November 2015 - Volume 19, No. 3

General Meeting and Program
Location: Kelly’s Piano and Organ, November 11, 2015

• 9:30 am General Business Meeting
• 10:15 Light Refreshments
• 10:30 am Multi-Piano Festival Teacher Rehearsal

Please join us for this exciting program!
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President’s Pen
It was exciting to see many of you at the October general meeting and hear the first Piano Festival teacher rehearsal following the meeting. The meeting included final details for the Piano Festival event.

As I write this I am assisting Denise Homsley, JMTA member who has served as FSMTA VP for MTNA competitive events for the last 7 years. It is always exciting to meet the young competitors and hear their performances as well as wishing the winner’s all the best when they participate at the Division level January 15-18, 2016 in Tampa at USF. Thank you for your donation towards funding hospitality at this event which only occurs in Florida every nine years. We congratulate Denise on her service for FSMTA.

The last two days I spent at the FSMTA Conference here in Ft. Myers. I encourage each of you to plan to attend this annual event next year October 27-30, 2016 in Altamonte Springs (north side of Orlando). We will ask those who attended Conference 2015 to share highlights at our general meeting in November. Start to plan your budget and teaching schedule so you may benefit from these teacher pedagogical opportunities and network with those around the state.

Thanks also go to Lorraine Eaton who represented us as District 4 President at the Conference along with Dr. Erin Bennett as Collegiate Chapter chair and Beth Martelli who just accepted chairmanship of Arts and Advocacy for FSMTA and will represent us in this capacity for the next two years.
Paulette Kilts, JMTA President
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Piano Festival
This is the month to celebrate the work of our students and teachers who are participating in the Piano Festival, November 21 “The World is a Stage” at 7:30 p.m. in Lazarra Hall at the University of North Florida.

107 students and 14 teachers are involved in this event. Teacher participants, please make sure that your students are on time for their rehearsals and are prepared to work with their conductor. Remind families they may purchase extra tickets for friends and family members at any of the rehearsals and the evening of the event.

Special thanks to all the teachers who worked on preparation for this event, even some who did not have student participants, Keyboard Connection and Kelly’s Pianos and the University of North Florida President’s Fund and Dr. Erin Bennett for assisting with funding for the event.
Paulette Kilts, co-chair
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FSMTA State Conference Pictures
There will be pictures of the FSMTA State Conference on our Facebook site! Check it out at: www.facebook.com/JaxMTA
Lorraine Eaton, Media Chair
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Student Recitals
There will be no recitals in October and December this year due to the Multi-Piano Festival. Our regular student recital in March will be held on the 6th at Deermeadows Church. We will also hold a community recital on April 12 at the Proton Therapy Institute.
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District IV News

• Although our local district Teachers Recital is not until April 2016, be thinking now about your performance choices. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of our teachers to perform for each other and for our student families. The recital will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church. Contact chairperson Michael Mastronicola for more details.
• Details are in the works for our annual District meeting, to be held in January. We are excited to have the UNF Collegiate Chapter give a presentation.
• Student Day Chairperson Denise Homsley has secured Jacksonville University as the site for this year’s Student Day events. Listen/Look for more information at monthly meetings and High Notes.
• District IV Concerto Competition is scheduled for Sunday, March 13, 2016. Contact chairperson Erin Bennett for more details.

~Lorraine Eaton, District IV President
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JMTA Meeting Minutes
Keyboard Connection
October 14, 2015

Members Present: Annie Rueff, Maureen Rhodes, Sandra Stewart, Lorraine Eaton, Denise Homsley, Kamila Shatahktinski, Lindsay Hardee, Sandra Roberts, Paulette Kilts, Sarah Blazs, Lynn Freeman, Betty Atkinson, Anne Marie Griffin (13 members)
Meeting called to order: 9:30 am
Everyone was emailed the minutes and agendas for the meeting. Minutes were accepted as published.
Treasurer Report: Lorraine Eaton
Interest was added to accounts. Renewed solicitations for contributions. Sent check for hospitality and FSMT President’s fund. IRS report is due in November.
JMTA Treasurer Transaction Report September 1-30, 2015
Premier Business Checking Sept 1, 2015 $6,836.16
Expenses
None
Deposits
09/30 Interest $.57
Sept 30, 2015 $6,836.73
Business Shares (Piano Festival) 1627.31
Business Money Market (Scholarship) 5181.00
CD (matures 5/21/2018) 8574.02
Total Assets Sept 30, 2015 $22,219.06
Other business:

• Filed renewal of Solicitation of Contributions
• Check (1032) sent to Annamarie $50 for contribution towards hospitality for Southern Division Competitions
• Check (1033) sent to Adrienne LeBlanc $15 for contribution to the FSMTF President’s Fund. This fund supports the FSMTA Community Service Award for 9th graders.

Provisional Membership: Lindsay Hardee presented on behalf of Michael Mastronciola

• Angie Holt is in the process of joining as provisional member. I am in contact with her. Lorraine, and Emily Breeze, who handles provisional membership for Florida. I think Ms. Holt has all the information she needs at this time, and simply needs to send in her registration information and fee to get started.
• Angie has a degree in accounting, and took piano for 13 years. She has two children, Rachel and Daniel Holt, have taken piano since they were 5 and 6 respectively, and for the last six years, from Mrs. Paulette Kilts and now Dr. Sandra Stewart, as Paulette is retiring.
  
• Angie has been involved in her children’s music education and is looking forward to completing the requirements for full membership. She will receive the Exam Study Guide from Ms. Breeze when she officially joins. Angie also knows how to download the Student Day Guidelines and Preparation Materials.

Communications: No Report
Internet Media:

• The internet may be hacked. Lorraine Eaton is looking into this.
• Applications for scholarships are available on-line.
• Programs: Sandra Stewart
• November’s meeting will be at Kelly’s Pianos.

Social/Refreshments: No Report
Student Rectials:

• No recitals until spring. You can find the respective dates on the calendar for High Notes.

Historian: Emily Pajal

• Emily Pajal scanned all the documents. These will be added to the website by Lorraine Eaton.

Piano Festival:

• Lynn- Total amount of students: 107. Participating teachers: 13. Seating chart will be made, and information will be organized by October 30 in order to get the program ready.
  
• Tickets and Programs: 350 programs, and 500 tickets
  
• Piano: We will set up with Kelly’s the piano for teacher Wednesday rehearsal and student’s Thursday rehearsal.
  
• Featured duet team: No entries.
  
• Cover design: Four entrants. Annie, Lindsay and Paulette will determine the winner.
  
• Evening student rehearsals: Paulette will ask Dr. Bennett to have college students help at the rehearsals. Teachers must be present when students rehearse. Teachers should be prepared to help fill in. If you have students who can fill in with the younger kids to help fill it up.
  
• Lynn will need the information by Friday, October 23 to add extra students.
  
• Saturday rehearsal is TBD.
  
• Invocation: Maureen Rhodes will be asking a pastor to bless the event. If none can be found, Sandra Roberts has offered.
  
• Dress for teachers: Any length acceptable. Black-Tie Event. Color acceptable.

Altruistic: Pam Searcy

• Card sent to Susan Figlietti as she is having surgery.

Ethics: No report
Constitution and Bylaws: No report
Scholarship Applications: Kamila Shahtahktinski

• Summer camp scholarship application due March 26, 2016.

District IV: Lorraine Eaton

• Meeting in January will be held at UNF. Lunch details to come. Anticipate a $15.00 fee.
  
• Teacher’s Recital in April. Contact Michael Mastronicola for more details.

Community Service Awards: Sandra Roberts

• Deadline is the end of the December.

Student Day: Denise Homsley

• The event will be held February 6,, 2016 at JU. Applications due: December 19, 2015. Updated forms will be put up in November on the website.

Unfinished business: No report
New business: Cutco knife left at the May meeting. No takers, so it will be given to the church.
Sandra Robert- Gracias Christmas Cantata performing tonight for free at 7 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 10:12.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Blazs
Secretary