20
(Deadline to submit videos)
JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition
Held Virtually

March 27
(held virtually)
As Scheduled
District IV Student Day
Held Virtually

April 14
(Maybe on Zoom)
9:30 - meeting
10:30 - program
JMTA General Meeting followed by program
Zoom (or Keyboard Connection)

May 12
(Maybe on Zoom)
9:30 - meeting
10:30 - program
JMTA General Meeting followed by program
Zoom (or Keyboard Connection)
 
Stay tuned for more events to come!  High Notes is distributed on the first of the month excluding June-August and December.  All submissions are due by the 20th of the month prior to distribution.  Submissions may be sent to [email protected].