May 2021 High Notes

• JMTA High Notes
  
• May 2021—Vol. 24, no. 8
• JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM):
  May 12, 2021: 9:30am - General meeting
  10:30am - Program: Concerto Competition Winners
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  From the President’s Pen:
  
  “Can you hear me now?”  That phrase which has become so familiar to all of us as we have worked through a year of online lessons may be put aside soon for an in-person “Welcome, how are you today” greeting or not… We’ve learned a lot about ourselves through the challenges we’ve overcome and ways we have adapted to sustain our teaching studios. Some of those changes will become part of our traditional lessons or enhance makeup lessons online. There is an abundance of resources to guide us in preparing all types of lessons --from asking better questions to promoting self-sufficiency in our students.
  
  Bi-monthly a gift arrives for each JMTA member, the American Music Teacher magazine.
  
  The most recent issue has a poignant article by Janelle Scott, Resolving Conflict. She encourages teachers to “put on our business hats” and consider the following tips in confidently interacting with parents and students:
  
  *Listen and Affirm (What I’m understanding is…)
  
  *Assess the Situation (Walk in their shoes, adjust when merited, stand firm when needed)
  
  *Restate Policies (Gently remind with a calm tone)
  
  *Maintain professional boundaries (Be firm, fair and consistent)
  
  *See the Person in Front of you (A student’s negative response may be unrelated to lesson-
  
      Be empathetic)
  
  *Keep Respect a Part of every Interaction (Keep a positive attitude.)
  
  Yoga in the Music Studio by Lesley McAllister is one of the books reviewed in the April-May issue. Many of the Wellness topics explored by our clinicians in the last two years are presented in an easy- to- read format.
  
  At our May Zoom meeting, please join me in thanking the dedicated members who have gone above and beyond in helping keep JMTA events moving forward throughout the challenges of the past year.
  
  If you are new to JMTA or if you would like to be more involved, please reach out and let us know. Soon we will be putting together a new Board and planning programs for next year. Your input is vital.
  
  See you May 12th at 9:30 am for our monthly meeting on Zoom.
  
  Anita
  Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM
  JMTA President
  anita@renfroepiano.com
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  Final Budget Report
  
  - Submitted by Lorie Burningham 5/5/21
  
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  JMTA General Meeting Minutes
  
  Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 9:30am, Zoom
  
  Present: Anita Renfroe, Angie Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Stewart, Lily, Denise Homsley, Lisa Barwell, Lorie Burningham, Erin Bennett, Lynn Freeman, Michael Mastonicola, Betty Atkinson, Lorraine Sears, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Ronald Touchton, Kamila Shahtaktinski
  
  Call to Order: 9:31 (Anita Renfroe)
  
  Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman)
  Nothing to report
  


• Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin)
• Needed to add 9:30am meeting time
  
  Treasurer’s Report: (Lori Burningham)
  Nothing to report
  $20,343.34 Total
  Benevity Check was deposited
  
  Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra Stewart)
  Nothing to report
  No new members
  
  COMMITTEE REPORTS:
  
  Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts)
  Not present
  
  Communications/Internet Media: (Angie Holt)
  Nothing new to report
  
  Community Service: (Joan Cordell)
  Not present
  
  Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes)
  Not present
  
  Historian: (Lynn Roberts)
  Nothing to report
  
  Programs: (Michael Mastronicola)
  Marc Sabatella is here today, founder and developer of Muse Score, from Denver
  May Program should be Concerto Winners
  
  Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski)
  Ella Bonventre won a $500 scholarship for a Piano Camp at Webster University in St. Louis
  
  Social: (Angie Holt)
  Nothing new to report
  
  Student Recitals: (Angie Holt)
  Sunday, May 2, All Saints Episcopal on Hendericks, recorded from 2-5pm
  Teachers can email Angie the information for the students
  
  Student Day Report: (Angie Holt)
  Schedules are going out this afternoon along with the written music theory test to be distributed
  Written tests are due by Saturday, April 24, Aural Theory tests are due Tuesday, April 27
  Morning session starts at 9am, finishing by 11:30 and 12pm for the judges, Aural theory starts at 9am
  
  Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell and Stefanie Batson-Martin)
  Please check out the wellness videos from the National Conference
  
  Old Business:
  Venmo/Paypal Payment Options: Paypal/Venmo can be accepted, just not through debit card
  Erin has ethics concerns on using Venmo/Paypal for various events being run by different entities
  We will discuss more on this in May, an email chain was started
  
  New Business:
  Presentation of Officer Candidates:
  President: Anita
  Vice Président: John Williard Utuk
  Secretary: Stefanie Batson-Martin
  Treasurer: TBA
  
  Adjourned: 10:30am (Anita Renfroe)
  
  -Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin
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  IN NEED OF TREASURER POSITION TO BE FILLED
  
  We are in need of a new treasurer to begin June 1. Training will be provided. This position requires minimal duties including:
  
      1    Internet connection to download and print bank statements monthly – 5 minutes
  
      2    Create a simple monthly report (template in excel already exists) – 15 minutes
  
      3    Basic knowledge of Excel (you don’t need to worry about formulas, etc.)
  
      4    Email monthly report to the communications chair
  
      5    Occasionally mail checks to program presenters and scholarship winners – 5 minutes
  
      6    Send in various state-required forms (done online occasionally). A calendar of dates and forms with all information you’ll need is provided in the manual of procedures.
  
  That’s it! If you can contribute to our wonderful organization by being the treasurer for  a 2-year term, please contact Jaxmta@gmail.com as soon as possible.  - Lorie Burningham
  
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  DISTRICT IV NEWS
  
  2021 District IV Student Day
  
  District IV Student Day auditions were held Saturday, April 24 over Zoom. Written Theory and Aural Theory exams were given by the teachers and received back by Tuesday, April 27. Nine JMTA teachers enrolled 37 students to participate in this year’s Student Day.
  
  Many thanks to our adjudicators: Dr. Erin Bennett, Dr. Michael Mastronicola, and Kama Rasmussen-Li. Your expertise and helpful comments are so appreciated!
  
  Appreciation is also sincerely extended to Dr. Sandra Stewart and          Lorraine Sears for their assistance in grading the exams, and to Denise Homsley for her help in so many ways.
  
  Many students have qualified to perform in the Honors Recital, which is being recorded and put into a playlist. Thank you to Dr. Erin Bennett for her assistance. Thank you to everyone for making this year’s Student Day very successful!! We look forward to 2022 District IV Student Day! 
  
  - Angie Holt, District IV Student Day Chair
  
  Student Day Level 12 Plaque Awarded
  
  Vireli Anbarasu, student of Denise Homsley, has successfully completed Level 12 Student Day, and has qualified for the Level 12 plaque.  Vireli received a perfect score of 10 on her Technique and Keyboard Skills, as well as Honors on Performance of her Repertoire.  
  
  Vireli began piano lessons with Denise in 2008, while she was a student at Jacksonville Country Day School.  Soon thereafter, she began participating in District Student Day every year.
  
  Vireli is a Senior at Stanton College Preparatory School.  She is a National Merit Scholarship - Finalist. 
  
  In addition to her piano studies and high school studies, Vireli has been involved in the community. Vireli has been coaching Robotics for Title 1 and African American teams here in Jacksonville.  Her teams have won their contests and have progressed to North East Florida tournaments for the third successive year.  Vireli received Exemplary Robotic Coach of the year in 2020.
  
  Vireli is the recipient of the Young Woman in Computing Award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology from its NE & Georgia chapter, twice.
  
  Vireli has been accepted at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, where she will study Aerospace.  
  
  - Denise Homsley, Mus.M., NCTM
  
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  Over Coffee With . . .  
  
  This month we are chatting with Lorraine Sears, a past president of JMTA who has also held other offices, including Treasurer. Thank you, Lorraine, for taking the time to share your experiences with us!
  
  LORRAINE SEARS
  
  What more can we learn about Lorraine?  She's been here forever!
  
  It has been quite a while.  I started my membership as part of a collegiate chapter, then became a full active member when I moved to Jacksonville in 2000. I've held a lot of elected positions over the years, both in JMTA and District 4.  
  
  When I started piano lessons at age 8 (for no other reason than we had a piano, might as well use it!), it was definitely not something I envisioned myself doing throughout my whole life.  In fact, I decided to quit after two years.  A couple of years later, getting ready for a move, my parents said they were selling the piano. No point in moving it to our new home if I wasn't going to play it!  Somewhat reluctantly I told my parents, no, don't sell it, I will try lessons again.  I was still pretty much just plodding along though, until we met the teacher that would inspire me to become the musician and teacher I am today.  Fritz Hoefler was unlike my other (stereotypical) teachers.  He played gigs at bars!  He played accordion!  He played accordion and several different keyboards at his gigs at bars!  I was amazed, and my eyes were opened to a new way of making music.  I continued studying with him until I went to college (and took a few accordion lessons along the way too).  We kept in touch through annual Christmas cards and letters until his death several years ago.
  
  I started at University of Tampa, but ultimately received my B.A. in Music at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA.  Under the guidance of my professor there, I started giving lessons to beginners.  My first mortified moment as a teacher occurred not long after.  I and other college students were presenting a recital of the beginners we were teaching.  Everything was going well, until one of my students, almost to the end of her memorized piece, (maybe even the last note!) froze and could not remember what to play next.  It was an agonizing ten seconds.  What should I do?  Yell out the note she needed? (I didn't know it either, actually) Just start clapping as if she's finished?  In the end no one did anything and the room was completely silent, until she ran off stage and went to cry in her parents' arms.  After the recital I went to comfort her, but she was not having it and told me she never wanted to play piano again.  I've already failed as a teacher, and I've only just started!  Thankfully for both myself and the wonderful students I've had over the (23!) years, I persevered, always continually learning myself.  Much of the great teaching strategies I have today I owe to belonging to MTNA and gathering insight from other teachers.
  
  I was asked to also give a piece of advice for this column, but what can I share that you don't already know?  I learned it all from you! The roster of teachers I've met over the last 21 years, have inspired me, uplifted me, and supported me.  There were times when I was struggling to support myself and my children with the few students I had.  Why should I spend this great sum of money to stay a MTNA member another year?  But I knew it was important for my future, I knew that being a part of this community would give me something I could never find on my own, so I never let my membership lapse.  I am now able to fully support my household with just my income from teaching.  And I know that all of you are still there anytime I need guidance.  Thank you for helping me find my way.
  
  I'm glad I no longer have to work crappy jobs! Some of the positions I've held over the years to support my teaching income were:  Cashier at Ace Hardware, associate at Dillard's, temp agencies, phone book deliveries (by far the worst one!), preschool teacher, library clerk, and grocery deliveries.
  
  It seemed like it took a long time to get here, but I hope I still have a long time to go.  I do feel lucky every day to have the job I do.  I know you do too.  Cheers! to many more years of seeing hope, wonderment, inquisition and determination in our students' eyes.
  
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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 skrmusic@bellsouth.net, 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 angiespianostudio7@gmail.com.
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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 greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com.
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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.
  
  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 jaxmta@gmail.com.