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JMTA High Notes January 2025 —Vol. 28, no. 4 The District meeting and program for January will be held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 9:30am District Program at around10:30am: Evan Mitchell (UF) _____________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents JMTA TREASURY REPORTS November/December . . . 3 Monthly Programs January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Welcome New Members! . . . . . . . . . . 7 JMTA Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 JMTA Student Recitals. . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 District IV News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Event Application Deadline Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Area Concerts and Recitals . . . . . . . 13 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 District President’s Pen Dear JMTA colleagues, When was the last time you took a minute to reflect on some of the sage advice you received from the music teachers in your own life? If you’re like me, I can hear their voices and wisdom in my mind almost daily. When was the last time you found yourself repeating their advice to your own students? I would guess the answer might be about the same: almost daily. One year in college as school was finishing for the year, my teacher said, “Make sure to take time to do nothing.” I was ambitious, practicing hard and making up for lost time, wanting to move forward as fast as I could and take on the world. I’m sure I gave him a very confused look. He continued, “I’m serious. You need to take some time out and remember how to do absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. It’s really important.” He was right—the importance of play is essential for so many reasons. Especially right now amid the busy holiday season and coming into the busy performance season, it’s important to find ways to make our work joyous and fun. Taking toys, coffee or tea, a blanket, etc. to the piano, wearing pjs, and sitting with a pet are all fun ways to make those tough practice days a little better. Breaks and time off, completely away from work are essential for the mind and body too. Even “doing nothing” can also be mindfulness and meditation. So many wellness ideas incorporate the importance of play. Is there a piece of advice or wisdom from one of your teachers that you need to remember and reflect on in this new year? I’m sure you can think of many novel ways to incorporate the importance of fun and play into your own music and teaching. As my teacher said all the time, “Have fun!” At our next meeting, Evan Mitchell from the University of Florida will speak to the myriad of ideas that go into developing a well-rounded musician and how we can apply these ideas to our teaching. You won’t want to miss it! Happy Holidays and here’s to a Happy New Year! Kama Rasmussen-Li President, FSMTA District IV _____________________________________________________________________________ HAPPY NEW YEAR! _____________________________________________________________________________ JMTA TREASURY REPORTSNovember 2024 December 2024 ________________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY PROGRAMS JANUARY Dr. Evan Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Florida, will be presenting the JMTA program over Zoom on Thursday, January 9th at Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., beginning at 9:30am. Dr. Mitchell’s program will be: Beyond Repertoire and Technique: A Balanced Diet for the Well-Rounded Music Student “Whether our students are going to pursue music at the college level or simply wish to hold onto its lessons throughout their lives, there is a nearly inexhaustible amount of ground to cover in creating a well-rounded music student. In this session we’ll identify the various skills and types of knowledge needed to cultivate thoughtful musicians and informed music-lovers, and brainstorm how to include these myriad topics in lessons. For those who cannot attend in person, following is the Zoom link: January D4 Meeting – 1/9/25 Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/89441304142?pwd=uVVfqh0xUvZBah3FnloFfaOiV3JwwL.1 Meeting ID: 894 4130 4142 Passcode: 431700 Evan Mitchell Biography: Pianist Evan Mitchell’s performances have been deemed “incredibly beautiful” (Fanfare), “amazing” (Fort Worth Weekly), and “no less than stunning” (Lima News). Highlights include solo recitals for the prestigious Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (Chicago), Merkin Concert Hall (NYC), and performances at major venues in Shanghai. Evan has soloed in concerti with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra; worked with conductors including Jaap van Zweden and Miguel Harth-Bedoya; and collaborated in recital with major artists including double bassist Gary Karr. His 2015 album with bassist Szymon Marciniak earned rave reviews; Bass World called it “intoxicating…a seminal recording.” Evan’s solo debut American Century will be released in 2024 on the Centaur label. He can also be heard on “Piano de Pampa y Jungla: A Collection of Latin American Piano Music.” Evan was a featured artist for eight years on the Texas Touring Roster, performed more than 300 concerts for Cliburn in the Classroom, and serves as a trustee on the Board of Mount Vernon Music. His enthusiasm for the music of our time is reflected in world premieres of works by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Frank Proto, Stacy Garrop, and others. He has captured first prize in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition, Five Towns Competition, PianoTexas International Festival Concerto Competition, as well as prizes at the World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, among many others. Evan holds degrees from the IU Jacobs School of Music and Texas Christian University. His principal teachers have included John Owings, Arnaldo Cohen and the late Jose Feghali. His early mentors Dr. Thomas Parente and Dr. Brandt Fredriksen pointed the way toward a fulfilling life in music. A Steinway Artist, Evan Mitchell currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Florida. In 2021, he was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame. For more information, please visit www.evanmitchell.net. UPCOMING MONTHS: FEBRUARY Thursday, February 13 – Lynn Roberts (Explore Music Jax) - Teaching Younger Students MARCH Thursday, March 13 – Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee – Performance APRIL Thursday, April 10, 2025 – Dr. Sandra Stewart – Teaching Music Theory ________________________________________________________________________ Welcome New Members! Edith Moore-Hubert Sunny Kyeongseo Choi ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA SCHOLARSHIPS JMTA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION GUIDELINES The JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition will be held at Keyboard Connection on March 15, 2025 at 10 am. Deadline for application is Friday February 28, 2025. /NO Exceptions/
The following must be submitted along with a signed application form: (a) An entrance fee of $25.00 / check made payable to JMTA/ (b) Three letters of recommendation 1. A letter of recommendation from applicant’s private teacher 2. A letter of recommendation from teacher or administrator from applicant’s school 3. A letter of character reference from a responsible adult who is not applicant’s immediate family. (c) Applicant’s repertoire list of three pieces from different time periods with duration no longer than 30 minutes. Repertoire must be memorized. The winner of the Scholarship Competition is required to perform at a future JMTA meeting. /TBA/ All required documents and application fee must be submitted by deadline to: Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair JMTA SUMMER MUSIC CAMP SCHOLARSHIP JMTA Summer music camp scholarship is awarded annually only to pre-college students of JMTA members. The deadline for application is March 30, 2025. The scholarship may be awarded in full or partially. Students who receive scholarships may attend the summer camp of their choice. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need. Only one scholarship per family may be awarded. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA. Teachers must submit a short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board. Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA STUDENT RECITALS A student recital was held on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Arlington United Methodist Church. 21 students from 6 member studios participated. We always enjoy the festive decor at this recital! Our next recital will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at All Saints Episcopal Church on Hendricks Ave. Please adhere to the submission deadline of February 19 for guaranteed inclusion of your students. View all details at jaxmta.org. Go to the "Special Events" tab and click on JMTA Student Recitals. ~Lorraine Sears, Recitals Co-Chair ________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Sonatina and Sonata Festival This year’s District IV Sonatina and Sonata Festival will take place at UNF on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at UNF Recital Hall. The application form can be found here: https://forms.gle/V5U6h5tHP77EnVd49 The application deadline is Friday, January 24, 2025 (with some flexibility). - Dr. Erin Bennett, District IV Sonatina and Sonata Festival Chair Student Day 2025 District IV Student Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223. The application deadline for Student Day is Saturday, January 25, 2025. Student Day guidelines may be found on the fmta.org website, under Student Activities and FSMTA Non-Competitive Events, or here: https://www.fmta.org/fsmta-non-competitive-events.html, for sample tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials. The password this year is Chopin (case-sensitive) to retrieve sample materials. The Student Day Handbook is also of help. In addition, an independent teacher has created a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, written, and aural theory testing with helpful workbooks for each level. To order, email Sue Colvert (Music Masters) at [email protected]. Her phone number is 954-752-2856. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair Concerto Competition This year’s District IV Concerto Competition will take place at UNF on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at UNF Recital Hall. Access the application here: https://www.fmta.org/district-concerto-application-form.html. The application deadline is Friday, February 28, 2025. - Dr. Erin Bennett, District IV Concerto Competition Chair ________________________________________________________________________ Event Application Deadline Reminders District IV Sonatina and Sonata Festival – Saturday, February 8 Application deadline: Friday, January 24 JMTA Student Recital – Sunday, March 2 Application deadline: Wednesday, February 19 District IV Student Day – Saturday, March 8 Application deadline: Saturday, January 25 JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition – Saturday, March 15 Application deadline: Friday, February 28 Concerto Competition – Saturday, March 22 Application deadline: Friday, February 28 JMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship Application deadline: Sunday, March 30 ______________________________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Community 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. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra EventsClick on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/23-24-season/ Friday, January 10 and Saturday, January 11 Gershwin & Tchaikovsky Florida Blue Classical Series Robert Spano, Conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Carlos Simon – Motherboxx Connection George Gershwin – Concerto in F Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18 Star Wars: A New Hope in ConcertSymphonic Night at the Movies Series Matthew Wardell, Conductor Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:00pm Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25 7 Bridges: The Ultimate EAGLES Experience Pops Series Nathaniel Efthimiou, Conductor 7 Bridges “7 Bridges: The Ultimate EAGLES Experience is a stunningly accurate tribute to the music of the Eagles. Alongside the Symphony, 7 Bridges faithfully re-creates the experience of an Eagles concert from the band’s most prolific period, featuring one brilliant hit single after another including ‘Hotel California,’ ‘Take it Easy,’ ‘New Kid in Town’ and others.” Jacoby Symphony Hall - 7:30pm Sunday, January 26 Local VocalsJ.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Jazz Series James Jenkins, Jazz Series Curator & Jacksonville Jazz Collective Director Linda Cole, Vocalist Lisa Kelly, Vocalist Bonnie Eisele, Vocalist Jacksonville Jazz Collective Jacoby Symphony Hall – 3:00pm Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1 Beethoven & Rachmaninoff Florida Blue Classical Series Michael Stern, Conductor Guillaume Connesson – Flame Writing Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 Sergei Rachmaninoff – Symphonic Dances Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm St. Johns Cathedral Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February Bold City Opera “‘Another Sunrise’ and ‘For a Look or a Touch’ – A double-bill” Music by Jake Heggie Libretto by Gene Scheer Taliaferro Hall – January 31 at 7pm; February 1 at 1pm University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Thursday, January 9 UNF Voice Faculty Recital Sachiko Frampton and Denise Wright, piano Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:30pm Friday, January 31 Cummer Family Foundation Chamber Music Series Dr. James Hall, Artistic Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital hall – 7:30pm Sunday, February 2 Black History Month Legacy Concert with Emorja Roberson Dr. Cara Tasher, Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 2:00pm Jacksonville University Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://viewer.joomag.com/creative-arts-series-20242025/0546091001658934607?short& Saturday, January 18 Gordon Stout’s “Two Mexican Dances” at 50 Years Concert “…two of the most important compositions for percussion-marimba written in the 20th century, ‘Two Mexican Dances for Marimba.’” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, January 28 A Jacqueline du Pre Recital Shannon Lockwood, cello, and Scott Watkins, piano Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Sunday, February 2 The Lost World: Scott Watkins, piano “Pianist Scott Watkins presents specially curated period music composed by Gaston Borch to accompany this groundbreaking silent picture. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Lost World.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, February 4 Celebrating Black History Month Through Fine Arts ConcertTerry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ Friday, January 24 Caroline Leigh Halleck and Greg Hankins “Based in Bologna, Italy, Caroline Halleck is a free-lance saxophonist/teacher from the United States.” “Greg Hankins is a collaborative pianist at the University of Georgia where he is on staff for the UGA Opera Theatre.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-8:30pm ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 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 CalendarPlease view our website for any updates or additions to these events, as well as for more details including application deadlines: www.jaxmta.org. DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION Thursday, January 9 9:30am – District Meeting After - Program District IV Meeting and Program – Dr. Evan Mitchell Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Saturday, February 8 TBA District IV Sonatina and Sonata Festival UNF Fine Arts Building, Room 1200, Recital Hall, 1 UNF Drive, 32224 Thursday, February 13 9:30am – JMTA Meeting After - Program JMTA Meeting and Program – Lynn Roberts (Explore Music Jax) Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Sunday, March 2 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave., 32207 Saturday, March 8 As Scheduled District IV Student Day Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223 Thursday, March 13 9:30am – JMTA Meeting After - Program JMTA Meeting and Program – Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee - Performance Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Saturday, March 15 10:00am JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition Keyboard Connection 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Saturday, March 22 TBA District IV Concerto Competition UNF Fine Arts Building, Room 1200, Recital Hall, 1 UNF Drive, 32224 Thursday, April 10 9:30am – JMTA Meeting After - Program JMTA Meeting and Program – Dr. Sandra Stewart – Teaching Music Theory Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Thursday, May 8 9:30am – JMTA Meeting After - Program JMTA Meeting and Program – HS Scholarship and Concerto Competition Winners Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 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]. JMTA High Notes November 2024 —Vol. 28, no. 3 The JMTA meeting and program for November will be held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 9:30am Program at 10:30am: Andre Ferreira, composer _____________________________________________________________________________ President’s Pen Dear Colleagues, Season’s Greetings! “The holidays” and all that goes with them can bring about a feeling of anticipation when thinking about the traditions that are shared with family or friends. As trees are trimmed, seasonal decorations are brought out of storage and put up, and holiday dinner recipes brought out to be added to our grocery lists, oftentimes the stress of it all can catch up with us and also bring out of storage anxiety and sometimes depression. Any number of things can trigger these anxious feelings, as we’re all different and come from different backgrounds and situations. While these times can be joyous and celebratory, it’s helpful to know that if you are stressed out and anxious, you are not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, “89% of U.S. adults experience stress during the holiday season, mainly due to financial concerns, family conflicts and missing loved ones” (https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/ 11/holiday-season-stress). Chances are our music students are going through some stress with end-of-semester exams and projects to wrap up, possible family conflicts or health issues and maybe missing a loved one in addition to the excitement of the holiday time. Being extra kind and encouraging can go a long way in maybe making their day and knowing you’re someone they can trust. And as we’re in the music industry, it is interesting to note how much music itself is said to be able to help anxiety and depression. According to the article “How Music Affects Mental Health,” music can significantly benefit us mentally by helping us to rest better. “A study involving students found that listening to relaxing classical music at bedtime improved sleep quality. This activity was also associated with decreased signs of depression” (https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-music-affects-mental-health). Another way it can benefit us is by lifting our mood. “Research shows that listening to happier music can make you feel happier, especially if you try to lift your mood while listening. There’s also evidence that formal music therapy can help with depression when used alongside other therapies” (webmd.com). During these joyful yet stressful times, give yourself permission to intentionally rest and relax with some of your beautiful classical music. I hope you all have a wonderful season, and the newsletter will be back in January. Happy Holidays! Sincerely, Angie Angie Holt JMTA President _____________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 JMTA TREASURY REPORTS Sept/Oct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Monthly Programs November. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 JMTA Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 JMTA Student Recitals. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 District IV News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Over Coffee With . . . Katherine Svistoonoff. . . 13 Area Concerts and Recitals . . . . . . .15 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 _____________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 12, 2024, 10:00am (none in October) Keyboard Connection/Zoom Present (In-person): Sandra Stewart, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Lorraine Sears, Sandra Roberts, Anita Renfroe, Angie Holt, Daniel Holt, Rhonda Danielson, Katherine Svistoonoff, Eunice PaliyBainger, Kamila Shahtakhtinski Present (Zoom): Paulette Kilts, Denise Homsley, Lisa Barnell Flood, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Lynn Roberts, Mary McKee Call to Order: 10:06am (Angie Holt) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman)
Communications & Social Media Update: (Angie Holt)
Welcome Back Potluck Following Meeting Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin, Recording Secretary ______________________________________________ JMTA TREASURY REPORTS September 2024 JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report September 01-30, 2024 Checking: Expenses Deposits 09/11/24 Check #23954 (JMTA membership dues) $150.00 09/30/24 Interest - Business Checking $0.71 Current Checking $7,758.57 Warren Fund $927.73 TOTAL Checking Account $8,686.30 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 09/30/24 Interest - Business Money Market $1.03 TOTAL Business Money Market Account $1133.56 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 09/30/24 Interest - Business Shares $0.43 TOTAL Business Shares Account $5,194.14 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 09/30/24 Interest - CD $18.45 TOTAL Business CD Account $5,288.71 TOTAL ASSETS as of September 30, 2024 $20,302.71 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 11/03/2024 October 2024 JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report October 01-31, 2024 Checking: Expenses 10/22/24 Check #1037 (River Garden - Oct rec $50.00 Deposits 10/09/24 Check #24366 (JMTA membership dues) $66.00 10/23/24 Checks (Oct recital dues): #115 (LS) + #3337 (AS) + #1040 (CC) + $120.00 10/31/24 Interest - Business Checking $0.75 Current Checking $7,895.32 Warren Fund $927.73 TOTAL Checking Account $8,823.05 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 10/31/24 Interest - Business Money Market $1.06 TOTAL Business Money Market Account $1134.62 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 10/31/24 Interest - Business Shares $0.45 TOTAL Business Shares Account $5,194.59 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 10/31/24 Interest - CD $19.13 TOTAL Business CD Account $5,307.84 TOTAL ASSETS as of October 31, 2024 $20,460.10 - Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 11/04/2024 ________________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY PROGRAMS NOVEMBER Andre Ferreira, nationally known local composer who has many duets published in the Federation Bulletin, will be presenting the JMTA program on Thursday, November 14th at Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., beginning at 10:30am. Andre will be performing many of his duets for us on a beautiful Yamaha grand piano. Refreshments will be served. Drawing: We will have a drawing for a Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra voucher for two tickets to one of their concerts, and a gift card to Music & Arts! Andre Ferreira Biography: “André Ferreira is a native of Jacksonville where he received both BME and Masters' degrees in Music from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville. Florida. While at JU, Mr. Ferreira was voted Vice President of the Senior Class, tapped into the "Green Key" Honorary Leadership Society, member of Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After college. Mr. Ferreira spent the next 34 years directing choirs in the Duval County Public schools. During those years, he was an active member of the Florida Music Educators Association and the Music Educator's National Conference. For the past 25 consecutive years, he has also enjoyed adjudicating for the District and State levels of the Federation Piano Festivals of Florida. It is through these many musical experiences that he has developed a love of composing." - http://www.pianomusicbyandre.com/ ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA SCHOLARSHIPS JMTA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION GUIDELINES The JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition will be held at Keyboard Connection on March 15, 2025 at 10 am. Deadline for application is Friday February 28, 2025. /NO Exceptions/
The following must be submitted along with a signed application form:
The winner of the Scholarship Competition is required to perform at a future JMTA meeting. /TBA/ All required documents and application fee must be submitted by deadline to: Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair JMTA SUMMER MUSIC CAMP SCHOLARSHIP JMTA Summer music camp scholarship is awarded annually only to pre-college students of JMTA members. The deadline for application is March 30, 2025. The scholarship may be awarded in full or partially. Students who receive scholarships may attend the summer camp of their choice. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need. Only one scholarship per family may be awarded. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA. Teachers must submit a short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board. Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA STUDENT RECITALS We held a student recital on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at River Garden Senior Services. There were about 30 very appreciative residents in attendance. 23 students from 7 member studios participated. Our next recital will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Arlington United Methodist Church. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Dec. 4th. All details including submission guidelines can be viewed on our website, jaxmta.org, under the "Special Events" tab. ~Lorraine Sears, Recitals Co-Chair (and photo cred.) ________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Student Day 2025 District IV Student Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223. The application deadline for Student Day is Saturday, January 25, 2025. Student Day guidelines may be found on the fmta.org website, under Student Activities and FSMTA Non-Competitive Events, for sample tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials. The Student Day Handbook may also be of help. Also, an independent teacher has created a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, written, and aural theory testing with helpful workbooks for each level. To order, email Sue Colvert (Music Masters) at [email protected]. Her phone number is 954-752-2856. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair ________________________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . Katherine Svistoonoff We are getting to know another one of our newer members this month. Thank you, Katherine, for sharing with us! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I am originally from Sacramento, California, where I was born and raised. I was fortunate to be raised by incredibly supportive parents who valued culture and education. My dad was especially supportive of my musical endeavors as I was growing up, always taking me to my lessons, competitions, and performances. Q. What inspired you to begin music lessons? A. My dad, a wonderfully sensitive musician, plays piano. During my childhood, he used to play the Chopin Nocturnes when it was time to go to sleep. So, I loved the piano from an early age. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher(s) that made music more enjoyable? A. The most influential music teacher I ever had was Professor Frank Wasko. He made everything relevant with creativity, wit, and insights that inspired me consistently. He was also an amazing human being, whose heart was as magnificent as his mind. Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically. A. I love to do premieres. So, I particularly enjoyed working with the Drozdoff estate to premiere several of Vladimir Drozdoff’s works in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also, while I was finishing my doctorate, the baritone, Mitchell Galloway-Edgar, and I did the Texas premiere of the song cycle “Another Sleep” by Ned Rorem Q. Do you have a story of something that happened during one of your performances and how you handled it? A. One time, I was doing a marathon performance. In the middle, the sostenuto pedal, which, of course, was essential to the piece I was playing, decided to drop. To accommodate the sudden surprise, I had to do some creative damper pedal work. Well, the show must go on! Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. I wish I had a panacea for nerves and focus. Since everyone is different, let me suggest a few. Bananas are a great source of potassium, which helps calm nerves. Eat one about 30 minutes before performance time. Mint tricks the mind into thinking it’s in a relaxing atmosphere. Have a mint! This has worked for me many times. Plus, it keeps my breath nice and fresh. Finally, try yoga. It’s a good way to stretch the muscles and relax the mind. The more relaxed one can be, the easier it will be to focus. Also, think more about the dynamics and musical story than what the audience is doing. Q. Where is one of the most interesting places you’ve visited? A. Every place fascinates me. For me, people are always the most wonderful reason to love a place. Every culture I encounter helps me appreciate how extraordinary our world really is and gives me hope for the future. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. My greatest challenge is that I am not a natural networker or PR machine. So, my students from all over the world come to me by either word-of-mouth or happenstance. Indeed, I am blessed. Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. Beyond the standards, some of my favorite composers include Samuel Barber, Cole Porter, Maurice Ravel, Bela Bartok, John Coltrane, and Giacomo Puccini. ________________________________________________________________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Community 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. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/23-24-season/ Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in Concert Symphonic Night at the Movies Series Shih-Hung Young, Conductor Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:00pm Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 Alexei Plays Dvorak Florida Blue Classical Series Courtney Lewis, Conductor Alexei Romanenko, Cello Angel Lam, Composer – Please let there be a paradise Antonin Dvorak – Cello Concerto Ralph Vaughn Williams – Symphony No. 4 Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Sunday, November 24 Big Band Holiday J.P. Morgan Chase Jazz Series James Jenkins, Jazz Series Curator & Jacksonville Jazz Collective Director Jacksonville Jazz Collective Jacoby Symphony Hall – 3:00pm Thursday, December 5; Friday, December 6; Saturday, December 7; Sunday, December 8 Holiday Pops Pops Series Herb Smith, Conductor Carole J. Bufford, Vocalist Campbell Walker Fields, Vocalist Jacksonville Symphony Chorus Dancers from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jacoby Symphony Hall – 12/5 – 7:30pm; 12/6 – 11:00am (Coffee Series) and 7:30pm; 12/7 – 3:00pm and 7:30pm; 12/8 – 3:00pm Friday, December 13; Saturday, December 14; Sunday, December 15 First Coast Nutcracker Holiday Special Nathaniel Efthimiou, Conductor First Coast Nutcracker ballet Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker Moran Theater – 12/13 – 8:00pm; 12/14 – 2:00pm and 8:00pm; 12/15 – 2:00pm Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 Handel’s Messiah Holiday Special Kevin Fitzgerald, Conductor Esteli Gomez, Soprano Jay Carter, Countertenor Aaron Sheehan, Tenor Sidney Outlaw, Baritone Jacksonville Symphony Chorus Jacoby Symphony Hall – 12/14 – 7:30pm; 12/15 – 3:00pm Thursday, December 19 Holiday Brass, Organ & Percussion JF Bryan Concert Organ Series Matthew Wardell, Conductor Greg Zelek, Organ Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm St. Johns Cathedral Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ Friday, November 15 Jazz in the Garden “Come and go as you please.” The North Florida Jazz Quartet Dr. Marc Dickman, Director Wine and charcuterie St. John’s Cathedral’s Burwell Court – 5:30pm-7:00pm University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Monday, November 18 UNF Orchestra presents: The People Could Fly Dr. Erin Bodnar, Conductor Special Guest Composer, Marie Douglas Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, November 19 UNF Wind Symphony and Concert Band present: Soulful Sounds Dr. Erin Bodnar, Conductor Special Guest Composer, Marie Douglas Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, November 21 37th Annual Great American Jazz Series Presents: Swingin into the Holidays J.B. Scott, Artistic Director and Director, UNF JE1 “With all UNF jazz ensembles performing Christmas and holiday big band jazz.” Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 The UNF Opera Lab Presents: The Bohemians, an abbreviated version of La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini Jack Sumrall, Conductor Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 11/22 - 7:30pm; 11/23 – 3:00pm Sunday, November 24 Lawson Ensemble 10th Anniversary Concert Series Presents: Lawson, Percussion, and Dancers “Featuring percussionists Andrea Venet, Steve Merrill and the Wehner School of the Arts” Dr. Nick Curry, Coordinator Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 3:00pm Monday, November 25 Piano Studio Recital Featuring students from the studios of Dr. Gary Smart and Dr. Melody Morrison Dr. Gary Smart, Coordinator Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:30pm Wednesday, December 4 Jazz Combo Night Lynne Arriale, Director Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater – 7:30pm Thursday, December 5 Opera Cabaret Dina Barone, Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:30pm Saturday, December 7 A Cozy Choral Christmas with the UNF Singers Sachiko Frampton, Collaborative Pianist Dr. Cara Tasher, Conductor Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church 4001 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, 32207 – 3:00pm Sunday, December 8 Handel’s Messiah with Lawson Ensemble and UNF Singers Sachiko Frampton, Collaborative Pianist Dr. Cara Tasher, Conductor Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd 1100 Stockton St., Jacksonville, 32204 – 6:30pm Jacksonville University Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://viewer.joomag.com/creative-arts-series20242025/0546091001658934607?short& Thursday, November 14 Jacksonville University Camerata Fall Concert: British Invasion “The JU Camerata presents an evening of masterworks by English composers” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Saturday, November 16 Guest Artist Andrea Gonzalez Caballero, guitar Described as “The Female Voice of the Spanish Guitar” by Opera World Magazine Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, November 19 Chamber Music Ensembles Concert Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, November 21 JUWE Fall Concert #2 Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Florida State College at Jacksonville Music Events Click on link for more information: https://www.fscj.edu/docs/default-source/wilson-center/fine-arts-calendar.pdf?sfvrsn=3b7dc316_2 Friday, November 15 Choral Concert Dr. Tommy Shapard, Director South Campus Main Stage – 7:30pm Tuesday, November 19 Jazz Concert South Campus Main Stage – 7:30pm Thursday, November 21 Symphonic Band Concert Dr. Paul Weikle, Director South Campus Main Stage – 7:30pm Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ Monday, December 9 Gainesville Brass Quintet 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-9:00pm Tuesday, December 10 Alexei Romanenko – 20th Century Works for Solo Cello 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-8:30pm Monday, December 16 Night at the Opera: Barber of Seville 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-9:00pm ________________________________________________________________________ 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. ________________________________________________________________________ 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. Thursday, November 14 9:30am – Meeting After - Program JMTA General Meeting and Program – Andre Ferreira, Composer Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Sunday, December 15 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital Arlington United Methodist Church, 1400 University Blvd. N., 32211 Thursday, January 9, 2025 9:30am – District Meeting After - Program District IV Meeting and Program Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Saturday, February 8, 2025 TBA District IV Sonatina and Sonata Festival UNF Fine Arts Building, Room 1200, Recital Hall, 1 UNF Drive 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]. JMTA High Notes
October 2024 —Vol. 28, no. 2 The JMTA meeting and program for October, held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom, were canceled due to Hurricane Milton ________________________________________________________________________ President’s Pen Dear Colleagues, As you know, membership with MTNA (and thus FSMTA and JMTA) includes multiple benefits for us when we join. These include the following, as displayed on the FSMTA website at this link: https://www.mtna.org//MTNA/JoinandRenew/membership/Member_Discounts.aspx You can control+click on each one of these to go to each section of discounts. Business Online Counseling & Therapy Services Publications and Products Studio Management Services Hotels and Car Rentals Auto Repair In addition, member benefits include various types of insurance: https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/JoinRenew/Member_Benefits/Member_Insurance/MTNA/JoinAndRenew/Membership/Member_Insurance.aspx?hkey=89ebec92-5ec5-4451-8e57-a6c1bc23863b What might other reasons be for joining our music teacher associations? MTNA’s new CEO, Brian Shepard, addresses this question in his Dear Reader column in the latest American Music Teacher magazine. Entitled The Power of Community, Shepard describes the warm sense of belonging we feel when joining a group where we can relax and feel included, being a part of “something that’s bigger than us—a place where we can be ourselves, share our knowledge and feel valued, while at the same time learning from others.” Joining or renewing your membership in music teacher associations can help us feel like we have the support of the whole group as we teach. Shepard shared that “the studio music teaching profession can often feel isolating, so involvement in the local, state and national communities that MTNA offers is more important now than ever before.” He calls on us to not only “reach out” and welcome new colleagues, but to try to attend local meetings and to volunteer for a position on the board or a committee. With all of us working together, it benefits not only each of us, but our associations as a whole. We hope you will be able to join us at our upcoming meetings / programs, as well as student opportunities throughout the year! Sincerely, Angie Angie Holt, President Shepard, Brian. “The Power of Community.” American Music Teacher, 2024, p. 2. ________________________________________________________________________ Welcome New Members! Dawn Borders Daniel Holt Mimi Zhang ________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Welcome New Members! . . . . . . . . 2 Meeting Minutes - September. . . . . 3 JMTA TREASURY REPORTS August. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Monthly Programs November. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community Service Awards . . . . . . .7 District IV News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 FSMTA STATE NEWS Mini-Conference. . . . . . . 8 Over Coffee With . . . Michael Giuliani . . . . . . . 9 Area Concerts and Recitals . . . . . . .12 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 12, 2024, 10:00am Keyboard Connection/Zoom Present (In-person): Sandra Stewart, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Lorraine Sears, Sandra Roberts, Anita Renfroe, Angie Holt, Daniel Holt, Rhonda Danielson, Katherine Svistoonoff, Eunice Paliy-Bainger, Kamila Shahtakhtinski Present (Zoom): Paulette Kilts, Denise Homsley, Lisa Barwell Flood, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Lynn Roberts, Mary McKee Call to Order: 10:06am (Angie Holt) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) •Nothing to report Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) •Approved by Anita Renfroe and Katherine Svistoonoff Treasurer’s Report: (Damon Martin and Stefanie Batson-Martin) •The proposed JMTA Budget is unanimously approved Vice-President/Membership: (Mary McKee) •Daniel Holt is a new collegiate member COMMITTEE REPORTS: Communications & Social Media Update: (Angie Holt) •Interviewed Julie Hamby for the newsletter which has gone out •The website has been updated with information •Angie will be sending things out on Facebook and through email Programs: (Open) •Refer to the programs handout Social: (Sandra Stewart) •Passed around a sign-up sheet for refreshments for the upcoming meetings Student Recitals: (Lorraine Sears & Gavin Taylor) •Three student recitals are scheduled for the year, all are Sundays at 3pm •October 13 - River Garden Senior Services •December 15 - Arlington United Methodist •March 2 - All Saints Episcopal Scholarship: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) •A date will be announced Student Day: (Angie Holt) •March 8, 2025 - Mandarin Baptist Church •Already have two judges lined up Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) •Sent one to Betty Atkinson •Will send a card to Sonja Foster •Cheryl Dubberly needs a card, she is having medical concerns Community Service Awards: (Joan Cordell) •Not present •Deadline is December 31, information is on the FSMTA Website Ethics: (Betty Atkinson) •Not present Historian: (Paulette Kilts) •She is constantly updating the archives online •Paulette wrote an article about how to find things on the archives online Wellness Liaison: (Denise Homsley) •Hydration facts with Denise Old Business: •N/A New Business: •October Mini Conference in 2024 - We will be changing the associate member •Conference 2025 •We have artwork! •There’s a handout from Anita with information •Sandra Palmer has been doing a lot of work Adjourned: 10:52am (Sandra Stewart - Angie had to leave early) Welcome Back Potluck Following Meeting Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin, Recording Secretary ___________________________________________________________ JMTA TREASURY REPORTS August 2024 Checking: Expenses08/09/24 Check #1036 (SR - altruistic)$40.80 08/13/24Check #1038 (FSMTA conference fund)$100.00 08/22/24Check #1025 (EB - HS scholarship judge)$100.00 Deposits 08/08/24Check #23514 (JMTA membership dues)$120.00 08/31/24Interest - Business Checking$0.74 Current Checking$7,607.86 Warren Fund$927.73 TOTAL Checking Account$8,535.59 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 08/31/24Interest - Business Money Market$1.06 TOTAL Business Money Market Account$1132.53 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 08/31/24Interest - Business Shares$0.45 TOTAL Business Shares Account$5,193.71 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 08/31/24Interest - CD$18.99 TOTAL Business CD Account$5,270.26 TOTAL ASSETS as of August 31, 2024$20,132.09 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 09/11/2024 MONTHLY PROGRAMS OCTOBER Due to Hurricane Milton, the October JMTA meeting and program were canceled. NOVEMBER Andre Ferreira, nationally known local composer who has many duets published in the Federation Bulletin, will be presenting the JMTA program on Thursday, November 14th at Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., beginning about 10:15am. He will be performing his duets with some of our students and teachers. Would you and/or any of your students like to perform a duet with him as part of the program? Please email Angie Holt at [email protected] as soon as possible. The program will conclude around 11:30am. Drawing: We will have a drawing for a Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra voucher for two tickets to one of their concerts, and a gift card to Music & Arts! Andre Ferreira Biography: “André Ferreira is a native of Jacksonville where he received both BME and Masters' degrees in Music from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville. Florida. While at JU, Mr. Ferreira was voted Vice President of the Senior Class, tapped into the "Green Key" Honorary Leadership Society, member of Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After college. Mr. Ferreira spent the next 34 years directing choirs in the Duval County Public schools. During those years, he was an active member of the Florida Music Educators Association and the Music Educator's National Conference. For the past 25 consecutive years, he has also enjoyed adjudicating for the District and State levels of the Federation Piano Festivals of Florida. It is through these many musical experiences that he has developed a love of composing." - http://www.pianomusicbyandre.com/ ________________________________________________________________________ Community Service Awards Did you know that the JMTA participates in the Community Service Awards program? Per our website: “These awards are given to deserving 9th and 12th grade students in recognition of their leadership, achievements, and service to the community in the field of music. The applicants must also be students in good standing with their music instructor, a member of JMTA who recommends them for this award.” Go to https://www.jaxmta.org/community-service-award.html for more information and for the application links. The application deadline is December 31st. Contact Joan Cordell, Chair, at [email protected] if you have any questions. ________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Did you know? Starting October 1, 2024 there is a NEW password you will need to access JMTA archived directories, FSMTA membership list, and Student Day files on the fmta.org website. The NEW password is Chopin. The password is case sensitive and must be entered as listed above. - Paulette Kilts, JMTA Archivist/Historian Chair ________________________________________________________________________ Student Day 2025 District IV Student Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223. The application deadline for Student Day is Saturday, January 25, 2025. Student Day guidelines may be found on the fmta.org website, under Student Activities and FSMTA Non-Competitive Events, for sample tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials. The Student Day Handbook may also be of help. Also, an independent teacher has created a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, written, and aural theory testing with helpful workbooks for each level. To order, email Sue Colvert (Music Masters) at [email protected]. Her phone number is 954-752-2856. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair ________________________________________________________________________ FSMTA STATE NEWS FSMTA 2024 Mini-Conference: ”Making Great Music, One Beat at a Time” October 19-20, 2024 West Palm Beach, FL Hilton Palm Beach Airport - 150 Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, FL Links: •Conference Registration ($110 members and $150 nonmembers) •Hotel Reservations •Friday Buffet Dinner •Student Honors Recital For more information: https://www.fmta.org/fsmta-conference.html ________________________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . Michael Giuliani We are getting to know one of our new members this month. Thank you, Michael, for sharing with us! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I was born in Southern California, and moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when I was nine years old. When I graduated high school, I moved to Chicago to attend North Park University for undergraduate studies (piano performance), then Concordia University for my Master's degree (church music and organ). I met my wife, Agnes, in Nashville while touring with Tim Zimmerman and The King's Brass--she's a violinist, and we were playing the same concert. We married a year later, and now have four beautiful children. We moved to St. Augustine three years ago so I could take the Director of Music position at Trinity Parish in downtown St. Augustine. Q. What inspired you to begin music lessons? A. My grandmother! I had always "tinkered" at the piano, but she decided that I was going to take formal piano lessons when I was nine years old. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher(s) that made music more enjoyable? A. My very first piano teacher, Yvonne Crocken, made learning so enjoyable and was easy to talk to. I later studied with Frances Wirtanen, who became a mentor to me during my high school years; she's the reason I chose to pursue music as a career. During my undergraduate years, I studied with Terree Shofner-Emrich. She gave me the push I needed to "get my act together" (I was the typical undergrad student, lost in the wind). I've studied with other teachers, but these three made the biggest impact on me and instilled a love for music. Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically. A. My "main job" throughout the years has been in churches, but I have worked extensively as a vocal collaborative pianist. During the few years I lived in Charleston, South Carolina I held staff pianist positions at Charleston Southern University, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir and Spiritual Ensemble, and did some work with the Taylor Festival Choir. After moving back to Chicago for my Master's, I became the pianist for the St. Charles Singers, Young Naperville Singers, and North Central College, and did quite a bit of work with other area choirs and vocalists. Since moving to St. Augustine, I have started working for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra as the chorus pianist, and frequently collaborate with musicians at the Amelia Island Opera, First Coast Opera, Jacksonville Children's Chorus, and University of North Florida. In addition to performance, teaching others has always been a passion of mine. I started teaching beginners in my hometown of Crystal Falls, Michigan while I was still in high school. When I lived in Chicago, I started a community music school through our church that at one point served around 600 students. Here in St. Augustine, my wife and I have launched the Young Artist Music Project with the goal of being the most comprehensive music training for children and youth in St. Johns County. Q. Do you have a story of something that happened during one of your performances and how you handled it? A. Not as a pianist--I've always shrugged those off and kept playing. BUT...during my freshman year of college, I turned pages for Elizabeth Buccheri. She was accompanying Nicole Cabell, who had just won BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and the crowd was packed in. During some crazy Spanish piece, with an insane piano part, I lost track of where we were and was relying on Betty's cue to turn the page. Upon one of her head nods, I turned the page...but it turned out that wasn't my cue. She was just really into the piece! Her response was to yell "no!" mid-performance as she reached up to yank the page back. I was petrified! I handled that one by always trying to pawn off the page turning job to somebody else. Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. My best advice is to be a perfectionist when you're practicing, but when the performance comes just relax and enjoy. Learn to be ok with making mistakes. They happen, and it really is ok! Trust in your preparation, keep moving forward, and enjoy the performance. Q. Where is one of the most interesting places you’ve visited? A. Krakow, Poland. Nothing "interesting" stands out, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful cities that I've visited. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. I feel like diversity in learning styles has increased substantially over the past decade. Perhaps that's just an awareness that has come with age and experience, but I find that I have to adapt my teaching more often these days. I find help by reading research on pedagogy and neurodiverse learners, and by discussing with colleagues. Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Kapustin ________________________________________________________________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Community 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. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/23-24-season/ Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 Sibelius’ Violin & Elgar’s Enigma Florida Blue Classical Series Courtney Lewis, Conductor Stefan Jackiw, Violin Benjamin Britten, Composer – Variations for Orchestra Jean Sibelius – Violin Concerto Edward Elgar – Enigma Variations Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25 Conrad Tao: Piano Phenom Symphony in 60 – Coffee Series Courtney Lewis, Conductor Conrad Tao, Piano Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 2 Sergei Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Jacoby Symphony Hall – 6:30pm (October 24) and 11:00am matinee (October 25) Sunday, November 3 Organ Chamber Concert JF Bryan Concert Organ Series Nathaniel Efthimiou, Conductor Matt Bickett, Organ “Joining forces with string and wind virtuosos of the Jacksonville Symphony, discover soul-stirring chamber melodies that resonate from the heart of Jacoby Symphony Hall.” Jacoby Symphony Hall – 3:00pm St. Johns Cathedral Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ Friday, October 18 Jazz in the Garden “Come and go as you please.” The North Florida Jazz Quartet Dr. Marc Dickman, Director Wine and charcuterie St. John’s Cathedral’s Burwell Court – 5:30pm-7:00pm Sunday, October 20 James D. Johnson Memorial Organ Concert Beaches Fine Arts Series Cameron Carpenter Cathedral Nave – 4:00pm Reception following Sunday, November 3 Brass and Organ Concert “Featuring Timothy Tuller, organ, and the Friends of Music Brass Ensemble” Cathedral Nave – 5:00pm Reception Following University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Friday, October 18 UNF Percussion presents: Labyrinth Dr. Andrea Venet, Director Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall – 6:30pm Friday, October 18 ACDA Preview Concert with the UNF Chamber Singers Dr. Cara Tasher, Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:00pm Tuesday, October 22 37th Annual Great American Jazz Series Presents: The US Air Force Falconaires Jazz Ensemble with UNF JE1 J.B. Scott, Artistic Director and UNF JE1 Director St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church 465 11th Ave. North, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 – 7:30pm Friday, October 25 Escape Ten Percussion Duo: Dr. Andrea Venet and Dr. Annie Stevens Featuring Heather Thorn, Xylophone Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 6:30pm Sunday, October 27 UNF Faculty Recital featuring Dr. Gary Smart, Piano “Performing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition” Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 3:00pm Saturday, November 2 Jacksonville Electroacoustic Music Festival (jemFEST) Dr. Michael Bovenzi, Guest Artist Dr. Joshua Tomlinson, Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:00pm Sunday, November 3 Fall Choral Showcase Dr. Cara Tasher, Conductor Fine Arts Center Room 1200, Recital Hall – 6:00pm Jacksonville University Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://viewer.joomag.com/creative-arts-series-20242025/0546091001658934607?short& Friday, October 18, Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20 Little Shop of Horrors Directed by Debi Jordan Musical Direction by Jay Ivey (Ticketed event) Swisher Theater – October 18 and 19 – 7:30pm, October 20 – 2:00pm Tuesday, October 22 Fall Honors Recital “The Department of Music presents outstanding music majors in performance.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, October 24, Friday, October 25, and Saturday, October 26 Musical Theater Fall Workshop Production “With guest artists singer-songwriter A.J. Freeman and composer Kristoffer Bjarke” (Ticketed event) Phillips Fine Arts Building Black Box Theater – October 24 – 5:30pm, October 25 and October 26 – 7:30pm Tuesday, October 29 Kinne Trio “The award-winning Kinne Trio presents this concert featuring the music of Emilie Mayer, her Trio in B minor, Op. 16, plus Franz Schubert’s charming Valse Nobles, arranged for piano trio by Julius Zellner, and Frederick Delius’ Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, arranged for piano trio by Philip Heseltine.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, October 31 NOSFERATU: A Symphony of Terror Ensemble X55-Percussion “Ensemble X55-Percussion will provide the soundtrack for this classic film. Get festive and come dressed as Nosferatu.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Tuesday, November 5 Jazz in the Black Box – The Jacksonville University Jazz Combos and Jazz Orchestra in Concert Free admission. Phillips Fine Arts Black Box Theater – 7:30pm Florida State College at Jacksonville Music Events Click on link for more information: https://www.fscj.edu/docs/default-source/wilson-center/fine-arts-calendar.pdf?sfvrsn=3b7dc316_2 Thursday, October 17, Friday, October 18, Saturday, October 19, & Sunday, October 20 DramaWorks Presents: Peter/Wendy by Jeremy Bloom See website link above to information to purchase tickets. Studio Theater – October 17, 18, and 19 – 7:30pm, October 20 – 2:00pm Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ Thursday, October 17 Dave Eggar & Bristol Lightning Unplugged “Celebrated cellist and 5-time Grammy nominee, Dave Eggar, highlights this special evening, ‘Bristol Lightning Unplugged.’ An avowed music historian and master storyteller, Eggar will guide the audience through music and conversation that features the roots of bluegrass and classical music, while combining those two styles as no one can. Accompanied by Eggar‘s Bristol Lightning co-founders, Grammy-nominated guitarist Phil Faconti and mandolin virtuoso, Blake Collins, Bristol Lightning Unplugged promises to be an unforgettable evening.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:30-9:00pm Wednesday, October 30 Daniel Adam Maltz “Daniel Adam Maltz is a fortepianist based in Vienna, Austria. He is the leading fortepianist of his generation, performing in 50+ cities per year as a sought-after soloist, director, and Lieder accompanist. He is also an esteemed educator, visiting 40+ universities as a guest artist and clinician. Daniel specializes in Viennese Classicism — especially the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven — performed on the Viennese fortepianos of their time.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-9:00pm Sunday, November 3 Endea Owens and the Cookout “Upright bassist Endea Owens visits the Friday Musicale with her exciting band, The Cookout. Known as one of Jazz’s most vibrant emerging artists, Endea Owens is a Detroit-raised Recording Artist, Bassist, and Composer. She has been mentored by Jazz Icons the likes of Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, and Ron Carter. She has toured and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday, Diana Ross, Rhonda Ross, Solange, Jon Batiste, Jazzmeia Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Cyrus Chestnut to name a few.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-9:00pm ________________________________________________________________________ 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, October 19 Sunday, October 20 As Scheduled FSMTA 2024 Mini- Conference Hilton Palm Beach Airport, 150 Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida Thursday, November 14 9:30am – Meeting After - Program JMTA General Meeting and Program – Andre Ferreira, Composer Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Sunday, December 15 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital Arlington United Methodist Church, 1400 University Blvd. N., 32211 Thursday, January 9, 2025 9:30am – District Meeting After - Program District IV Meeting and Program Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 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]. JMTA High Notes
September 2024 —Vol. 28, no. 1 JMTA meeting and brunch held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom: Thursday, September 12 – 10:00am meeting (everyone always welcome) and Welcome Back Brunch afterwards (around 11am) ________________________________________________________________________ President’s Pen Dear Colleagues, Welcome back everyone, and welcome to our new members! We have an exciting year of opportunities planned and we hope you will be able to join us! Following is a roll-out of these events. We also have a JMTA scholarship, summer camp scholarship, and community service awards for 9th and 12th graders! Catch all the details on our website, jaxmta.org. • Our monthly JMTA meetings/programs (all welcome) are all on Thursday mornings at 9:30am at Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd. (except for our 9/12 meeting which will start at 10:00am). Here are the scheduled programs: September 12, 2024 - Welcome Back Potluck Brunch October 10, 2024 – Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee - Performance November 14, 2024 – Andre Ferreira (Composer) (none in December) January 9, 2025 – District IV meeting and program February 13, 2025 – Lynn Roberts (Explore Music Jax) - Teaching Younger Students March 13, 2025 – Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM - Performance April 10, 2025 – Dr. Sandra Stewart – Teaching Music Theory May 8, 2025 – Scholarship / Concerto Competition Winners • Our JMTA Student Recitals are all on Sunday afternoons at 3pm: - October 13, 2024 at River Garden Senior Services, 11401 Old Saint Augustine Rd, 32258 - December 15, 2024 at Arlington United Methodist Church, 1400 University Blvd. N., 32211 - March 2, 2025 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave, 32207 • Community Service Awards: Application deadline: December 31, 2024 •JMTA High School Senior Scholarship and Summer Camp Scholarship: Application deadlines TBA • Sonatina-Sonata Festival: Saturday, February 8th at UNF Recital Hall, Room 1200 of Fine Arts Building • District 4 Student Day: Saturday, March 8th at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223 • District 4 Concerto Competition: Saturday, March 22 at UNF Recital Hall, Room 1200 of Fine Arts Building • Community recital of late-intermediate to advanced students -“Proton Therapy Recital”: Tuesday in April (date TBA) at 6pm at UF Proton Therapy Institute, 2015 N Jefferson St., 32206 We look forward to seeing you this year and hope you’ll be able to engage your students in some of these opportunities. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you! Sincerely, Angie Angie Holt, President Table of Contents Meeting Minutes from May . . . . . . 3 JMTA TREASURY REPORTS . . . . . . . . 5 Monthly Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 JMTA Student Recitals 2024-2025 . 12 JMTA Archives: Did you know? . . . 12 Community Service Awards . . . . . . 13 District IV News – Student Day. . . . 14 FSMTA STATE NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Welcome New Members! . . . . . . . .16 Over Coffee With . . . Julie Hamby . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Area Concerts and Recitals . . . . . . .20 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:30am Keyboard Connection/Zoom Present (In-person): Angie Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Roberts, Rhonda Danielson, Lisa Barwell, Lorraine Sears, Ronald Touchton Present (Zoom): Denise Homesley, Eunice Bainger, Mary McKee, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Sandra Palmer Call to Order: 9:39am (Angie Holt) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) •Not present Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) •Cheryl Dubberly motioned, Lisa Barwell seconded Treasurer’s Report: (Damon Martin and Stefanie) •$2,027.86 will go down to just over $1,000 in the account once Matthew cashes his check •CD $5,195.31 •Business checking $7,871.68 •Business savings $2,027.86 •Shares $5,186.83 Vice-President/Membership: (Mary McKee) •No new members COMMITTEE REPORTS: Programs: (Open) •JMTA Scholarship Winner, Matthew Phan Communications & Social Media Update: (Angie Holt) •Newsletters should go out tomorrow, last one for the school year Social: (Sandra Stewart) •Not present •Angie brought refreshments Student Recitals: (Lorraine Sears & Gavin Taylor) •Emailed the year end report this morning •Sandra Stewart sent her Proton Therapy Recital Report Scholarship: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) •Matthew Phan is our scholarship winner, he will perform his entire program today •Nobody applied for summer camp scholarship Student Day: (Angie Holt) Honors Recital was held on Sunday, April 28 at All Saints Episcopal Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) •Nothing to report Community Service Awards: (Joan Cordell) •Nothing to report Ethics: (Betty Atkinson) •Nothing to report Historian: (Paulette Kilts) •Not present •Denise: If you have any end of year reports from chairmen, hard copies can be mailed to: •Paulette Kilts: 411 Walnut Street PMB, 10537, Green Cove Springs, Florida, 32043 Wellness Liaison: (Lisa Barwell) •“Gorilla shoulder rolls” exercise Old Business: •Concerto Competition: The two winners will be advancing to Orlando for the State Competition New Business: •Anita offered to be the co-chair for the conference along with Cheryl Dubberly •Sandra Palmer joined us to discuss the conference we are hosting: •Mini conference, October 19-20 at the Hilton Hotel Airport at West Palm •June Board Meeting: Thursday, June 13 (tentative) •August Board Meeting: Thursday, August 8, (tentative) Adjourned: 10:00am (Angie Holt) Program: High School Senior Competition Winner: Matthew Phan Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin, Recording Secretary ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA TREASURY REPORTS April 2024 Checking: Expenses 04/05/24Check #1027 (JU - Mar presentation)$25.00 04/22/24Check #1028 (SW - Apr presentation)$100.00 04/25/24Check #1030 (SBM - SunBiz annual report)$61.25 04/30/24Check #1029 (SS - social supplies)$11.65 Deposits 04/30/24Check #21954 (JMTA membership dues)$75.00 04/30/24Interest - Business Checking$0.66 Current Checking$6,943.95 Warren Fund$927.73 TOTAL Checking Account$7,871.68 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 04/30/24Interest - Business Money Market$1.93 TOTAL Business Money Market Account$2127.96 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 04/30/24Interest - Business Shares$0.43 TOTAL Business Shares Account$5,191.93 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 04/30/24Interest - CD$18.12 TOTAL Business CD Account$5,195.31 TOTAL ASSETS as of April 30, 2024$20,386.88 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 06/02/2024 May 2024 Checking: Expenses 05/29/24Check #1031 (AT - domain name renewal)$19.95 Deposits 05/09/24Check #22134 (JMTA membership dues)$90.00 05/31/24Interest - Business Checking$0.68 Current Checking$7,014.68 Warren Fund$927.73 TOTAL Checking Account$7,942.41 Business Money Market (Scholarship):Expenses 05/13/24Check #1007 (2023-24 scholarship winner)$1,000.00 Deposits 05/31/24Interest - Business Money Market$1.42 TOTAL Business Money Market Account$1129.38 Business Shares (Festival):ExpensesDeposits 05/31/24Interest - Business Shares$0.45 TOTAL Business Shares Account$5,192.38 18-23 Month Business CD:ExpensesDeposits 05/31/24Interest - CD$18.79 TOTAL Business CD Account$5,214.10 TOTAL ASSETS as of May 31, 2024$19,478.27 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 06/18/2024 June 2024 Checking: Expenses 06/21/24Check #1033 (AH - state conference)$100.00 06/24/24Check #1032 (SS - recital supplies)$28.77 Deposits 06/10/24Check #22569 (JMTA membership dues)$390.00 06/30/24Interest - Business Checking$0.68 Current Checking$7,276.59 Warren Fund$927.73 TOTAL Checking Account$8,204.32 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 06/30/24Interest - Business Money Market$1.03 TOTAL Business Money Market Account$1130.41 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 06/30/24Interest - Business Shares$0.43 TOTAL Business Shares Account$5,192.81 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 06/30/24Interest - CD$18.25 TOTAL Business CD Account$5,232.35 TOTAL ASSETS as of June 30, 2024$19,759.89 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 07/30/2024 July 2024 Checking: Expenses 07/08/24Check #1034 (SBM - Miscellaneous)$7.81 07/22/24Check #1035 (SBM - Miscellaneous)$0.59 Deposits 07/08/24Check #23040 (JMTA membership dues)$459.00 07/31/24Interest - Business Checking$0.73 Current Checking$7,727.92 Warren Fund$927.73 TOTAL Checking Account$8,655.65 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Expenses Deposits 07/31/24Interest - Business Money Market$1.06 TOTAL Business Money Market Account$1131.47 Business Shares (Festival): Expenses Deposits 07/31/24 Interest - Business Shares$0.45 TOTAL Business Shares Account$5,193.26 18-23 Month Business CD: Expenses Deposits 07/31/24Interest - CD$18.92 TOTAL Business CD Account$5,251.27 TOTAL ASSETS as of July 31, 2024$20,231.65 Submitted by Stef & Damon Martin 08/17/2024 Proposed Budget 2024-2025 Proposed Actual Proposed Income 2023-2024 2023-2024 2024-2025 Dues1,200.00 1,411.00 1,400.00 Interest earned from checking8.00 8.40 8.00 Internal Transfer To0.00 0.00 0.00 Luncheon0.00 0.00 0.00 Scholarship Audition Fee50.00 25.00 50.00 Student Recitals200.00 340.00 300.00 Total1,458.00 1,784.40 1,758.00 Proposed Actual Proposed Expenses 2023-2024 2023-2024 2024-2025 Altruistic50.00 0.00 50.00 Community Service Award (9th & 12th: $40 each)100.00 40.00 80.00 FSMTAConferenceFund100.00 0.00 100.00 FSMTF15.00 15.00 15.00 Gifts50.00 22.28 50.00 Internal Transfer From0.00 0.00 0.00 JMTA biannual (even year) site renewal (Amy Turon)216.00 216.00 0.00 JMTA annual domain renewal (Amy Turon) 19.95 19.95 19.95 Miscellaneous15.00 0.00 30.00 Piano Camp Scholarship500.00 0.00 300.00 Programs (JMTA presenters $25 each)50.00 25.00 100.00 Programs (Warren Fund - Outside Presenters $100 each) 300.00 300.00 100.00 Social50.00 45.12 50.00 Scholarship Judges300.00 0.00 300.00 State Conference President300.00 100.00 300.00 Student Recitals200.00 201.23 200.00 Sunbiz (Incorporation Fee)61.25 61.25 61.25 Total 2,327.20 1,045.83 1,756.20 Budget Difference($869.20) $738.57 $1.80 Business Money Market - As of:06/30/2024$1,130.41 Business Shares - As of:06/30/2024$5,192.81 18-23 Month Business CD - As of: 06/30/2024$5,232.35 MONTHLY PROGRAMS • SEPTEMBER Welcome Back Potluck! On Thursday, September 12, our business meeting will begin at 10:00am (not 9:30am), at Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., followed by our annual Welcome Back Potluck, which will start about 11:00am. Come join the camaraderie of teachers as we start the new school year! The entrée will be provided, as well as plates, cutlery, napkins, and water. Please RSVP to Sandy Stewart at [email protected] with what dish or dessert you will be bringing. We look forward to seeing you! For those who cannot attend the meeting in person, following is the Zoom link: September Meeting – 9/12/24 Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/81385581901?pwd=DEAh87HvrMez1nhk2zaRJxU6qXQblW.1 Meeting ID: 813 8558 1901 Passcode: 882002 OCTOBER October 10th at 9:30am - business meeting, program afterwards: “Sparked by Nature, Religion & War – Songs and Dances for Two” is a program of piano duets. Our program features some Liebeslieder Waltzes of Brahms, Slavonic Dances of Dvorak, a Jamaican Rumba by Benjamin, and a percussive Piano Sonata by Poulenc. The pianists are Dr. Mary McKee and Dr. Anita Renfroe. Come and join us at Keyboard Connection on Thursday, October 10th following the 9:30am business meeting. We hope to see you there. For those who cannot attend in person, following is the Zoom link: October Meeting – 10/10/24 Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/88303006315?pwd=hLj0kLfqGD6Paowsfm4efGjAKaBQZM.1 Meeting ID: 883 0300 6315 Passcode: 469280 JMTA Student Recitals 2024-2025 We have 3 student recitals scheduled for this school year. These are all held on a Sunday afternoon at 3:00p. o October 13, 2024, at River Garden Senior Services o December 15, 2024, at Arlington United Methodist Church o March 2, 2025, at All Saints Episcopal Church Please visit our website, jaxmta.org, under the "Special Events" tab, for more information on these venues, application requirements, and application deadlines. Coming Soon: Details on a special Community Recital at the Proton Therapy Institute for our Late Intermediate and Advanced Students! - Lorraine Sears, Recitals Co-Chair JMTA Archives: Did you know? You can find: photos, recital programs, scrapbooks, issues of the “High Notes” and more online at www.fmta.org. Select Home, Local Archives and under Local Association Archives find Jacksonville MTA. You can also find: programs from the Sonatina - Sonata Festival online at www.fmta.org. Select Home, Local Archives and scroll down to District Archives and select District 4. You can also find: Legal documents for the Collegiate Chapter at the University of North Florida online at www.fmta.org. Select Home, Local Archives and scroll down to Collegiate Chapter Archives selecting University of North Florida. These items are posted for your use as historical resources. If you have anything you would like added to the archives related to JMTA history, please email me at [email protected]. - Paulette Kilts, JMTA Archivist/Historian Chair Community Service Awards Did you know that the JMTA participates in the Community Service Awards program? Per our website: “These awards are given to deserving 9th and 12th grade students in recognition of their leadership, achievements, and service to the community in the field of music. The applicants must also be students in good standing with their music instructor, a member of JMTA who recommends them for this award.” How does this work? “Ninth graders apply for the Local and District President's Community Service Award and may count their music activities from summer before seventh grade through fall of ninth grade. Twelfth graders apply for the FSMTA Community Service Award for 12th Graders and may count their music activities from spring of ninth grade through fall of twelfth grade. Prospective applicants are encouraged to keep a journal of their music participation so they can document their community music involvement in ninth and twelfth grades when they are ready to apply for the Community Service Award.” What happens if they win? “Winning at the county level, the student receives a certificate and a plaque, which is an honor that can be placed on future college or employment applications. The ninth grade state winner receives a plaque and $100.00, while the twelfth grade state winner also receives a plaque and $500.00.” Go to https://www.jaxmta.org/community-service-award.html for more information and for the application links. The application deadline is December 31st. Contact Joan Cordell, Chair, at [email protected] if you have any questions. DISTRICT IV NEWS Student Day 2025 District IV Student Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Mandarin Baptist Church, 11244 San Jose Blvd., 32223. What is Student Day? It is an annual evaluation held in the spring semester each year. The student can choose to attend the morning or afternoon session. It is comprised of four events, three of which are graded. The written theory test, aural theory test, and audition before the judge (where they play their pieces and keyboard skills) are graded, and the group recital performance is not. How many pieces do they play in the judge audition? For levels primary and one, two memorized pieces from different composers, and for levels two through twelve, three memorized pieces (and beginning with level five, from different musical periods). What is the cost for Student Day? Individual student fees are $30 for all levels, plus $15 for the teacher’s breakfast and boxed lunch that day. Student Day guidelines may be found on the fmta.org website, under Student Activities and FSMTA Non-Competitive Events, for sample tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials. The Student Day Handbook may also be of help. Also, an independent teacher has created a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, written, and aural theory testing with helpful workbooks for each level. To order, email Sue Colvert (Music Masters) at [email protected]. Her phone number is 954-752-2856. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair FSMTA STATE NEWS FSMTA 2024 Mini-Conference: ”Making Great Music, One Beat at a Time” October 19-20, 2024 West Palm Beach, FL Hilton Palm Beach Airport - 150 Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, FL Links: • Conference Registration ($110 members and $150 non-members) • Hotel Reservations ($149 discounted rate; last day to secure discounted rate is 9/26/2024) • Friday Buffet Dinner • Student Honors Recital For more information: https://www.fmta.org/fsmta-conference.html Welcome New Members! Michael Scott Giuliani Hanh Ngoc Nguyen Emily Stewart Over Coffee With . . . Julie Hamby We are sitting down with a long-time JMTA member this month. Thank you, Julie, for sharing with us! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. The beginning and current stage of my music journey may be similar to many other music teachers…but not the middle part. I was born near Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Albany, Georgia when I was 6. My mother was a piano and organ teacher, and my dad loved to sing and play guitar. There was always music in the house, whether from my mom practicing or teaching lessons, or playing records. I have two older sisters, and naturally my mom taught us all to play the piano. When I was in elementary school, my dad bought a music store and thus began the journey into the band programs with violin, clarinet, flute, and saxophone. All my jobs in high school were taught to me by my parents – how to run a music store, how to teach piano lessons, and how to play for a church. This was instrumental in shaping my ideas for a future career. Even though I played in judged competitions every year for over 10 years, when it was time to decide on college and a profession, a music career was not the primary path I wanted to take, nor was staying in Georgia. I wanted to pursue accounting, with a minor in music. The problem with that – the cost of out-of-state college. Fortunately, one of the piano competition judges, Professor Eugene Hudson, recruited me to Jacksonville University with piano and academic scholarships. To receive the maximum piano scholarships, I declared a double major in Piano Performance and Accounting. Many told me I would be in college forever – it could easily take 7 years. That did not seem appealing, so I got waivers to take 20 credit hour semesters, took summer classes at my local junior college, taught lessons and played at a local church. After 5 years of nonstop classes, I graduated valedictorian of my class with almost no debt, married my high school sweetheart (who lived in Georgia all that time) and started working for a national public accounting firm here in Jacksonville. Not the usual path for music teachers! Q. What inspired you to begin music lessons? A. Music was a part of daily life in my household. My mom had a firm policy on when to start children with lessons, based on age, abilities, and the child’s desire. At the age of 4-5, I would sit beside the piano and organ while my mom played and beg her to let me start lessons. I didn’t meet the age requirement, but my persistence finally won her over. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher(s) that made music more enjoyable? A. There were several band and orchestra teachers, but only my mom and college professor as piano teachers. The benefits of having my mom as my teacher and my dad as a music store owner meant I had access to an in-home music studio full of books, records, and electronic instruments. When she passed away, I inherited over 12 deep filing cabinets full of music. Going through it all brings back wonderful memories of songs I played, or tried to play, and songs I heard my mom play over and over. Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically. A. After college, I got my CPA license and it became my full-time profession for 30 years. During this time, I also filled in at church every now and then and maintained a small piano studio. I taught both of my sons piano lessons for 10 years. Both are still active in music, being playing keys, guitar or drums for church or other events. My oldest son is now a professional drummer here in Jacksonville, teaching drums (and piano), recording, and playing with various bands locally and in the Southeast. I recently “retired” from my accounting career in order to enjoy my musical career. Now there is more time to play the piano and add more piano students. Having the different careers has given me an increased appreciation for music at this stage and a different perspective on teaching. Also, it is exciting to share teaching stories with my son, as it has opened me up to new and exciting teaching ideas. Q. Do you have a story of something that happened during one of your performances and how you handled it? A. In high school, there was a competition an hour away that involved a solo and duet piece. The morning of the competition, I was in a lot pain, but was determined to go anyway. There was a lot of practice involved in preparing for this day, and I was not about to waste that or let my partner down. Instead of riding the bus with the group from school, my dad drove me while I laid down in the front seat. As soon as I finished playing, we drove home and he ended up taking me to the hospital. I had to have immediate surgery! But the good news, Superiors marks were received on both my solo and duet! Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. Practice, memorization, visualization, and deep breaths are the best ways I have found to prepare for a performance. With practice, it is important to start from different spots in the music, so that if students get lost during the performance, they do not have to start from the beginning. If you can visualize your performance in the setting, then the real performance feels more comfortable, not like the first time. Q. Where is one of the most interesting places you’ve visited? A. I have not traveled much, but when I do travel, I like to visit the beautiful churches in the area. Whether it’s New York City or Omaha, Nebraska, I enjoy the architecture, stained glass windows, and the amazing organ acoustics. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. I find it hard to believe that my studio right now has all males…from ages 6 to 75, and a wait list of more boys! Seriously, where are all the girls? I guess raising two boys prepared me for this, and I love it. A real challenge is holding kids attention and competing with all their extracurricular activities. In my studio, I’ll initiate physical movement like standing, dancing, high-fiving in order to provide mental breaks. Also, there is an incentive program that allows kids to get up and select marbles to add to their assigned tube. The kids enjoy seeing their tubes fill up, along with the other students, and are motivated to reach the top to pick a prize. Of course, this does not apply to my adult students. Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. There is a wide range, so will speak to Liszt that I am enjoying playing right now alongside one of my students. I recently started exploring jazz and blues in more depth, something that I didn’t have much time for in the earlier years. I am enjoying finding correlations from some of Liszt’s chord structures and cadenzas to that used in jazz pieces. AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Community 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. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/23-24-season/ Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14 Parrots + Palms: The Songs of Buffett & Fins Pops Series The music of Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys and more. “Island Attire Encouraged!” Kevin Fitzgerald, Conductor Travis Birch, Vocalist Chris Blem, Vocalist Max Chernin, Vocalist Scott Coulter, Vocalist & Spot-On Entertainment Founder Lisa Howard, Vocalist John Boswell, Pianist Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall - 7:30pm Saturday, September 21 75th Anniversary Special: Opening Night: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” Florida Blue Classical Series Courtney Lewis, Conductor Ailyn Perez, Soprano Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-Soprano Jacksonville Symphony Chorus – 40th Anniversary University of North Florida Chorale Jacksonville University Singers Jacoby Symphony Hall – 6:00pm Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto Florida Blue Classical Series Courtney Lewis, Conductor Joyce Yang, Piano Brittany J. Green, Composer – Testify! (World Premiere) Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2 Richard Strauss – A Hero’s Life Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm St. Johns Cathedral Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ Sunday, September 15 UNF Jazz Ensemble 3 Instrument Zoo – 4:45pm-5:00pm; Jazz Concert - 5:00pm-7:00pm Dr. Marc Dickman, Director Taliaferro Hall - 4:45pm-7:00pm Friday, September 20 Jazz in the Garden “Come and go as you please.” The North Florida Jazz Quartet St. John’s Cathedral’s Burwell Court – 5:30pm-7:00pm Sunday, September 22 Free Recital: Kevin Clasen-LeBlanc, clarinet Tim Tuller, Piano 5:00pm Sunday, September 29 First Coast Flute Choir Cathedral Nave – 5:00pm Reception following in Taliaferro Hall University of North Florida Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Tuesday, September 10 Cummer Family Foundation Concert Chamber Music Series Presents: Hours – A Melodrama for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano by Cecil Price Walden, composer Alice Anne Light, Mezzo-Soprano Cecil Price Walden, Piano/Composer Kristy Kristinek – Visual Artist Dr. James Hall, Artistic Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1404 – 7:30pm Thursday, September 12 37th Annual Great American Jazz Series Presents: UNF Jazz Faculty Scholarship Concert Special guests: UNF Combo 1, J.B. Scott, Artistic Director and UNF JE1 Director Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Friday, September 20 UNF Faculty Recital: Dr. Andrea Venet, Percussion “Performing works for percussion.” Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 6:30pm Wednesday, September 25 UNF Classical Faculty Showcase Concert “Featuring performances by Dina Barone, Sachiko Frampton, Erin Bennett, Gary Smart, Marc Dickman, Gia Sastre, Sunshine Simmons, Michael Bovenzi, Andrea Venet, Simon Shiao, Michael Mastronicola, and Randy Tinnin” Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, September 26 Jazz Combo Night Lynne Arriale, Director Fine Arts Center, Room 1200, Recital Hall – 7:30pm Friday, September 27 Choral Showcase Concert Dr. Joey Martin, Conductor Fine Arts Center Room 1200, Recital Hall – 5:00pm Jacksonville University Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://viewer.joomag.com/creative-arts-series-2024-2025/0546091001658934607?short& Tuesday, September 10 Alexei Romanenko and Jonathan Kuo Alexei Romanenko, Principal cellist of the Jacksonville Symphony Jonathan Kuo, Jacksonville Symphony violinist Maurice Ravel’s Sonata; Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Friday, September 13 Welcome Back Weekend Faculty Showcase “Join us for the annual Faculty Music Showcase” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Thursday, September 26 Hispanic Heritage Month Concert “Student-led musical celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm 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. Thursday, September 12 10:00am – Meeting After - Potluck JMTA General Meeting and Welcome Back Potluck Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Thursday, October 10 9:30am – Meeting After – Program JMTA General Meeting and Program – Dr. Mary McKee and Dr. Anita Renfroe Performances Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Sunday, October 13 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital River Garden Senior Service 11401 Old St. Augustine Rd., 32258 Saturday, October 19-Sunday, October 20 As Scheduled FSMTA 2024 Mini-Conference Hilton Palm Beach Airport, 150 Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida Thursday, November 14 9:30am – Meeting After - Program JMTA General Meeting and Program – Andre Ferreira, Composer Keyboard Connection / Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 Sunday, December 15 3:00pm JMTA Student Recital Arlington United Methodist Church, 1400 University Blvd. N., 32211 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]. 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]. JMTA High Notes
April 2024 —Vol. 27, no. 7 JMTA meeting and Program was held at Keyboard Connection & over Zoom Thursday, April 11 - 9:30am meeting and program afterwards: "The solo piano music of American composer Howard Hanson" presented by Dr. Scott Watkins _____________________________________________________________________________ President’s Pen Dear Colleagues, As this school year winds down to a close, many of our music students continue to learn and take music lessons during the summer. As we’ve all probably read, taking music lessons has proven to improve academic achievement across the board. One study by the American Psychological Association has shown that high schoolers that take music lessons score higher in subjects like math, science, and English (APA). Peter Gouzouasis, PhD, of the University of British Columbia, is an author of the study. He said “It is believed that students who spend school time in music classes, rather than in further developing their skills in math, science and English classes, will underperform in those disciplines. Our research suggests that, in fact, the more they study music, the better they do in those subjects” (APA). What might contribute to the benefit that music lessons can provide? According to Gouzouasis, “Learning to play a musical instrument and playing in an ensemble is very demanding. A student has to learn to read music notation, develop eye-hand-mind coordination, develop keen listening skills, develop team skills for playing in an ensemble and develop discipline to practice. All those learning experiences play a role in enhancing children's cognitive capacities and their self-efficacy” (APA). For the piano student, playing in duets contributes to the added bonus of developing team skills mentioned as one of the benefits to music lessons. American Psychological Association. (2019, June 24). Music students score better in math, science, English than nonmusical peers [Press release]. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/06/music-students-score-better Speaking of benefits, as we near the time of year to renew our association dues, it’s good to be reminded of the many member discounts and benefits included with our membership. You can go to our national association’s website, Music Teachers National Association (mtna.org), click on the Join+Renew drop-down, and choose Member Benefits (or click on the link below). https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/JoinRenew/Member_Benefits/MTNA/JoinAndRenew/Membership/Membership_Benefits.aspx?hkey=44ba0e7c-0c1d-4d4e-b416-fcb4bd58afce From there you can click on Member Discounts, which will include Business, Online Counseling & Therapy Services, Prescription Savings, Publications and Products, Studio Management Services, Travel, and Home. You can also click on Member Insurance, which includes all kinds of insurance available to MTNA members. If you click on Business Resources, there is a wealth of information available on various subjects related to MTNA and teaching music. Our state website, Florida State Music Teachers Association (fmta.org) is also full of information and many helps as well. Sincerely, Angie Angie Holt, President _____________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 14, 2024, 9:30am Keyboard Connection/Zoom Present (In-person): Angie Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Stewart, Lorraine Sears, Cheryl Dubberly, Paulette Kilts, Ronald Touchton, Sandra Roberts, JohnWillard Utuk Present (Zoom): Denise Homsley, Erin Bennett, Mary McKee, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Kamala Shahtakhtinski Call to Order: 9:37am (Angie Holt) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) •Not present Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) •Read the minutes from February 15, 2024 •Paulette motioned to approve the minutes as read, Ron seconded Treasurer’s Report: (Damon Martin and Stefanie) •Checking account as of March 14, 2024: •Checking account: $7,862.28 •Business CD: $5,158.53 •Business Money Market: $2,024.04 •Business Shares: $5,186.05 Vice-President/Membership: (Mary McKee) •New member: Emily Stuart COMMITTEE REPORTS: Programs: (Open) •JohnWillard Uruk is presenting in March •Dr. Scott Watkins is presenting in April •Concerto Competition/Scholarship Winners perform in May with a luncheon Communications & Social Media Update: (Angie Holt) •Nothing to report Social: (Sandra Stewart) • Sandra asked if anybody could help out with refreshments in April Student Recitals: (Lorraine Sears & Gavin Taylor) •There’s a report in the high notes •The final recital was March 3 at All Saints Episcopal, 29 students and 10 teachers represented •Lorraine will plan the next recitals at the board meeting over the summer •Proton Therapy Recital - Tuesday, April 16 at 6:00pm - open to advanced students Scholarship: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) •Matthew Phan, student of Peggy Edwards is this year’s Senior Scholarship Winner - he was the only applicant so he submitted a video audition, Dr. Erin Bennett was his judge, he will be performing at the May meeting Student Day: (Angie Holt) •37 students registered, 8 teachers, 3 of those are new to Student Day •Angie broke down what Student Day is Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) •Sent a sympathy card to Ron for the loss of his brother •Will send Kama a card for her new baby Community Service Awards: (Joan Cordell) •Not present Ethics: (Betty Atkinson) •Not present Historian: (Paulette Kilts) •If you have something for the archives, please send it to Paulette Wellness Liaison: (Lisa Barwell) •Not present Old Business: •Sonata/Sonatina Festival: Two recitals, 20 participants, huge shout out to Lorraine for volunteering New Business: •Jack gave an announcement at the beginning of the meeting about the new SX series of Yamaha •MTNA Conference is coming up on March 16-20 in Atlanta, Georgia •District Concerto Competition: Saturday, March 23, only three entrants •JohnWillard will be performing at Community Hospice on Sunbeam Road, Friday, March 22 at 10:30am Adjourned: 10:11am (Angie Holt) Program: “Compose, Create, & Collaborate: How poetry, imagination, and storytelling combine to create a unique musical experience” by JohnWillard Utuk Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin, Recording Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________ JMTA TREASURY REPORTS February 2024 and March 2024 - submitted by Stef and Damon Martin________________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY PROGRAMSMAY Next month, the JMTA High School Senior Scholarship winner and the Concerto Competition winners will be performing for us for our program, followed by our annual end-of-year luncheon at Carrabba’s. ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA SCHOLARSHIP WINNER Matthew Phan, piano student of Peggy Edwards, is the winner of the 2024 JMTA High School Senior Scholarship. Biography:Matthew is a senior at Bishop Kenny High School. Some highlights from his high school piano career include soloing with the Jacksonville Symphony, Northwest Florida Symphony, and Ocala Symphony Orchestras as the winner of their respective concerto competitions. He was also the winner of the FFMC Senior Concerto Competition, the Irene Muir Award, the Florida MTNA Senior Piano Competition and Chopin Prize, and the FSMTA Senior Concerto Competition. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 9. He also accompanies at Sunday Mass at his church weekly and is a founding member of the Bach to Back project, an organization that strives to promote arts education among underprivileged students in the Jacksonville area. He will be attending Vanderbilt University in the fall for piano performance.- Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Chair________________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWSConcerto Competition The District IV Concerto Competition took place Saturday, March 23 at UNF. Many thanks go out to our judges, Kamila Shahtakhtinski and Dr. Michael Mastronicola, as well as UNF pedagogy student volunteers, Jolie Nguyen and Nick DuVal! Winners will advance to the state competition, this year to be held in Orlando at UCF on May 17-18. Junior Piano Winner: Sasha Yan, student of Shigu Zhang Bio: Sasha Yan is the first prize winner of the 2022 Florida Federation of Music Clubs Junior Convention Piano solo, piano duet, and sight play in elementary class III. She is the first prize winner of the 2023 Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute Kovachevitsa Piano Festival Category C (Junior Group). She took masterclasses with Prof. Oxana Yablonskaya, Prof. Tamila Azadaliyeva, Prof. Laia Martin in July, 2023. She also took private lessons with Dr. Jasmine Arakawa, Dr. Hsiang Tu, and guest artist pianist Dr. Elena Dabul during 2023 University of Florida International Piano Festival. Intermediate Piano Winner: Yo-Yo Qu, student of Shigu Zhang Bio: Yo-Yo Qu is the first prize winner of the 2022 Florida Federation Music Clubs Junior Concerto Competition, 2022 Florida State Music Teachers Association Junior Concerto Competition, 2022 and 2023 Florida State MTNA Junior Piano Performance Competition, 2023 Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute Kovachevitsa Piano Festival Senior Group, and 2022 Chopin Foundation Florida Junior Chopin Prize. He is the alternate winner of 2023 Southern Division MTNA junior piano performance event. He studies with Profs. Shigu Zhang, Shijun Wang, and Hsiang Tu. He took masterclasses with Profs. Oxana Yablonskaya, Ran Dank, Soyeon Kate Lee, Tamila Azadaliyeva, Svetlana Vest, Elena Dabul, and Byeol Kim. - Dr. Erin Bennett, Concerto Competition Chair Student Day The annual District IV Student Day testing took place on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Mandarin Baptist Church. Thirty-five students were registered for this event, with eight participating teachers. A big thank you goes to the three adjudicators for the event: Dr. Sandra Stewart, Dr. Michael Mastronicola, and Dr. Erin Bennett. Teachers with students participating in Student Day included Stefanie Batson-Martin, Angie Holt, Denise Homsley, Lara Lawrence, Anna Marr, Dr. Michael Mastronicola, Lorraine Sears, and Emily Stewart. Thank you also to the participating teachers for assisting in various ways to make Student Day successful. The Honors Recital will be held on Sunday, April 28, at 3:00pm at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Avenue, 32207. Those students who received an Honors in their audition (performance and keyboard skills) and at least an achievement in their written and aural theory have been invited to perform and will receive an Honors medal from the State. - Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair ________________________________________________________________________ Welcome to Our New Members!Nina KnightLara Lawrence________________________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . .Emily StewartWelcome to one of our newer members! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and I lived here until 2019. Afterwards, I spent about two years in Cleveland, Tennessee where I continued my education, and I moved back to Florida in the summer of 2021. I am happy to be near family again. They have always been my greatest source of support, aside from the church family I grew up with, and always encouraged me to pursue music. Q. What inspired you to begin music lessons? A. I have been making music since I was very young through singing and playing the piano and the guitar. As a teenager, I realized that my two favorite things were to help others and make music, so I decided to pursue teaching. After I graduated college and earned my master’s degree, I became reacquainted with a friend from Jacksonville that helped musicians start teaching privately. I have been instructing students for a little over three years now, and it has been a very enjoyable experience. Q. Did you have a favorite music teacher(s) that made music more enjoyable? A. There have been a number of instructors that have been very influential in my life, but I would have to say that my mother would probably be at the top of the list. She has always been very musical and embedded music in my life from the time I was born. She also taught me how to play guitar and she's been an amazing example to me, particularly in the area of leading worship. Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically. A. At the moment, my time mostly consists of my work as my church's music director and a music instructor. However, I have been missing the opportunity to be more involved in community choir and I hope to dedicate myself to one soon. Q. What advice would you give to help focus before a performance and curb nerves? A. I used to really struggle with nerves myself. I'm grateful to have overcome them over the years (at least mostly). I always encourage my students to practice and gain experience with performance and to own the moment. Sometimes nerves get the better of us, but we will always be our own worst critics and we shouldn't allow that to stop us from trying. I also find it very helpful to embody the character of the music and practice hyperfocusing on that rather than the potential opinions. Perform in the moment and save the constructive criticism and development for later. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. Music is a challenging skill and language in itself, and I always have to remind myself and my students that sometimes the most important thing isn't perfection or the competition, but to learn to have grace and patience with ourselves as students and teachers to cherish small moment of progress. When that happens, any challenge can be overcome. ________________________________________________________________________ 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. University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information/tickets for each: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Wednesday, April 17 UNF Wind Symphony and UNF Concert Band present: Athena Performing music by Sarah Griego and Stacy Garrop Dr. Erin Bodnar, Conductor Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Saturday, April 20 Violin Studio Concert *New!* Dr. Simon Shiao, Director Fine Arts Center Recital Hall - 3:00 PM Monday, April 22 Music Tech Student Concert Featuring original works by students created in the Audio for Media Application course. Dr. Joshua Tomlinson, Director Fine Arts Center Recital Hall – 7:00pm Tuesday, April 23 UNF Orchestra Concert presents: Spring DancesMusic for ballet, waltzes and tangos by Copland, Tchaikovsky and Marquez. Dr. Simon Shiao, Conductor Lazzara Performance Hall – 7:30pm Wednesday, April 24 Jazz Combo Night at the Boathouse *NEW!*Featuring Combos 1-4. Lynne Arriale, Director UNF Boathouse, 6:00-8:00pm Wednesday, April 24 Piano PlayoffDr. Erin Bennett, Director Fine Arts Center Recital Hall – 7:30pm Friday, April 26 Performance Lab: School of Music Honors RecitalDr. John Daugherty, Coordinator Lazzara Performance Hall - 12:00 PM Friday, April 26 – 7:30pm Sunday, April 28 – 3:00pm UNF Opera Theater Spring Presentation*Kevin Fitzgerald, Conductor Dr. John Daugherty, Director Andrew A. Robinson Theater *Title to be revealed Jacksonville University Music Events Click on link for more information and how to get tickets for each: https://viewer.joomag.com/creative-arts-series-2023-2024/0546091001658934607?short& Thursday, April 18; Friday, April 19; and Saturday, April 20 Spring Dance Concert *ticketed event Swisher Theater – April 18 and April 19 – 7:30pm; April 20 – 2:00pm Saturday, April 20 Spring Finale “The Jacksonville University Orchestra closes out the 2023-2024 season with a program featuring masterworks of the orchestral repertoire as well as winners of the annual concerto competition.” Terry Concert Hall – 7:30pm Sunday, April 21 Spring Choral Concert: The SoundS of Science” “Because the entire universe is made up of vibrating particles, our entire reality is literally music. Unfortunately, our ears and brains can only process a tiny fraction of these vibrations. Enter science. We close our Season of SoundS with music at the intersection of creativity and observation in collaboration with colleagues in the College of Arts and Sciences.” Terry Concert Hall – 3:00pm Florida State College at Jacksonville Music Events Click on link for more information: https://www.fscj.edu/docs/default-source/wilson-center/fine-arts-calendar.pdf?sfvrsn=3b7dc316_2 Thursday, April 18 Symphonic Band Concert “Under the direction of Dr. Paul Weikle, the band will perform diverse musical selections.” South Campus Wilson Center Main Stage – 7:30pm Friday, April 19 FSCJ Choirs: Spring Choral Showcase 2024 “Under the direction of Dr. Tommy Shapard, the Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus and The Chorale will present a concert with various songs.” South Campus Wilson Center Main Stage – 7:30pm Evensong Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ Sunday, April 21 Dixon’s Violin “You’ve never heard violin like this! Inspiring audiences across North America, from Burning Man and Electric Forest to TED talks.” 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville – 7:00-8:30pm Friday, May 10 Benny Green, solo piano “Benny Green possesses the history of jazz at his fingertips. Combine mastery of keyboard technique with decades of real world experience playing with no one less than the most celebrated artists of the last half century, and it’s no wonder Green has been hailed as perhaps the most exciting hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.” 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, April 19 Let’s Misbehave: Tony DeSare Sings Cole Porter - Matinee Coffee Series (See Description in next listing.) “Coffee and cookies begin at 10:00am, concert begins at 11:00am.” Grant O’Brien, Conductor Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 11:00am Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 Let’s Misbehave: Tony DeSare Sings Cole PorterPaysafe Pops Series “Cole Porter’s sophisticated, sexy and timeless songs continue to inhabit a unique place in society and the Great American Songbook. It’s no wonder his work has been interpreted by countless artists across multiple decades. Join Tony DeSare with a smashing trumpeter and exhilarating tap dancer as they put a fresh spin on such hits as ‘Night and Day,’ ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin,’ ‘It’s De-Lovely’ and ‘You’re the Top.’” Grant O’Brien, Conductor Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – Both concerts: 7:30pm Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 The Pines & Fountains of Rome Florida Blue Classical Series “Experience Respighi’s masterpieces, Pines and Fountains of Rome. These stunning works reveal Respighi’s brilliant brushstrokes in painting scenes of the majesty of nature and dancing water. The program opens with two giants among today’s living composers: Hailstork’s powerful homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, followed by Michael Daugherty’s American Gothic, a work of irrepressible fun that brings the iconic art of Grant Wood to life!” Case Scaglione, Conductor Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Monday, April 29 Festival of Strings Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra Series Grant O’Brien, JSYO Music Director & Assistant Conductor Helen Morin, Conductor, Premier Strings & Encore Strings Rose Francis-Wisniewski, Conductor, Foundation Strings David Song, Conductor, Jump Start Strings Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 6:00pm Saturday, May 4 Organ Chamber Music Concert Organ Series “This performance highlights the warm and tender side of the organ with string and wind players from the Jacksonville Symphony and a selection of colorful chamber repertoire. Greg Zelek brings his awe-inspiring talent to the stage and concludes this season’s Concert Organ Series with pieces that spotlight the instrument in all its shining glory.” Greg Zelek, Organ Grant O’Brien, Guest Conductor Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 7:30pm Sunday, May 5 Terence Blanchard: Absence Featuring the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet Jazz Series “Superstar trumpeter Terence Blanchard wraps up the season’s Jazz Series with a stellar fusion of his acclaimed band, E-Collective, and the double-GRAMMY®-winning Turtle Island Quartet in a program of original work and arrangements of Wayne Shorter’s music: Absence. Blanchard’s brilliant compositions also incorporate a string quartet, widening his signature spectrum of color and expression.” Terence Blanchard, Trumpet James Jenkins, Jazz Series Curator & Jacksonville Jazz Collective Director Location: Jacoby Symphony Hall – 6:30pm ________________________________________________________________________ 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. Tuesday, April 16 6:00pm Community “Proton Therapy” Recital UF Proton Therapy Institute, 2015 N. Jefferson St., 32206 Sunday, April 28 3:00pm Student Day Honors Recital All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave., 32207 Thursday, May 9 9:30 – Meeting After - Program JMTA General Meeting and Program – Concerto & Scholarship Winners Keyboard Connection/Zoom 9912 San Jose Blvd., 32257 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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