October 2014 - Volume 18, No. 2

General Meeting and Program
October 8, 2014 at Keyboard Connection
9:15 am- Meet and Greet. Refreshments provided.
9:30 am- General Business Meeting
10:30 am- Program: JMTA members will hold a discussion panel to give you information on various District and State events that are available to your students. Topics include: Community Service Award, Student Day, Concerto Competition, High School Senior Scholarship, and Music Camp Scholarship.
*Keyboard Connection: 9912 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL
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President’s Pen
This month the FSMTA State Conference will be held in Tallahassee, October 23- 26. Although you have missed the Early Bird Registration Deadline, it is not too late to participate. View the FSMTA website for information on registration, hotel, and conference schedule. http://www.fmta.org/conference.asp
Once again we had a great turnout for our first meeting of the year! Let’s keep the momentum going. We have lots of exciting events planned for you this year. Take time to be a part of them! You can always see what’s going on by checking the calendar on our website,http://www.jaxmta.org/ , or view the calendar at the end of each High Notes. I look forward to seeing you.
~Lorraine Eaton, JMTA President
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New Communication Chairperson
We would like to welcome new member Sarah Blazs as our new Communications Chairperson! She will be handling all email correspondence and High Notes. You may keep sending your submissions and any other inquires to our general email address at [email protected].
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FSMTA Annual Conference
Greetings from Tallahassee !! Florida State Music Teachers 2014 Conference October23rd-26th Doubletree Hotel Tallahassee, Florida. We are looking forward to seeing our members at the celebration of our 80th anniversary in Tallahassee. Our information is located at FMTA.ORG There is a complete schedule of events, plus registration and banquet forms.

Our conference artist will be Boris Berman; keynote speaker will be Brian Chung. The sessions on Friday and Saturday will include topics of interest to all teachers: several sessions on improvisation, study and practice techniques, new repertoire, technology both for teachers and for their students, ensemble performance, and playing in competitions. There will be several off-site visits, including a recital on a special church organ, a guided visit to the FSU piano workshop, and a “gala” visit to our own galaxy of stars and comets. Two special concerts will be held at Opperman Music Hall, our Senior competition winners will perform their winning compositions with an ensemble from the college of Music, and Boris Berman will give us a wonderful piano performance on Saturday night. He will follow up with a master class on sunday. Brian Chung, our keynote speaker at the banquet, has successfully combined business, teaching, and being an advocate for music.

lf you have not seen the conference site on FMTA.org, get someone to download a copy or call me: Norma Mastrogiacomo: Tel: 850-386-8730. Hope you can come!
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The Warren Fund
As some of you may know, JMTA holds a fund that was donated in Memory of past member Joy Warren. This fund is dedicated toward purchasing materials that may be shared with the JMTA membership for the purpose of continuing education. Some years back VHS tapes of the Taubman method were purchased at a MTNA conference, and viewed by some members. The fund has not been used for some time, and has about $2000 in it. If you have ideas on materials that might be purchased, or are in attendance at a conference and see something interesting, please let us know! You may send your ideas to [email protected]
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JMTA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
KEYBOARD CONNECTION
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
Members in attendance: (18) Lorraine Eaton, Paulette Kilts, Sue Holder, Susan Figlietti, Denise Homsley, Sandra Stewart, Sandra Roberts, Lynn Freeman, Betty Atkinson, Kamila Shahtahktinski, Maureen Rhodes, Sarah Blazs, Pam Searcy, Lindsay Hardee, Anne Marie Giffin, Cheryl Cafrelli, John Willard Utuk, Lisa Smith.
Guest present: (1) Annie Rueff.

Meeting Called to Order by JMTA President, Lorraine Eaton at 9:33am.
Minutes read by Lisa Smith. Approved as read.

Treasurer’s report given by Paulette Kilts.

• She completed IRS 990-N (e postcard) filing and wrote detailed job description of process.
• She completed SOC license renewal online and wrote detailed job description of process.
• She prepared July and August meeting reports
• She worked with Al Plunkett on new Excel file spreadsheet for bank accounts.
• Warren Fund: Discussion concerning potential uses for the monies in this fund. Sandra Roberts moved that we use the Warren Fund money for teacher education/enrichment purposes. Susan Figlietti seconded. Motion passed.

It was decided that the JMTA President would propose recommendations for potential expenditures of this fund to the general membership and they would vote on his/her proposals.
Budget: Was approved by the executive board in August. Paulette made a motion to amend the proposed budget to include a $25 gift card for Al Plunkett as legal expense. Motion to approve the amended proposed budget. Denise Homsley seconded. Motion passed.
Membership: Susan Figlietti reported we have 51 active members. 2 new members: Sarah Blazs and Lori Burningham. John Willard Utuk is a transferring member from Ft. Myers who is pursuing a masters degree in Performance at UNF.
District IV Student Day: Denise Homsley is working with Ileana Fernandez to solidify a date. She informed us that we may have to pay more for the facility this year. Denise will be giving a workshop on Student Day at the next general meeting; all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
District IV Concerto: Date is confirmed March 7, 2015 at UNF. Applications should be sent to Ileana Fernandez.

Committee Reports
Altruistic – Pam Searcy reported she sent condolences to Susan Figlietti regarding the recent loss of her mother. She also sent a thank you note to Music and Arts manager, Mike Vandiver for allowing us to use the Music and Arts facility for our recent meetings.
Certification – Sue Holder reported that no one applied last year but anyone interested should contact her.
Communications – Chairperson still needed.
Community Service Award – Chairperson needed.
Constitution and Bylaws – Sandra Stewart moved we approve the revised Constitution and Bylaws. Lindsay Hardee seconded. Motion passed.
Historian – Chairperson needed.
Internet Media – Lorraine requested approval for adding a link to the website for Ultimate Music Theory. Handout was passed out for members’ perusal. Discussion. Denise made a motion to approve the Ultimate Music Theory link addition. Several members seconded simultaneously. Motion passed.
Link to FSMTA Directory; we are no longer publishing the JMTA Directory on our website.
Piano Festival – Paulette Kilts announced the confirmed date of November 21, 2015.

• The theme is “The World is a Stage.”
• The event will encompass levels one through five, advanced, and teacher performers.
• Committees are being formed under the leadership of Lindsay Hardee and Paulette Kilts.
• An advanced duet team will be chosen to perform for this event by audition. We will need an individual to volunteer to supervise coordination of that in terms of setting up the audition, supervising the selection of music, choosing the judges, etc.
• Denise Homsley will be the treasurer for this event.
• Music committee will be: Sandra Stewart, Lisa Smith, and Betty Atkinson.
  
• Lindsay Hardee will be our music store liaison.
  
• Susan Figlietti will be in charge of tickets and layouts.
  
• Maureen Rhodes will assist with registration.
  
• Lorraine Eaton will assist with rehearsals.
  
• Discussion concerning use of digital pianos instead of acoustic. It was decided no digital pianos will be used for this event.
  
• There will be a planning meeting January 7, 2015 10am at Keyboard Connection.

Programs – Sandra Stewart reminded us of next month’s program and to see the calendar for more information.
Scholarships – Kamila Shahtahktinski said the venue for the high school scholarship will be Northeast Florida Conservatory; tentative date is Mar. 14, 2015. The summer music camp scholarship will be updated so it reflects that only pre-college students can apply.
Social – Betty Atkinson passed out a sign up sheet for people to bring refreshments for meetings.
Student Recitals –

• October 12 at Peace Presbyterian
  
• December 14 at Arlington UMC
  
• March 8 at Deermeadows Baptist
  
• Community Recital April 14, 6pm at Proton Therapy Institute

Unfinished Business:

• Susan Figlietti will be looking into the update of JMTA Brochure/Business Cards.
  
• Manual of Procedures: All chairmen need to turn in to Lorraine the specific duties associated with their position(s). This manual will be included on the website.
  
• New members will be listed in the next High Notes.

New Business: None.
Announcements:

• Fall Reception October 4, 3-5pm at Aida’s house.
  
• 2014 State Conference: October 23-26, Tallahassee
  
• Next General Meeting: October 8 at Keyboard Connection
  
• Lunch following program at Village Bread Café

Meeting adjourned: 10:40am
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Smith
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High Notes is distributed on the 1st 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]