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JMTA High Notes
March 2026 —Vol. 29, no. 6 The March JMTA meeting and program was held on March 12, 2026 at St. Marks Lutheran Church at 9:30am. The program was presented by Dr. Jackie Yong. ______________________________________ Table of Contents MEETING MINUTES February . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - 4 TREASURY REPORTS February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Monthly Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - 8 JMTA Student Recitals March JMTA Recital . . . . . . . . . . 9 Proton Therapy Recital . . . . . . . .9 District IV News Student Day . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11 MTNA News National Conference . . . . . . . . 11 Application Deadline Reminders . . . .11 Over Coffee With Nicholas DuVal . . . . . . . . . . 12 – 14 Music History Nadia and Lili Boulanger . . 15 - 17 AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS . . . .18 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 President’s Pen Dear JMTA members, I am excited for so many of our students who are participating in JMTA and District 4 events! The District 4 Sonata Festival had a remarkable surge of students registered this year, and District 4 Student Day registrants have almost doubled this year. JMTA student recitals also have a healthy turn-out. The Proton Therapy recital will be held on April 21; if you have a late-intermediate to advanced student, this recital is a worthy opportunity for them (see page 9 for details). Whether you have any students participating or not, we are glad you are here with us and supporting our local music teacher association. We are also happy to be a part of our national association, MTNA, as it celebrates its 150th birthday! I want to thank those members who are taking on responsibility on the board: Stefanie Batson-Martin (Community Service), Kama Rasmussen-Li (Scholarship), Anita Renfroe (Programs), and our newest board member, Cheryl Dubberly (Altruistic). And thank you to those who held the positions before. Your hard work is much appreciated! We hope to see everyone at our next meeting and program on Thursday, April 9th! Sincerely, Angie Holt President, JMTA ________________________________________ Welcome New Member! David Antonio Mach _____________________________________ MEETING MINUTES Jacksonville Music Teachers Association Thursday, February 12, 2026 Mandarin Presbyterian Choir Room 9:30am Welcome & Call to Order: Angie Holt 9:37 Attendees: Angie Holt, Daniel Holt, Rhonda Danielson, Lorraine Sears, Anita Renfroe, Erin Bennett, Sandy Stewart, Mary Gniech Zoom: Kama Rasmussen-Li, Paulette Kilts, Denise Homsley, Lynn Freeman, Mary McKee, Christine Couch Parliamentarian: Lynn Freeman Secretary Minutes from Nov. 13, 2025: Rhonda Danielson Corrections: Anita and Mary performed at the conference, Erin Bennett gave a presentation on Women Composers Student Day will be held April 11, 2026. Treasurer’s Report: Lorraine Sears Reminder: JMTA Senior dues are $30 per year and Student dues are $3. January report is not available because there have been issues with the bank and Lorraine is working on them. Lorraine recommends that future treasurers keep a common name on the accounts. Lorraine will add this suggestion to the treasurer’s Manual of Operating Procedures (MOP). Communications & Internet Media: Angie Holt Deadline for next newsletter articles is end of February 28. Vice President of Membership: Mary McKee No new members. Programs: Anita Renfroe Dr. Erin Bennett’s program today is “Piano Music by Women Composers”. March 12 - Dr. Jackie Yong will be our presenter at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church - Hendricks Ave. April 9 – Melody Morrison will present an online preview of a book that she and Diana Dumlavwalla have written about teaching today’s young people. May 14 – Concerto winners will perform, venue TBD Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church is an optional venue for future meetings. The cost would be $40. Other Committee Reports: Social: Sandy Stewart No refreshments are permitted at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for the March 12 meeting. Student Recitals: Christine Couch & Gavin Taylor December 14 Recital – Christine said thank you to all those who helped out since she was not able to attend. Next recital will be on March 29, 3:00pm, at All Saints Episcopal. Deadline for applications is March 20. Entry fee is $5 per student and may be sent to Christine or paid at the door. Proton Therapy Recital: Sandy Stewart Date set for Tuesday, April 21, at 6:00pm for intermediate to advanced students. Let Sandra know if the teacher cannot be there. Scholarship: Kama Rasmussen-Li Website has been updated. Scholarship application needs to be updated. It was decided to update wording to say: “Scholarship will be awarded to the winner after October 1 and the student has shown proof of being a music major.” Scholarship Competition will be held April 11, same day as Student Day, at Mandarin Baptist Church. Deadline for applications is March 6. Student Day: Angie Holt Date: Saturday, April 11, at Mandarin Baptist Church. Deadline for applications is March 6. Altruistic: Open position Sandra Roberts asked for someone to replace her in this position. Angie will ask Cheryl Dubberly. Community Service Awards: Stefanie Batson-Martin Ethics: Betty Atkinson Archivist/Historian: Paulette Kilts Paulette would like copies of the December 14 recital program and Sonatina-Sonata Festival. District 4 Sonatina-Sonata Festival: Erin Bennett We had 43 participants and a few new teachers. Rhonda suggested that we have a helper to keep music organized and ready for the next performer. District IV Concerto Competition: Erin Bennett Concerto Competition will be held Sat., March 14, 2026 at UNF deadline for applications is February 20. Old Business: New Business: - Paulette and Rhonda will review our constitution and by-laws for any needed revisions. - Angie encouraged members to vote for Southern Division officers. Nancy Shackelford is running for this office. - MTNA National Conference will be held in Chicago, March 21-25, 2026. Erin & Paulette will be attending. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:30. Respectfully Submitted, Rhonda Danielson, Secretary ____________________________________ TREASURY REPORTS – February 2026 JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report Feb. 1-28, 2026 Checking: Rate .10% Expenses Deposits 02/28/26 Interest $0.72 Current Checking $8,443.78 Warren Fund $827.73 TOTAL Checking Account $9,271.51 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Rate .60% ($1000+) Expenses Deposits TOTAL Business Money Market Account $0.00 Business Shares (Savings): Rate .10% ($100+) Expenses Deposits 02/28/26 Interest $0.03 TOTAL Business Shares Account $337.54 12 Month Business CD: Rate 4.00% Matures 6/7/26 Expenses Deposits 02/28/26 Interest 16.62 TOTAL Business CD Account $5,532.63 13 Month Promo CD: Rate 4.00% Matures 10/16/26 Expenses Deposits 02/28/26 Interest 15.30 TOTAL Promo CD Account $5,094.28 TOTAL ASSETS as of Jan. 31, 2026 $20,235.96 Other business: Debit card and checks have been procured for new Checking account. Still waiting on new Money Market account to be established. Have not yet filed Annual Report with FL Dept. of State, Division of Corporations. Due by May 2nd. Submitted by Lorraine Sears 03/09/2026 ______________________________________ MONTHLY PROGRAMS March – May The March program was held on Thursday, March 12, and featured Dr. Jackie Yong, Assistant Professor of Piano and Coordinator of the Keyboard Division at Palm Beach Atlantic University, who performed an epic program on the piano. For April, the meeting and program will be held on Thursday, April 9. Dr. Melody Morrison will be presenting an online program; more information will be coming from Anita Renfroe, our Programs chair. Our May meeting and program will be held on Thursday, May 14, and will showcase the JMTA Scholarship winner and the winners of the Concerto competition, followed by our annual luncheon. Thank you to Anita for making these programs possible. Following are photos from our February program with Dr. Erin Bennett, NCTM, who presented a thought-provoking and stimulating program entitled “Piano Music by Women.” Here are some photos from our March program with Dr. Jackie Yong, who performed an exciting program including George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, movements III and IV from An American Mosaic by Richard Danielpour, and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, arr. Michael Hawley. There was also a harpsichord the music director opened for those in attendance to check out. ______________________________________ JMTA Student Recitals March Student Recital The next JMTA Student Recital will be held on Sunday, March 29, at 3:00pm at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, 32207. The deadline to register for the recital is on Friday, March 20. The cost is $5 per students, which can be mailed ahead of time or given at the beginning of the recital. Teachers should each bring a plate of cookies for the reception following the recital. For this location, assistance is needed from a few able-bodied adults both before and after the recital to move the piano into position. If you have someone attending that can help, please ask them to arrive by 2:35p. Please use the following link for more information: https://www.jaxmta.org/jmta-student-recitals.html Christine Couch and Gavin Taylor are the JMTA Student Recital co-chairs. Community “Proton Therapy” Recital On Tuesday, April 21st at 6 p.m., we will have our community recital. The address is 2015 N. Jefferson Street in downtown Jacksonville. All teachers with upper intermediate to advanced level students are asked to have them perform. Teachers do not have to attend, since this is a weekday event and most will be teaching. Please let me know one week in advance the student names, title and composer, age of student and approximate timing of the pieces. Each student may perform one or two pieces and should dress in performance attire. The Institute is a lovely venue for performance. Both patients and staff will be in attendance. Any other questions, just let me know. I hope to see your students at the recital. Sandy Stewart, [email protected], 904-333-9280 ___________________________________ District IV News Student Day FSMTA District IV Student Day will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223. We have 52 students registered this year representing 14 teachers! For those students who receive Honors in their audition, and at least Achievement in their written theory and aural theory testing, they will be invited to the Student Day Honors Recital, to be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the UNF Recital Hall at 3pm. For repertoire lists, sample written theory and aural theory tests, keyboard skills information, adjudication forms, etc., they are all on the FSMTA website (fmta.org). Click on Student Activities on the home screen, and then FSMTA Non-Competitive Events. Scroll down to Members of FSMTA, click on log in here, and use the password of Music, which is case-sensitive. (The FSMTA password changes every October, and as a member you will receive an email from their website admin with the new password each year.) Or you can click here to go to the website, where there is also a Handbook of Student Activities for more detailed information: https://www.fmta.org/student-day-handbook.html For their hard work and preparation, each student receives a beautiful certificate, and a medallion if they receive achievement. If they receive honors in their judge audition and at least an achievement in their written theory and aural theory, they also receive an honors ribbon from the State, and are invited to perform in the Honors recital held in the Recital Hall at UNF. More information about the Music Masters Theory Workbooks: An independent teacher has created an optional curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, written theory, and aural theory testing with helpful workbooks for each level. These follow the same leveling and guidelines that are provided in the Student Activities Handbook on the FSMTA website. These materials will assist students in mastering the FSMTA guidelines for Student Day. The contact information is as follows: Music Masters, 4111 NW 79 Ave., Coral Springs, FL 33065. To order, email Sue Colvert at Music Masters at [email protected]. The phone number is 954-752-2856. You can also go to at musicmasterstheoryprep.com. LION THEORY - Did you know you can have students take the Student Day written and aural theory tests online via Lion Theory? You can create a free teacher account at liontheory.com, and students register for the exams using your teacher's "studio code." The student can also use your account to practice the written and aural theory ahead of time. If you decide to use Lion Theory for the exams, you will need to let me know by Friday, March 20, and the exams would need to be completed by Thursday, April 9. For more information regarding Lion Theory, please contact Rhonda Danielson at [email protected]. Please let me know if you have any questions.
MTNA News MTNA National Conference – March 21-25, 2026 Chicago, Illinois https://www.mtna.org/Conference/ ___________________________________ Application Deadline Reminders (In order by application deadline) JMTA March Student Recital – March 29 Application deadline – March 20 Community “Proton Therapy” Recital – April 21 Application deadline – April 14 ________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . Nicholas DuVal This month we are interviewing one of our collegiate members! Nicholas is in his senior year at UNF, and is majoring in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Thank you, Nicholas, for helping us get to know you better, and we wish you the best in all your pursuits! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I was born and raised in Green Cove Springs, Fl. I actually started music later than many of my peers, with my first musical experiences taking place in high school! Some of my other interests are reading, being in nature, and computing. Q. As a college student, what inspired you to major in music? A. I decided to be a music major after attending UNF's Jax Sings as a vocalist with my high school's choir. I was very inspired by the level of musicianship I witnessed from the university's music students. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher that made music more enjoyable? A. Mrs. Sherrie Ball was my piano teacher for much of high school, and I was always excited for my weekly lesson. Now at UNF, I consider Dr. Gary Smart (my applied professor), Dr. Erin Bennett, and Dr. Michael Mastronicola all to have an immense impact on my love for music as well as my growth as a musician. Q. Tell us about some things you have been / are involved in musically. A. Some of the most interesting experiences I've had recently have been playing at a FSMTA masterclass, as well as accompanying/collaborating with other students. I feel I gain something valuable from each new perspective I come across. I've even noticed this in my recent auditions! Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. I find a few things helpful in preparing to perform. I avoid playing the pieces I am performing much the day of the performance -- trust in your preparation! Backstage, I try to practice mindful breathing, and when I sit at the bench I find it important to take a moment before putting my hands towards the keyboard. I like to check that I have a comfortable bench height/distance, and I take a moment to imagine the opening of the piece if I were to play it ideally. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. I find that choosing material that the student finds motivating and engaging is one of the most important jobs you have as a teacher. The material must be challenging enough for the student to grow, but not so challenging that it seems unachievable. If you want the student to be engaged, they can't find the material boring, either. This is much of the battle, and I feel it can be best accomplished by simply spending time to discover what is out there. The next challenge is supporting the student through the learning process, and helping them to learn these new skills without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Older students particularly feel uncomfortable learning something completely new or struggling to grasp a concept quickly. I find that patience and empathy go a long way, and love to remind my students (especially adults) that I often employ the same strategies that I am teaching them for breaking down a complex passage. Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. The keyboard repertoire is so vast that I of course have many favorite composers, and can't pick between them. Still, if I am to list a few: J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin. ________________________________________ Music History: Nadia and Lili Boulanger When my son wished me a Happy International Women’s Day a few weeks ago, it caused me to think of women composers and their contributions to music. Attending Dr. Erin Bennett’s presentation “Piano Music by Women” at the FSMTA State Conference last fall and again during the JMTA February program gave us all more appreciation, insight, and knowledge of their exemplary contributions to the music world. Two examples were sisters Nadia and Lili Boulanger, born in Paris to musical parents. Their father, Ernest, was a conductor and a composer who was awarded the coveted Grand Prix de Rome in 1835 when he was 19 years old. He composed a dozen comic operas, his main work being the opera entitled Don Quixote. His focus of work became teaching voice as a professor at the conservatory in Paris. Their mother, Raissa was a Russian singer who was a student of Ernest at the conservatory. They married in 1877. They had two daughters, Nadia and Lili. Nadia Boulanger Juliette Nadia Boulanger (“Nadia”) was born on September 16, 1887. She entered the conservatory in Paris at just 10 years of age and began to study composition. Like her father many years before, Nadia competed in the Prix de Rome in 1908. Instead of entering a vocal fugue which was acceptable, she chose to enter an instrumental fugue, causing much controversy. Finally, the French Minister of Public Information decided it must be accepted, and she won second place. Lili Boulanger Marie-Juliette Olga Boulanger (“Lili”) was the younger of the two daughters and born on August 21, 1893. She showed a gift for music at just two years old when she was discovered to have perfect pitch. By five years old she was going with Nadia to the conservatory where Nadia took lessons. Lili would later attend classes there in music theory and the organ. She also learned to play the piano, violin, cello, and harp at a young age, while her focus was on piano and composing. Lili had been a notably weak and sickly child after having bronchial pneumonia which continued to affect her health. She was diagnosed at around three with what was then called Intestinal Tuberculosis, or what is now called Crohn’s Disease. This continued to be a major issue for the rest of her life. Like her father and her older sister, Lili competed in the Prix de Rome in 1912. Back in the day, this was a sought-after scholarship of prestige given by the French government each year. The winner of the first prize in each category of art and music would then study at the Académie de France in Rome for a period of usually three to five years. Winners of the prize have included such well-known musicians as Claude Debussy, Hector Berlioz, and Georges Bizet. Unfortunately, Lily worked so feverishly for this award that she collapsed and was not able to complete her audition. That did not stop her, however. She competed again in 1913, and won first place like her father, at 19 years old. She was the first woman to win the Grand Prix de Rome. During World War I, Lili corresponded with other musicians in which she and Nadia created a network of support for them during the war. Lili’s health deteriorated so that she had to return home and continued to compose as much as she could. She passed in 1918, at just 24 years old. She was able to write over fifty works in her short life and is remembered as a brilliantly talented composer. After her sister’s death, Nadia, in her grieving, focused more on teaching and conducting than composing. She became a well-known and dynamic teacher to many famous composers of the 20th century. She was strong-willed and feared, yet revered by her students, some of whom included Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Quincy Jones, Michel Legrand, and Philip Glass. Nadia taught at numerous schools, including the Juilliard School, the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, the Paris Conservatory, Bard College, the Royal College of Music in London, UCLA, Washington (D.C.) College of Music, and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. She conducted major orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and received honorary doctorate degrees from Harvard and Oxford. Nadia lived to be 92 and passed away in 1979. Her influence in helping encourage countless musicians find their way lives on, as do the brilliant and accomplished compositions of her sister Lili.
https://reference.org/facts/Nadia_Boulanger/sMQEE3lj https://www.britannica.com/art/Prix-de-Rome https://americansymphony.org/concert-notes/dun-matin-du-printemps-1918/ https://alchetron.com/Ernest-Boulanger-(composer) https://guides.loc.gov/feminism-french-women-history/famous/lili-boulanger https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/lili-boulanger-composer-died-young/ https://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Ra%C3%AFssa_Boulanger https://www.andrews.edu/life/student-movement/issues/2025-03-28/ae_boulanger.html https://reidhall.globalcenters.columbia.edu/content/nadia-boulanger-1887-1979 https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-history-composers-and-performers-biographies/nadia-boulanger __________________________________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Click on each link for a calendar of upcoming performances: The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Events Click on link for more information and tickets: Events | Jacksonville Symphony University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Florida State College at Jacksonville Click on link for more information and tickets: fine-arts-calendar.jpg (2550×3300) Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ St. Johns Cathedral Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ _______________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, please take a moment to check out your information on our Find A Teacher page on the JMTA website (jaxmta.org). If you would like any changes made, or if you’re not listed yet and would like to be added, please contact Angie Holt at [email protected] with the verbiage you would like put in. ___________________________________ Did You Know? Residents of Duval county, if they have a Jacksonville Library card, can use the many electronic resources from the https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/digital-library. Getting a library card is free. All that's needed is your driver's license and sign up in person at any of the 21 branches. The card allows the use of Kanopy - which has free streaming movies, documentaries, educational resources [older teens/adults]. I saw a documentary "Making the Grade" which profiled Irish students and piano teachers whose students are preparing to take the Irish Royal Academy of Music Examinations. It was funny, moving, informative, and relatable, especially seeing snippets of the teacher's lessons in action and how the students feel about piano and their teachers overall. I highly recommend members watch it (and explore the other resources available from JPL)! - JohnWillard Utuk ______________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Jacksonville School of Music & First Coast School of Music, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at [email protected]. His direction phone number is 904-248-1848. ____________________________________ Music Exchange Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Bring your unneeded 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. ____________________________________ Have you found us on Facebook? Follow JMTA on Facebook for the latest happenings, photos, videos, and more! ____________________________________ 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. Saturday, March 21 – Wednesday, March 25 As Scheduled MTNA National Conference Chicago, Illinois Sunday, March 29 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave, 32207 Thursday, April 9 9:30am JMTA General Meeting and Program TBA Saturday, April 11 As Scheduled District IV Student Day Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223 Saturday, April 11 TBA JMTA H.S. Senior Scholarship Competition Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223 Tuesday, April 21 6:00pm Community “Proton Therapy” Recital U.F. Health Proton Therapy Institute, 2015 Jefferson St., Jacksonville 32206 Sunday, April 26 3:00pm Student Day Honors Recital UNF Recital Hall, 1 UNF Drive, 32224, Building 45, Room 1200 Thursday, May 14 9:30am JMTA General Meeting and Program TBA 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]. |
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