January 2017 - Volume 20, No. 4

District 4 General Meeting and Teacher Open Mic
Please join us for our District 4 annual meeting, program, and lunch!

• Date: Wednesday, January 11
• Time: 9:45a-12:00p
• Place: Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, 32257
  
  • We will start our morning with a business meeting. Learn more about upcoming D4 events such as Student Day and Concerto Competition.
  • Following the meeting, we have a fun program planned! YOU are invited to perform for us! Any type of performance is welcome; instrumental, voice, spoken word, juggling, dance….you get the idea! We are not all concert pianists, but we do all have unique talents. We want to see yours! Come on out and show us what you can do in a fun, informal environment. If you will need any special accommodations for your performance, please contact Michael Mastronicola at [email protected] in advance.
  • After our enjoyable time of performance together, please stay for lunch. A selection of subs from Firehouse subs will be provided. Please bring something to share, such as drinks, chips, or other sides.

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President’s Pen
Hello all, this November and December have certainly been a busy time. I thoroughly enjoyed attending the State Conference in Orlando and meeting different members from all around the state. The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Scott McBride-Smith, was fantastic, as were many of the workshops I attended. I came back from my first out of town conference feeling refreshed and motivated. I look forward to next year’s conference in Miami. A huge thank you to our November presentation by Twila Miller, for her wonderful and enlightening presentation on ‘Feet First’ and helping show us how to engage and ground our bodies. My daughter had a great time participating in the class, especially with the giant exercise ball. I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Years. I have been enjoying my time off with family and friends, even if I have spent way too much time cooking and eating! My daughter also turned 4 this December, so we celebrated that occasion with much joy. Here’s to wishful thinking that our students actually practiced over the holidays and are prepared for Student Day. I look forward to seeing everyone at our January District meeting.
Lindsay Hardee, JMTA President
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JMTA Treasurer Transaction Report October 1-31, 2016

• Premier Business Checking October 1, 2016 $7013.39
  • Expenses
    • 10/11 check 1057 FSMTA Registration (Pres. Conf. expense) $211.00
    • 10/18 check 1061 P. Searcy (Altruistic and Financial Review) 59.95
    • 10/19 check 1060 FSMT Foundation Fund (M. Seal) 15.00
    • 10/25 check 1059 L. Eaton (treasurer—stamps) 9.40
  • Deposits
    • 10/17 MTNA/FSMTA Dues $184.00
    • 10/26 FSMTA Dues 3.00
    • 10/31 Interest .59
  • Current Checking $3203.48
  • Piano Festival Fund 1299.42
  • Warren Fund 2402.73
  • October 31, 2016 $6905.63
  • Business Money Market (Scholarship) $4196.40
  • Business Shares (Piano Festival) 1631.80
  • CD (matures 5/21/2018) 8685.78
• Total Assets August 31, 2016 $21,419.61
• Other Business
  • At the FSMTA Annual Conference Executive Board Meeting, a proposal was made to ask each District and Local Association to donate $50-100 annually to the conference fund. This will help alleviate the need for each area to come up with a large amount of up-front money when it is their turn to host.

Submitted by Lorraine Eaton
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Open Positions in JMTA! Exciting opportunities to serve!

• Archivist - The Archivist is responsible for scanning old documents and pics onto our website. This is currently being done by Lorraine Eaton, already District President.
• Piano Festival - This person is responsible for planning the Piano Festival. Lindsay Hardee is co-chair of this committee and will continue to fill the position, but she needs help.

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2017 District IV Student Day
Student Day will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017, at Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, 32211. The application deadline is December 10, 2016.

The Student Day Handbook is now available online and may be accessed by members at www.fmta.org.

For questions, please email Denise Homsley: [email protected]

Student Day is one of the best structured and comprehensive music evaluation programs in existence. And, it gives students a great sense of accomplishment. Please begin preparing your students now to enter 2017 District Student Day!

PLEASE NOTE: Jacksonville University has requested Level 2 (fingerprints) documentation for teachers assisting with Student Day. If you are participating in 2017 District Student Day, please contact me if you have not turned in documentation. Thanks!
Denise Homsley
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District 4 News
Current officers:

• President–Lorraine Eaton
• Vice President–Jeannie Rose
• Recording Secretary–JohnWillard Utuk
• Treasurer–Denise Homsley

District 4 General Meeting and Teacher Open Mic!
Our annual meeting is scheduled for January 11, 2017, from 9:45a to 12:00p, at the Keyboard Connection, 9912 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, 32257, with a program and lunch. Anyone wishing to participate, please contact Michael Mastronicola at [email protected].

• We will start our morning with a business meeting. Learn more about upcoming D4 events such as Student Day and Concerto Competition.
• Following the meeting, we have a fun program planned! YOU are invited to perform for us! Any type of performance is welcome; instrumental, voice, spoken word, juggling, dance….you get the idea! We are not all concert pianists, but we do all have unique talents. We want to see yours! Come on out and show us what you can do in a fun, informal environment. If you will need any special accommodations for your performance, please contact Michael Mastronicola at [email protected] in advance.
• After our enjoyable time of performance together, please stay for lunch. A selection of subs from Firehouse subs will be provided. Please bring something to share, such as drinks, chips, or other sides.

District 4 Coffee Break
District 4 is sponsoring a Coffee Break at the upcoming MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium (UNF Jan 14-15, 2017). Collegiate students from across the country are coming into town. Contact Erin Bennett for more information.
District 4 Concerto Competition
The District 4 Concerto Competition will be held on Saturday, March 25, at the University of North Florida (UNF), 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, 32224. The deadline to apply will be March 1. Erin Bennett will have more information soon.
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District 4 Recording Secretary Position Open

District 4 is in need of a new Recording Secretary. Duties include:

• Taking minutes at General and Board meetings
• Typing minutes and sending them to District IV President within one week of the meeting
• Reading past minutes at each meeting
• Keeping an organized binder with all past minutes

District 4 meets 2-3 times per year: one general meeting, usually in January, and 1-2 board meetings in the summer. You would need to be present at each of these meetings.

If this sounds like a service you can provide to your district, please contact district president Lorraine Eaton at [email protected].
Thank you.
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Want to become Nationally Certified?
Are you a National Certified Teacher of Music? Check out the Process:
Certification candidates are required to complete five projects:

1. explanation of teaching philosophy
2. analysis of teaching pieces
3. video of teaching
4. description of teaching environment
5. discussion of business ethics and studio policies

From the MTNA Certification website workbooks are available. They are accompanied by a document titled, “What Will the Evaluators Be Looking For?” that guides candidates as they complete the profile projects.

Other helpful materials are available at the MTNA Certification website.
(see American Music Teacher, August/September 2016, pp. 32, 33)

Sue H. Holder, District Certification Chair