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JMTA High Notes
May 2024 —Vol. 27, no. 8 JMTA meeting and Program was held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom Thursday, May 9 - 9:30am meeting and program afterwards: Presentation by the JMTA Senior High School Scholarship winner: Matthew Phan ____________________________________________________________________________ President’s Pen Dear Colleagues, Gary L. Ingle, the CEO of MTNA, the oldest music teacher association in the United States, is finishing his last year in this position after 28 years, effective June 30. We wish him well in his retirement and thank him for the many years of leadership he has given our national organization. Dr. Ingle has written many meaningful editorial Dear Reader articles for the national publication American Music Teacher. An example of one is in the October/November 2022 issue, entitled “Mistakes.” It begins with a quote by Igor Stravinsky: “I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge” (AMT, 2). As the editorial affirms, most of us want to avoid mistakes. Most students understandably develop clammy hands and butterflies in the stomach before a performance, fearful of mistakes or memory slips that will affect their performance. Ingle believes, however, that Stravinsky “is saying that life is not fixed and static but is instead flowing and changing. Life is about becoming, which in itself is forgiving and frees us from the shackles of fear, insecurity and apprehension about committing mistakes” (Ingle, 2). How should we as music teachers approach mistakes made by their students? Ingle believes that “music teachers who embrace ‘mistakes’ are often the most successful and fulfilled members of the profession” (Ingle, 2). He goes further to say that “embracing” mistakes can help one grow and is not anything to be afraid of. “If you assume that every time a ‘mistake’ is made—by you or the student—is a negative, you are in fact limiting your own and your students’ creativity. Freedom to allow and even embrace mistakes creates a learning environment in which students feel safe and comfortable to try new ideas and stretch their abilities to new heights” (Ingle, 2). He finishes by quoting Elbert Hubbard: “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one” (Ingle, 2). Our emphasis is not on the mistakes we make in life, but in our growth as we learn from them and from everything else, making us who we are. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you all in September! Ingle, G. L. (2022, October/November). Mistakes. American Music Teacher. Sincerely, Angie Angie Holt, President _____________________________________________________________________________ We are still looking for a Co-chair to help with the FSMTA State Conference to be held in our area in the fall of 2025. There will be many helping in this project, but we need a co-chair to help lead the effort. If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact Angie Holt at [email protected]. Thank you! _____________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 11, 2024, 9:30am Keyboard Connection/Zoom Present (In-person): Angie Holt, Daniel Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Stewart, Sandra Roberts, Betty Atkinson, Paulette Kilts, Ronald Touchton, Dean Slickis Present (Zoom): Denise Homesley, Lynn Freeman, Mary McKee, Cheryl Dubberly, Lisa Barwell, Kama Rasmussen-Li Call to Order: 9:33am (Angie Holt) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman)
Programs: (Open)
Program: “Howard Hanson Music for Solo Piano” by Dr. Scott Watkins Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin, Recording Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY PROGRAMS MAY Matthew Phan, JMTA High School Senior Scholarship winner and piano student of Peggy Edwards, performed his scholarship audition repertoire for us for our May program, and received his scholarship monies from Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Chair. After the program, some of us met at Carrabba’s for our end-of-year luncheon, including Jack Melvin of Keyboard Connection, whom we thank for the use of this great piano store to hold our monthly meetings and programs. MARCH and APRIL In March and April, we had the privilege of having two great presenters for our programs. In March, JohnWillard Utuk spoke on “Cipher Composing: How poetry, imagination, and storytelling can create unique musical experiences.” In April, Dr. Scott Watkins gave a presentation on "The solo piano music of American composer Howard Hanson.” ________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Student Day The Student Day Honors Recital was held on Sunday, April 28, at 3:00pm at All Saints Episcopal Church. Those students who received an Honors in their audition and at least an achievement in their written and aural theory were invited to perform. This year 15 students performed at the recital with 7 teachers participating: Stefanie Batson-Martin, Angie Holt, Denise Homsley, Anna Marr, Michael Mastronicola, Lorraine Sears, and Emily Stewart. Thank you to all those who helped make Student Day successful this year! - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair ________________________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . .Christine Couch Welcome to one of our newer members! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I was born and raised in a small town west of Atlanta; Carrollton, Georgia. My dad is from Georgia and my mom is from Long Island, New York. I feel I have experienced the best of the North and the South. I am the youngest of nine; the first and the last of the family are the girls and the seven boys are in the middle. I am most grateful for my family and for my upbringing in a small country town. I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of West Georgia where I studied under George Mann. I was eager to see more of the world so after graduation I moved to Maryland. I received my Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy at The Catholic University of America and studied under Ivo Kaltchev. Q. What inspired you to begin music lessons? A. My mom studied piano and cello when she was young, so she started teaching me and my brother the basics. Before I started lessons, my brother was practicing for his lessons and I would always want to try to play his music. I would kindly push him off the bench and continue to play the music for his lessons, often better than he did. When I was in 3rd grade, I started piano lessons. My teacher was very nice, but I didn’t feel challenged enough. I knew there must have been more to learn than she was able to offer, so I decided to stop taking lessons from her after 6th grade. In retrospect, I wish I had continued with a different teacher. However, I do believe that my sight reading and love of all musical styles and genres can be attributed to my first teacher, and of course my mom. Even though I wasn’t taking lessons for a time, I did keep playing from my books at home and trying to progress on my own. I played flute in band starting in 5th grade. I really loved learning another instrument, but piano was my true love. In 10th grade, I auditioned for the Jazz Band as the pianist. I was accepted, but the director said I should start lessons again and so I did. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher(s) that made music more enjoyable? A. The teacher I had when I started lessons again in 10th grade was my biggest inspiration to make music my career. I finally learned about theory, technique, and music history. Jan Adams was a member of the GMTA and I participated in many events. She was an accompanist at UWG and introduced me to Mr. Mann. Once we worked together, I knew I would go to school there to pursue music. Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically. A. When I was in college, I played for various groups; church, women’s choir, musical theatre and other events. After I moved to Maryland, my focus switched to teaching and church music. I started out as a substitute organist (with very little training) and eventually became the permanent organist. I auditioned for an organ scholarship and received a full year of lessons. I continued after that year and obtained my Service Playing and Colleague certifications through the American Guild of Organists. When I was growing up, we also had a little Lowry organ in the house and my brother and I were always playing piano/organ duets. I had one summer that I took organ lessons when I was 19 and never thought I would have returned to the instrument, but I’m so happy I did. I have been the Director of Music and Liturgy for St. Luke Catholic Church in Middleburg, Florida for the past three years, but I have been the organist since 2014. Prior to my full-time position as music director, I was the accompanist primarily for string students at Jacksonville University and occasionally have played for musical theatre. Q. Do you have a story of something that happened during one of your performances and how you handled it? A. I was playing my Master’s recital jury for the faculty and performing my Bach Prelude and Fugue. During the Prelude, I had a memory slip and started somewhere in the Fugue, then somehow made it back into the Prelude to finish. At church, I once played a different hymn that what was announced and had to stop, apologize, and start the correct one. Just another lesson in humility. Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. Don’t forget to breathe. Trying to achieve mental focus, forget your surroundings and concentrate on listening is a lot to handle simultaneously. The number one thing I feel that we forget is to breathe and relax. Trying to keep calm before the performance is important. Someone once told me that eating a banana before performing can help calm your nerves, so I tried it and I’ll let you try it for yourselves to see if it’s bananas! Q. Where is one of the most interesting places you’ve visited? A. Poland. Our choir from St. Luke went on a tour through the country, which is the birthplace and home country of our pastor. The trip was amazing all around, and the places we visited were unforgettable. Getting to visit Auschwitz concentration camp was an especially moving and chilling experience. There is a lot to learn from the history of Poland and the solidarity movement. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. Students counting rhythms and keeping it in a steady beat with the metronome. I find students often have trouble keeping eighth note, triplets or sixteenth note rhythms even within the beat of the metronome. Help wanted! Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. Besides some of the usual favorites like Chopin and Debussy, I would choose Tchaikovsky. While most are familiar with his orchestral works and piano concerto, his solo piano works are worth listening to and integrating some into the student’s repertoire or your own. ________________________________________________________________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALSCommunity Hospice Performances If you would be interested in performing a recital at the Hadlow Center at the Community Hospice and Pallative Care on Sunbeam Road, they sponsor a monthly performance titled First Friday Recital Series, with performances starting at 11:30 a.m. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Sandra Stewart at 904-333-9280. Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ Thursday, May 23 Dave Eggar “Bristol Lightning” “From Aaron Copland to American roots music to the blues, bluegrass and beyond, Bristol Lightning’s live shows take the audience on a high-energy adventure of bluegrass cello and mandolin, blues guitars, tap dance and storytelling. They weave a powerful and poignant tapestry of the true creativity and resilience of the American spirit.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-9:00pm The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/23-24-season/ Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 Adelya Plays the Lark Ascending Florida Blue Classical Series “Concertmaster Adelya Nartadjieva takes center stage for Vaughan Williams’ soaring The Lark Ascending. Elgar’s love letter to Italy and its musical traditions opens the program with its sunny, Mediterranean-inspired themes. In a powerful conclusion, the bold and innovative use of orchestral color in Walton’s First Symphony draws this dynamic program to a sonorous, thrilling close.” Courtney Lewis, Conductor Adelya Nartadjieva, Violin Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, May 23 At the Ballet II Symphony in 60 Series “Cocktail hour begins at 5:30pm, concert begins at 6:30pm” Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence Courtney Lewis, Conductor The Florida Ballet Jacksonville Dance Theatre Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 6:30pm Friday, May 24 At the Ballet II - Matinee Coffee Series (See Description in May 23 listing.) “Coffee and cookies begin at 10:00am, concert begins at 11:00am.” Courtney Lewis, Conductor The Florida Ballet Jacksonville Dance Theatre Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 11:00am Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 Michael Cavanaugh: The Music of Billy Joel & MorePaysafe Pops Series “Back by popular demand, Michael Cavanaugh has been praised for bringing smooth vocals, charismatic style and fiery flair to Billy Joel’s most beloved songs and is called ‘the new voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook’ by Billboard. Handpicked by Joel himself to star in the hit Broadway musical Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh received both Tony® and GRAMMY® nominations for his role. Chart-toppers like ‘Piano Man,’ ‘Uptown Girl’ and ‘New York State of Mind’ performed with the full power of the Symphony will have you rocking, rolling and wanting more.” Grant O’Brien, Conductor Michael Cavanaugh, Piano & Vocalist Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall - 7:30pm Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 Symphonie Fastastique Florida Blue Classical Series “Join Music Director Courtney Lewis and the Symphony in closing this blockbuster season with one of Jacksonville’s favorites: Berlioz’s wildly imaginative Fantastic Symphony. A bedrock of the Romantic Era, this saga uses music to paint a love-stricken artist’s journey from a serene countryside to a whirling dervish conclusion. The program opens with another storytelling work: gripping orchestral music from Thomas Adès’ masterpiece opera, The Exterminating Angel.” Courtney Lewis, Conductor Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Florida Chamber Music Project Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://flchambermusic.org/concerts-2/ Sunday, June 2 Season Finale – Brahms Piano Quintet “Pianist Hyunsoon Whang returns for the Brahms Piano Quintet, one of the composer’s most towering masterpieces.” Kinderszenen, Opus 25 – Robert Schumann Piano Quintet in F minor, Opus 34 – Johannes Brahms Hyunsoon Whang, Piano Beaches Museum Chapel – 3:00pm St. Johns Cathedral Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ Friday, May 31 Jazz on the Water “Happy Hour Dolphine Cruise on the St. Johns River!” “Prepare to set sail into an evening of Dixieland Jazz melodies and river bliss! Indulge in the rhythmic tunes of live Dixieland Jazz as you enjoy the gentle evening breeze, catch sight of dolphins frolicking in the river, and soak in the breathtaking views of Jacksonville’s skyline.” Friendship Fountain Dock; boat ride is 5:30-7:30pm ________________________________________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page of the JMTA website (jaxmta.org). If you would like to edit, add, or delete any information, please email our Internet Media chair Angie Holt at [email protected]. __________________________________________________________ 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 CalendarPlease view our website for any updates or additions to these events, as well as for more details including application deadlines: www.jaxmta.org. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! 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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