JMTA High Notes
April 2021—Vol. 24, no. 7 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): April 14, 2020: 9:30am - General meeting 10:30am - Program: Marc Sabatella, Founder & Director of the Mastering MuseScore School ________________________________________________________________________ From the President’s Pen: Happy Spring! The MTNA National Conference was filled with sessions promoting Mindfulness, Positive Thinking and Healthy Habits. I have watched 13 sessions so far and there is much to be gleaned from each one! Mindfulness calls on us to be aware of where we are and what we are doing. Breathing deeply and staying focused on the student/task before us will help achieve that. Practice self-compassion. Celebrate what we do well and let go of negative thoughts. One of my favorite sessions was Pete Jutras’s workshop on “Healthy Practices.” (Dr. Jutras is Dean of the Music School at University of Georgia.) He presented a very candid picture of his life with personal wellness challenges and what he has observed in the past year in the time of COVID. Some of his challenges included: * Wearing multiple hats all the time or work/life balance * Dealing with hand pain issues from the computer while playing piano * Headaches * Performance anxiety * No escape He kept a journal and made charts of his daily progress or lack of progress. His plan for coping included: Good nutrition (making himself eat at least 4 veggies a day) Exercise (walking the dog daily and running 3 x a week) Sleep Keep learning, add something new Stay social Play the piano for fun- not just practicing something to perform Let go of negative people & influences Think positive thoughts Care for chronic illness He concluded with the following regarding what he learned this past year: Wellness needs to be a habit Pursue choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle There is value in slowing down We can be flexible Respect the healing role of music There is a need to keep going When we go back to “Normal”- let’s do it in a healthy way. These words of wisdom apply to each of us. Let’s enjoy the process of seeking healthier lifestyles as we teach and share the joy of music. See you at our April Zoom meeting! Anita Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM JMTA President __________________________________________________ Monthly Meetings April 14, 2021 - JMTA General Meeting / Program Marc Sabatella, Founder and Director of the Master MuseScore School After the general meeting at 9:30am on Wednesday, April 14, you won’t want to miss the exciting program at 10:30am with Marc Sabatella. “My name is Marc Sabatella, founder and director of the Mastering MuseScore School. I am one of the developers and chief ambassadors for MuseScore, and I have been teaching music online for over 25 years. Here at the Mastering MuseScore School, I focus on helping you create the best music you can. “MuseScore is the world’s most popular music notation program, and it is revolutionizing the way people create music. It does virtually everything the expensive commercial notation packages do, and it does it all for free.” - school.masteringmusescore.com The link to the meeting and program is as follows: April 14 Meeting: https://unf.zoom.us/j/99993861273?pwd=TzRmanNsdDJQZ3hkVFhXMFEvcjZpQT09 Meeting ID: 999 9386 1273 Passcode: 369717 Dr Michael Mastronicola, JMTA Programs Chair __________________________________________________ JMTA General Meeting Minutes Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Zoom Present: Paulette Kilts, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Anita Renfroe, Sandra Stewart, Kama Rasmussen-Li, Lisa Barwell, Lynn, Erin Bennett, Denise Homsley, Sandra Roberts, Angie Holt, Lorie Burningham, Lorraine Sears, Kamila Shahtakhtinski, Cheryl Dubberly, Michael Mastronicola, Maureen Rhodes Call to Order: 9:32am (Anita Renfroe) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) Nothing to report Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) Kama Rasmussen-Li motioned to approve, Sandra Stewart seconded Unanimously approved Treasurer’s Report: (Lorie Burningham) Nothing new to report $9,154 in checking Total of $20, 315 in bank account A letter with a check from Benevity for $194 went to Lorie, Lorie will reach out to FSMTA State Treasurer for guidance Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra Stewart) 52 members total, nothing to report We met Cheryl Dubberly today in the meeting COMMITTEE REPORTS: Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) Sent a card to Mr. Frankabandiero’s family Kamila had five students in the Charleston Classical Music Competition Communications: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Community Service: (Joan Cordell) Not present Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes) Not present Historian: (Lynn Roberts) Not present Internet Media: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Programs: (Michael Mastronicola) Today is the Student Day program April 14 program is Marc Sabatella who developed Muse score May is the Concerto program Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) No applications were received by the deadline Social: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Student Recitals: (Angie Holt) Sunday, April 18, after 2pm Students can come at their assigned time with their family at All Saints Episcopal Church Recital will be prerecorded and can be viewed after the recording event Waiting to see who the point person is Student Day: (Angie Holt) Saturday, April 24, program to follow with details Theory committee decided not to do the theory portion fully online Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell and Stefanie Batson-Martin) MTNA National Conference has some interesting wellness programs Old Business: Venmo/Paypal options New Business: FSMTA District Updates Concerto Competition - March 20 deadline for video submissions Phyllis Lake - secretary for Northwest Symphony JMTA Officers for the next two years Adjourned: 10:13am (Anita Renfroe) -Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin _________________________________________________ JMTA Student Recital Sunday, May 2 - All Saints Episcopal Church The JMTA Student Recital has been moved to Sunday, May 2nd, for church availability. This will be a hybrid recital where students will perform in scheduled increments before a camera (without an audience) and it will be recorded and put into a recital. They will be assigned a time between 2pm and 5pm. If you have some students who would like to be in the recital: Send an email to Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com by Sunday, April 18th with the following information: Name of student(s) Age Level Teacher name and phone number Complete title of composition (one piece allowed, must be memorized; duets may use music) Composer Approximate time of piece A fee of $5 is due per student. You may Venmo me at @Angie-Holt-7 (be sure to label what it is for), or you may mail a check to me made out to JMTA (my mailing address is on the website). Students (and anyone accompanying them) should arrive 5 minutes prior to their assigned time. Please wear masks and there will be hand sanitizer for the student to use upon entering the building. The student can remove the mask for the recording. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you. __________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS 2021 District IV Student Day The 2021 District IV Student Day is being held virtually on Saturday, April 24. Student Day applications have been received from 10 teachers, with a total of 38 students registered. The events for which the student will receive a grade are: Written Theory, Aural Theory, and Audition (repertoire and keyboard skills). There is normally a fourth ungraded event, a Recital performance; however, due to the circumstances of being held virtually this year, the recital will not be held. The live auditions before a judge, going over the repertoire and keyboard skills, are being held over Zoom. The aural theory testing will also be held over Zoom at a separate time. The written theory tests will be sent to teachers to distribute. The deadline to return the written tests will also be April 24. For those who receive scores rendering them eligible to participate in an Honors Recital, recordings made of their chosen Student Day piece can be uploaded to YouTube upon further instruction. Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have. Further emails will also be sent to participating teachers. We are looking forward to a great 2021 District Student Day! - Angie Holt, District IV Student Day Chair __________________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . This month we are getting to know Stefanie Batson-Martin, who is our Secretary and is on several committees within JMTA. Thank you, Stefanie, for taking the time to share your experiences with us! STEFANIE BATSON-MARTIN My name is Stefanie Batson-Martin, I am from Orlando, Florida and moved to Jacksonville, Florida to attend the University of North Florida. I am a flute and piano instructor for Music and Arts, the Lead Musician at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, and I teach swim lessons and aqua fitness classes at the Brooks Family YMCA. My mother signed me up for piano when I was around six-years-old because I enjoyed watching my grandmother play. I picked up flute in the 6th grade band and piccolo in high school. I studied flute with Rhonda Cassano, and piano with JMTA member Dr. Erin Bennett at UNF. I got into playing for community theatres around North Florida through my husband (who plays bass), and one of the most challenging shows was my first show as Music Director, “One Man, Two Guvnors”. I was expecting to have to learn the piano book and teach the actors their vocal lines. After receiving the music, I found out the pit band was modeled after a skiffle band, and they actually did most of the playing and singing. The show was a British comedy and featured an actress portraying a woman disguised as her brother for most of the show, so we ended up disguising me as a man as well since the lyrics would not have made sense for me to sing as a woman. It was definitely one of the most memorable and hilarious shows I got to be a part of. The corona virus actually taught me a really valuable lesson about how many students are living their lives in this time. Most of the time I would get complaints every week in lessons pre-covid that my students were rushed around from activity to activity and that they had no time to practice. This changed dramatically after the store I work at made us all go virtual in April 2020. Most of my students started progressing much faster than they did in-person. They were taking on more songs each week, and complaining less about homework and other activities since those were canceled and they were home all day. I was able to hold Zoom recitals every few months because I felt the students were actually prepared to do those that often, and I think the social aspects of seeing and interacting with other students while at home were much more exciting after constantly being around mostly family for so long. I’m sure many students still don’t practice because of the lack of interest, but I definitely feel stress, time and lack of being bored contribute to how much students practice that are interested in music. ___________________________________________________________________ Area Concert At the Friday Musicale: UNF Opera Department - Opera Scenes The Friday Musicale presents “UNF Opera Department - Opera Scenes” as part of its concert season. Thursday, April 8, 2021 Concert: 7:00pm Doors Open: 6:30pm Location: 645 Oak St., downtown Jacksonville Concert is FREE and open to the public; donations appreciated. Complimentary on-site parking. Call 904-355-7584 for more information. ___________________________________________________________________ Accompanist Available Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is skrmusic@bellsouth.net, or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068. _________________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. ______________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. ______________________________________________________________ Music Exchange (Will be on again once meetings are in-person) Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. JMTA High Notes
March 2021—Vol. 24, no. 6 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): March 10, 2020: 9:30am - District IV meeting and program: Answering Questions about This Year’s Virtual District Student Day ________________________________________________________________________ From the President’s Pen: As we welcome March and the promise of Spring, let’s look forward to a time when we can once again gather in the same room for our meetings and programs. We’re not there yet, but so much closer. Many of you have received your COVID vaccinations and I believe most will have them by mid-summer. Right now meetings for the Fall look “normal.” Despite the challenges imposed on us this past year, we have had some wonderful meetings and programs. The JMTA membership has volunteered, answered and provided support for each new problem we have faced. We need to know the ideas of all the members in order to provide the best opportunities for teachers and our students. Please keep in touch with the JMTA officers to express those wishes to us. Our next meeting is March 10th on Zoom. I look forward to seeing you! Right after our meeting is the MTNA ONLINE CONFERENCE – March 13-17. The MTNA National Conference promises to be a feast of programs, workshops and “how-to” sessions that will appeal to all. Sessions that focus on the youngest pupils to Recreational Music Making for the older students will be sandwiched in between presentations by a diverse array of composers from many countries. You will become acquainted with selections of all levels along with some background for the works. And…you’ll have two months to peruse these sessions at your own pace. SMILE at yourself and your students – it will make you feel good all over! Anita Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM JMTA President __________________________________________________ JMTA General Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 10, 2021, Zoom Present: Erin Bennett, Anita Renfroe, Sandra Stewart, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Angie Holt, Michael Mastronicola, Joan Cordell, Lisa Barwell, Kamila Shahtakhtinski, Denise Homsley, Kama Rasmussen-Li Call to Order: 9:32am (Anita Renfroe) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) Not present Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) The November minutes were read Treasurer’s Report: (Lorie Burningham) Lorie is not present, both daughters have been very ill, please keep her in your prayers Anita went over the treasurer’s report Questions can be emailed to Lorie Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra Stewart) Ron Touchton has renewed Cheryl Duberly is a new member, no information on her COMMITTEE REPORTS: Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) Not present She wrote some sympathy cards recently for Mary Lou Krosnick’s husband, Aaron Anita ran into a Joseph who received a card and he was very appreciative Michael Mastronicola will reach out to Mary Lou Krosnick on behalf of JMTA to let her know we are thinking about her Dan Francabondiero passed away, Sandra Roberts will be notified to send a card if she has not yet Communications: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Community Service: (Joan Cordell) Not present Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes) Not present Historian: (Lynn Roberts) Not present Internet Media: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Programs: (Michael Mastronicola) Today is Robert Durso, he will give a program on technical skills, he is from the Taubman Institute March 10, we are scheduled to have Marc Sabatella, but we will have Angie present a Student Day Q&A, will try to have Marc move to April or May Discussed whether May would feature concerto competition winners and how so Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) A photo was sent in for the High Notes Deadline for applications for high school is March 6, for video is March 20 Information is on the website Music camp scholarship application deadline is set for March 27, this can be applied to virtual camps Social: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Student Recitals: (Angie Holt?) Michael has the location, Lisa and Stefanie will work on the tech part, Erin offered to help with a program, and Angie offered to help coordinate, the next recital would normally be in March Student Day Report: (Angie Holt) Set for Saturday, March 27, registration deadline is Saturday, February 20 It will be held virtually The written theory and aural theory test will be available until Tuesday, March 30 for students to take Music will be scanned into a folder created for each student on Google Student Day recital will be virtual, possibly on Zoom Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell and Stefanie Batson-Martin) Nothing to report Old Business: Sonata/Sonatina Festival adjudication comments have been received by Erin, she is creating the digital certificates and is planning on sending those to the teachers this weekend New Business: Concerto Competition application deadline is March 8, $40 fee, check should be made to FSMTA District 4, it will be be completely virtual, video submission deadline is March 22, needs to be uploaded to Youtube, video must be one un-edited take with a fixed camera angle, both live and virtual accompaniments can be used, hands and face should be visible, no clues to the identity of the performer, recording must be from 2021, winners will be announced by March 30 FSMTA District Updates will be discussed at March meeting Adjourned: 10:23am (Anita Renfroe) -Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin __________________________________________________ Monthly Meetings March 10, 2021 - JMTA General Meeting / Program Answering Questions about This Year’s Virtual District Student Day After the general meeting at 9:30am on Wednesday, March 10, the program at 10:30am will be answering questions about this year’s virtual District Student Day. The link to the meeting and program is as follows: March 10 Meeting and Program: https://unf.zoom.us/j/91060223826?pwd=QlBINkRUUG1wMndCbVdtdTdYekVnQT09 Meeting ID: 910 6022 3826 Passcode: 733518 Dr Michael Mastronicola, JMTA Programs Chair ___________________________________________________________________ 2021 JMTA Scholarships 2021 JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition will be held virtually. This audition is for high school seniors that will be attending college as a music major. The repertoire must consist of 3 pieces of different periods (example: Bach Prelude and Fugue, Beethoven Sonata movement, piece by Debussy). Entrance fee is $25, and there will be three judges on the panel. The deadline to submit application for the High School Senior Scholarship Competition is March 6, 2021. The deadline to submit video materials is March 20, 2021. Send 3 letters of recommendation for the student, a check with $25 made out to JMTA, and the repertoire list to Kamila Shahtakhtinski, 7990 Baymeadows Rd. E unit 202, Jacksonville, 32256. For more info, email: kamilashaht@gmail.com or call Kamila, 904-645-6481. - Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair ____________________________________________________________________ JMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship will be awarded annually to the students of JMTA teachers to attend summer music camp of their choice. Scholarship may be awarded in full or partially and will be based on family need. Teachers must submit short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board. Students must show evidence of attendance at a camp. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA. Applications should be submitted by March 27, 2021 by mail or e-mail to JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair Kamila Shahtakhtinski. All information, guidelines and applications for both scholarships can be found on the JMTA web page (jaxmta.org). - Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair ____________________________________________________________________ JMTA Student Recital Sunday, April 18 at All Saints Episcopal Church We are excited to announce a JMTA Student Recital is being planned for Sunday, April 18, at All Saints Episcopal Church. Details are currently in the works and more information will be coming in an email. This will be a hybrid recital where students will perform in scheduled increments before a camera (without an audience) and it will be recorded and put into a recital. The piano will be cleaned between each student and hand sanitizer used. Each student/family will be given a different time to arrive, and will be able to view the recital once it has been put together. More details coming soon! ____________________________________________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to Mark Chen, Eva Nguyen, Alan Li, Fangze Chen, and Yunhan Shen - students of Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM. They are the recipients of 2nd and 3rd place Diplomas of the 2021 Charleston International Music Competition!!! ____________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS 2021 District IV Concerto Competition Application Deadline: March 8 Application: District 4 Concerto Competition Application Application Fee: $40 (mail check to Sarah Hartley 1677 Geraldine Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32205) Checks should be made out to FSMTA District 4. Teacher Fee: FSMTA members who renewed their membership before November 30 pay no fee. All other teachers are required to pay $80 non-member fee. Video Submission Deadline: March 22 Send YouTube link to sarahe639@gmail.com. You may not send the link for your video until after the application is submitted. Rules for video submissions: Video Requirements: • Audition video must be recorded in one unedited take, the camera angle must be fixed (no multiple angles). • Live and pre-recorded accompaniment are allowed. Accompanists are allowed to use electronic piano. • The applicant’s hands and face must be clearly visible. The video may not contain any clues as to identity of the performer. It may contain date of recording (but not place) and titles of works. • The recording must be recent, made no earlier than January 1, 2021. • Recordings from public performances are allowed. However, no people other than performers should be visible. No spoken word or subtitles are allowed. • Video submissions may only be a YouTube link. Do not include any clues as to identity (title or description) of the performer visible on YouTube. It may contain date of recording (but not place) and titles of works. • You may record using laptop, tablet, cell phone, consumer-grade cameras, as well as a higher-grade camera with or without external microphones. Use of dedicated sound capturing devices is strongly recommended. Video quality of at least 720p or higher is required. Accompanists: • Live accompaniments are preferred, however, if entrants are unable to meet with accompanists, prerecorded accompaniments are acceptable. CDs and online platforms such as SmartMusic.com, Appcompanist.com, Piano Accompaniments.com and Acapella may be utilized as is appropriate. • Teachers may accompany any entrant. Other rules: • All videos are randomly numbered and made anonymous to the judges. All decisions of the judges are final and will not be subject to further review. Judges have the right to declare no winner. • Incomplete applications or video submissions that do not follow the above rules may result in the participant’s disqualification without refund. Winners Announced: March 30 - Sarah Hartley, District IV Concerto Chair 2021 District IV Student Day The 2021 District IV Student Day has been moved back to Saturday, April 24. With most students taking lessons virtually, this will give students more time to prepare for each of the tests. The live auditions before a judge, going over the repertoire and keyboard skills, will be held over Zoom. We have decided the aural testing will also be held over Zoom. The written tests will be sent to the teachers, who can distribute them to their students to complete in each of their homes. The deadline to return the written tests will also be April 24. We will not be using the online aural and written theory testing. For those who receive scores rendering them eligible to participate in an Honors Recital, recordings made of their chosen Student Day piece can be uploaded to YouTube upon further instruction. For the program after our general meeting on Wednesday, March 10, we will be answering questions about this year’s Student Day. Please also see last month’s High Notes if needed for more detail. Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have. We are all first and foremost music teachers, and we are here to help you in this new way of doing things. Thank you for your patience. We are looking forward to a great 2021 District Student Day! - Angie Holt, District IV Student Day Chair __________________________________________________________________ MTNA’s National Conference is being held virtually this year, on March 13-17. See the Florida state website at FMTA.org for more details! ____________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . This month we are chatting with Lorie Burningham, who is our Treasurer. Thank you, Lorie, for taking the time to share your experiences with us! LORIE BURNINGHAM Hello, my name is Lorie Heaton Burningham. I am a mother of four grown daughters and 18 grandchildren. Besides teaching piano, I love photography and am obsessed with golf. I have taught piano lessons for 35 years. I have taught in Utah, Colorado, Maryland, Boston, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and now Saint Augustine. I believe in constantly improving my teaching by reading, watching, and learning. I am a past board member of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association and have been on the JMTA board for several years as secretary and now treasurer. Each year, I create a year-long printed incentive theory booklet and decorative wall banners. We have had pirate maps, Monopoly games, Clue games, sports, and this year is Harry Potter. We include sound theory, composition and a lot of games, iPad, computer, etc. This helps encourage my students to practice. I am a lover of technology. I accompany from an iPad with Bluetooth pedal and encourage my students to do the same. I was born in 1958 and raised in Provo, Utah and was one of six children. My parents believed that learning to play the piano was one of the greatest gifts they could give their children. Neither of them played the piano but my father played the guitar using simple chords. My father was a college professor and did not make much money, but they managed to have all six of us take piano lessons through high school. It must have been a sacrifice for them. Whenever I would argue with my mother about having to practice an hour a day, she would just say, 'Someday, you'll thank me,' and she would leave the room. I thank her every day, and it was an honor to play the organ at both of their funerals. My favorite piano teacher was Mrs. Cundick. She taught me from years 8-12. She introduced theory games, notation, composition, music history, etc. My previous teachers never really made lessons fun. I needed that after so many years. I have carried that tradition on with my students. One of my funniest piano stories took place when I was ten. On Saturday mornings, I would walk down the street to a neighbor's home (he was a music professor at Brigham Young University, so I guess my mom thought he must be good.) He would sit 12 feet behind me on the couch while he ate his breakfast. One Saturday, as I finished a piece in a John Thompson book, he did not say anything. He was silent. I turned around and what I saw horrified me! He was asleep! His hair piece (that I did not even know he had), had fallen off his head and into the breakfast on his lap. I started coughing to try to wake him up. As a ten-year-old, it was quite something. _____________________________________________________________________ Accompanist Available Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is skrmusic@bellsouth.net, or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068. ___________________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Music Exchange (Will be on again once meetings are in-person) Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. JMTA High Notes
February 2021—Vol. 24, no. 5 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): February 10, 2020: 9:30am - District IV meeting and program: The Taubman Approach: Playing and teaching trills, Alberti bass, and broken octaves with greater clarity and ease-- A Presentation by Master Taubman Teacher Robert Durso ________________________________________________________________________ From the President’s Pen: Greetings to each of you in 2021! As you look for new music and resources to use with your students this winter and spring, consider the websites for each of the military service bands/choirs. I saw an ad on p. 43 of the latest AMT magazine regarding the US Army Virtual Music Classroom. Under the Education tab is a list of CDs and Videos. I selected In My Dream – a celebration of African American music. The titles include an African chant, Soon I will be Done with the Troubles of the World, Maple Leaf Rag, and Oh Freedom as well as a few pop tunes. While you are looking through the new AMT rag, check out Karen Thickstun’s article, The Three Box Solution for Innovation: Manage the Present, Selectively Forget the Past and Create the Future. I believe this sums up what we are trying to do in MTNA, FSMTA and JMTA. We have to deal with our current situation with all of its challenges and find creative ways to forge new paths. We’re not forgetting all of the beautiful musical experiences of the past, but using those as stepping stones to inspire the future. The Winter, 20-21 issue of Piano Magazine contains an excellent interview with Michelle Cann on “Building Diversity.” (Ms Cann is the Curtis Institute of Music Staff Pianist.) This inspiring discussion reminds us to be open to new opportunities that allow us to grow. Let’s ensure that JMTA is a welcoming affiliation. The more inclusive and diverse our membership is, the broader and richer our footprint in the community can become. As we prepare students for Student Day, festivals, and recitals, let’s be in tune with our students – wear a smile, show a positive attitude and be open to their ideas. I look forward to seeing you on ZOOM for our February meeting and program. Anita Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM JMTA President _____________________________________________________ Monthly Meetings February 10, 2021 - JMTA General Meeting The Taubman Approach: Playing and teaching trills, Alberti bass, and broken octaves with greater clarity and ease-- A Presentation by Master Taubman Teacher Robert Durso All are invited to join next month's meeting on Zoom at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 10th. We will host Robert Durso, Master Teacher of the Taubman Approach to Piano Playing and founding director of the Golandsky Institute. The Golandsky Institute is the premier teaching institute for the Taubman Approach. Mr. Durso will focus upon how the principles of the Taubman Approach can assist the teaching and learning of trills, Alberti bass, broken octaves and how to play them with greater clarity and ease. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. on Zoom: The link to the meeting and the program, which begins at 10:30 am is: https://unf.zoom.us/j/92522070004?pwd=TDNiUFBRcHVzV0ZNZHJQQ3lXNGVUUT09 Dr Michael Mastronicola __________________________________________________________________ 2021 JMTA Scholarships 2021 JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition will be held virtually. This audition is for high school seniors that will be attending college as a music major. The repertoire must consist of 3 pieces of different periods (example: Bach Prelude and Fugue, Beethoven Sonata movement, piece by Debussy). Entrance fee is $25, and there will be three judges on the panel. The deadline to submit application for the High School Senior Scholarship Competition is March 6, 2021. The deadline to submit video materials is March 20, 2021. Send 3 letters of recommendation for the student, a check with $25 made out to JMTA, and the repertoire list to Kamila Shahtakhtinski, 7990 Baymeadows Rd. E unit 202, Jacksonville, 32256. For more info, email: kamilashaht@gmail.com or call Kamila, 904-645-6481. JMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship will be awarded annually to the students of JMTA teachers to attend summer music camp of their choice. Scholarship may be awarded in full or partially and will be based on family need. Teachers must submit short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board. Students must show evidence of attendance at a camp. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA. Applications should be submitted by March 27, 2021 by mail or e-mail to JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair Kamila Shahtakhtinski. All information, guidelines and applications for both scholarships can be found on the JMTA web page (jaxmta.org). - Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM, JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair ____________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS 2021 District IV Student Day The 2021 District IV Student Day is planned for Saturday, March 27, 2021. It has been decided that this event will be held over Zoom. Students can still choose either the morning or afternoon section. More information will be forthcoming, but students will join the Zoom “waiting room” prior to their appointment time, and the judge will select them at their time. The Student Day application deadline has been extended to Saturday, February 20. Please include one check for all fees, payable to FSMTA District IV. Individual student fees are $30 for all levels. Please include: The “FSMTA District 4 Student Day Achievement Application”, which can be found on the FMTA.org website under the Student Activities tab, under FSMTA Non-Competitive Events. Log in to the “Members of FSMTA Only” and click on the “Student Day Registration Form”. You can fill this out interactively and print it out, or just print out and fill it in with all of your students that are participating. A separate “Interactive Examination Sheet” for each student (aka Adjudication form). These forms are found on the same page as the application mentioned above. Scroll down to the “Sample Tests, Guidelines, and Adjudication Forms”, and the Piano Interactive Examination Sheets are listed in the right-hand column. Click on the appropriate level and fill in the student name under Section I, and then list the repertoire title, composer name, and timing of the piece under Section II. This can be done interactively as well and printed out, or just print out and fill it in. This is the form the judge will use to adjudicate your student. For your assistance and to help your students prepare, you can use, under the “Sample Tests, Guidelines, and Adjudication Forms” section mentioned above, the Aural and Written Theory Guidelines (which include sample tests) located in the left-hand for each level primary through 12, and Suggested Repertoire located in the middle column. (You do not have to use any pieces listed, it is a guideline.) In addition, the Student Day Handbook may answer more questions that you have; you can refer to your student’s level in the handbook for specific requirements. You can print all or any portion of the handbook. FSMTA has been working with a company to put the written theory and aural theory tests online. Once this is completed and sample tests are “live” and available online, an email will be sent out with this information. Thank you for your patience as any and all issues are being ironed out during this time. An independent teacher in Florida has devised a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, aural theory, and written theory portions of Student Day, if you would like to purchase. The guidelines follow the same leveling and guidelines that are provided in your Student Activities Handbook. These materials will assist students in mastering the FSMTA guidelines for Student Day. Contact information is as follows: Music Masters, 4111 NW 79 Ave, Coral Springs, FL 33065, 954-752-2856, email jwcsr@aol.com. Contact name: Sue Colvert As it has been mentioned before, “participation in District Student Day really helps advance a student’s music education. While the preparation is comprehensive, the rewards are great! Students, parents, and teachers are all pleased to see the student learn so much about theory and performance. As certificates and medals are awarded to the students, it is exciting for everyone to see the merits of their effort and how much they have progressed. Additionally, students often remark that school music classes are easy because of what they have learned from Student Day.” Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have. We are looking forward to a great 2021 District Student Day! Angie Holt, Student Day Chair ____________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . This month we are getting better acquainted with Kamila Shahtakhtinski, our Scholarship Committee Chair. Thank you, Kamila, for taking the time to share your experiences with us! KAMILA SHAHTAKHTINSKI I was born in Moscow to a family of scientists-physicists from Azerbaijan while my mother was visiting her parents there. Despite not having professional musicians in the family I was always surrounded with music. My mother had a beautiful voice and would sing all kinds of songs and opera arias. Her mother, a former nurse, would sing with piano accompaniment by my grandfather, a famous surgeon in Moscow. At the age of 5 1/2, I started my piano studies with the famous professor in child piano education, Lidiya Yegorova, in Baku (Azerbaijan), and after 2 years of studies took exams and entered the 11-year Special Music School for gifted children to continue my piano studies. This was a school with all music classes incorporated into the regular school program. I had my first big two-part solo recital at the age of 15. After graduating with honors, I continued studies at Azerbaijan State Conservatory (now Baku Music Academy) and graduated with Masters in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Chamber Ensemble Soloist and Accompanist. After graduation I continued as an assistant professor at the same Conservatory, holding at the same time positions of staff accompanist with the vocal and woodwind departments. As a soloist, accompanist and member of the chamber group I performed in all major concert halls of Baku, toured through major cities of the former Soviet Union, as well as performed at the International Piano and Orchestra Competition (Madzarra Del Vallo, Italy) and several Recitals in Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach and Melbourne, in Florida. I also performed many times with Azerbaijan State Symphonic and Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestras and recorded for Azerbaijan State Radio and TV. I have resided in Jacksonville since the fall of 1997 and continue teaching and performing as a soloist and accompanist. I’m an NCTM, and my students participate and get awarded at the District, State, and International level on a regular basis. In 2007 I recorded an album of classical piano selections entitled “Dedication” with Twenty-First Century Studios (Jacksonville, FL). I also served as a musician (2003) and Music Director (2006-present) at the St. George Episcopal Church. Some Memorable Musical Experiences A couple of times at recitals my students have played their entire piece an octave higher and one of them did not even realize there was anything wrong; the other one said that once he started, he couldn’t stop. This reminds me of my school friend who, on our 10th grade final exam, accidentally started playing J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in a different key and played it all the way through till the end of the fugue! The judges were amazed and gave him the highest grade. Advice on Getting Students to Practice It’s always been a problem to get students into practicing every day. It is no secret that actually nobody wants to practice, especially younger students. I’m always trying to have parents involved as much as possible in their child’s practice at home. Some of my students are graded every lesson and they are checked by the parents. It is also helpful to have deadlines and remind them constantly that not that much time is left until the event. The best music to my ears is when parents are telling me that they don’t have to ask their kids to practice anymore, but that usually happens after they turn 12; it happened to me at the age of 12, too. _____________________________________________________________________ Accompanist Available Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is skrmusic@bellsouth.net, or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068. ___________________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Music Exchange (Will be on again once meetings are in-person) Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. February 10 (on Zoom) 9:30am - meeting 10:30amprogram JMTA General Meeting followed by program: “Playing and Teaching Trills, Alberti basses, and broken octaves” " Zoom (see email for link)" March 10 (on Zoom) 9:30am JMTA General Meeting followed by program Zoom (see email for link) March 20 (Deadline to submit videos) JMTA High School Senior Scholarship Competition Held Virtually March 27 (held virtually) As Scheduled District IV Student Day Held Virtually April 14 (Maybe on Zoom) 9:30 - meeting 10:30 - program JMTA General Meeting followed by program Zoom (or Keyboard Connection) May 12 (Maybe on Zoom) 9:30 - meeting 10:30 - program JMTA General Meeting followed by program Zoom (or Keyboard Connection) 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. JMTA High Notes
January 2021—Vol. 24, no. 4 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): January 13, 2020: 9:30am - District IV meeting and program: “Dr. João Paulo Casarotti: The Use of Technology in Piano Lessons” ________________________________________________________________________From the (District) President’s Pen: Happy New Year to you all! I know the holiday season may not have looked quite the same as in previous years due to COVID-19 – I certainly missed in-person holiday recitals, travel, and gatherings with my extended family on the west coast. But somehow the transition to the new calendar year and the slowly increasing number of daylight hours post-Winter Solstice (not to mention the hope of a COVID vaccine) never ceases to make me more hopeful. It was an unusual holiday, to be sure, but I enjoyed getting to establish new traditions in my family and to watch the joy of our Christmas celebrations through the eyes of my toddler. It’s a new year, a clean slate, and a perfect time to engage in plans and dreams for the future. It’s a good opportunity to step back and take stock of just how much we managed to accomplish last year in the face of some very unprecedented challenges. I’m so proud of the resiliency our teachers and their students have demonstrated. For many of us and for our students’ families, the challenges continue to be very real, but having faced them for the majority of last year, I feel like I know what I’m up against now. I’m heading into the new term with a steely resolve and with better preparations (and upgraded equipment!) to face whatever the new year may bring. Do you have any teaching resolutions for the new year? Building off of what I learned during the Fall term, I resolve to work with my students to continually improve our online lesson experience and to work even harder to be present for my students during a time that is bewildering and difficult for them. Last term I found that the routine structure of piano lessons seemed to help ground my students who were disoriented by so much rapid change and online learning. Despite the fact that I pivoted all of my teaching to be remote during the fall, I found that my relationship with my students actually deepened, despite the separation. I am excited to reunite and to further develop those moments of (virtual) connection, as I found teaching helped keep me grounded, too. I’m also resolving to be a bit faster with my grading, as last term I was quite frustrated that doing everything online seemed to take 8 times as long as usual! For those of us who continue to teach online, or for those wanting to learn more, given the rise of the highly-contagious variant of COVID now in the state, we’re in for a treat at the January district meeting! Dr. João Paulo Casarotti of Baton Rouge will be talking with us about his own set-up for virtual teaching and what he has found to be the best practices in his decade plus of experience teaching online. More details and the zoom link can be found below, but feel free to check out this brief video that highlights his current private teaching set-up: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?app=desktop&v=8c1p_28CiuM See you on Zoom! Dr. Erin K. Bennett, NCTM President, FSMTA District IV _________________________________________ In Sympathy Aaron Burton Krosnick passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2020. He was formerly concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (1970-1980) and was Distinguished Performer-in-Residence at Jacksonville University and Artist-in-Residence with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He and wife Mary Lou have been JMTA members for many years. Our deepest condolences go out to Mary Lou and the family in their time of loss. Daniel Francabandiero passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020. His obituary was in the Dec. 27 edition of the Times Union. He was Music Director/organist at Riverside Park UMC for around 40 years and a long-time JMTA member until recent years. He was still active in Federation and one of our multi-piano festival directors in the past. His handbell choir programs were memorable; he also participated in some of the Organist Guild programs. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends at this time. _________________________________________________ JMTA General Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 11, 2020, Zoom Present: Anita Renfroe, Angie Holt, Erin Bennett, Lisa Barwell, Sandra Stewart, Anna Smith, Sandra Roberts, Lynn Freeman, Michael Mastronicola, Joan Cordell, Paulette Kilts, Denise Homsley, Lorraine Sears Call to Order: 9:33am (Anita Renfroe) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie) - Not present • Motion to move the October minutes, Paulette motioned, Sandra Stewart seconded Treasurer’s Report: (Lori) - Not present •$100 was sent to the Florida Foundation from the President’s Conference Fund, still leaves $200 for programs Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra) • Last count was 46 members, since then we had four more renew • New member Shani Castle, not present • New total of 51 members COMMITTEE REPORTS: Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) • Sent thank you to Charlotte Mabry • Will send thank you to Ron after today’s presentation • An address will be helpful for cards Communications/Internet Media: (Angie Holt) •No December newsletter •Just let Angie know if you want anything in the newsletter or website •Just received bylaws from Paulette and that has been updated on website •Angie and Anita had a meeting about putting the PDF format in the email first, and the written part later; Angie is going to just attach the PDF since the formatting is much better; let Angie know if you have trouble opening the PDF attachment Community Service: (Joan Cordell) • If you have a 9th or 12th grader who has done a lot of community service, go to the FSMTA website, under “Student Activities” and then “Competitive Events”. You will see detailed instructions for the application, this year’s deadline is January 17, 2021 Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes) - Not present Historian: (Lynn Roberts) - Not present Programs: (Michael Mastronicola) • Thank you to Sandra for writing a thank you note to Char Mabry, and for getting one to Charles Turon after today’s presentation • Today’s program is Dr. Charles Turon, Connecting the Dots, Making Music Theory Practical, done a lot for FSMTA and on the editorial board of “The Music Teacher” • No meeting in December • January 13: District program, Erin Bennett is in charge of this one • February 10: Robert Durso, one of a handful of master teachers in the country of the Dorothy Taubman approach and Senior Director of the Golandsky Institute; presenting a zoom lecture on the Taubman approach can help us learn and teach and play ornaments, Alberti bass, trills, parallel octaves with ease, healthy techniques and tips on teaching and playing those often difficult technical passages • March 10 and April 14 there was a member request to meet live and have presenter on zoom; This is still up in the air, we’ll discuss later; If held at Keyboard Connection, an ethernet cable and microphones would be necessary to hold a partially live and virtual meeting • Presentation Idea: Equipment needed to hold virtual lessons and presentations Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) - Not present Social: (Angie Holt) • Not possible to be social Student Recitals: (Sandra Stewart and Gavin Taylor (Lisa and Stefanie)) • Option 1 is livestream option, requires a lot of technology and a lot of people and good internet and a large venue to socially distance • Option 2 is prerecorded option, we could stagger the performance times; recording could be viewed on a hidden page on the district site, or a youtube playlist (time to create a JMTA youtube channel?) • Erin will work with Angie on JMTA Youtube Channel • Kudos to Lisa’s student for performing in composer recital at the state convention • Kudos to Erin Bennett for her performance at the state convention • Moving forward with the prerecorded option: January “Winter Recital”, dates will be emailed from Michael Student Day Report: (Angie Holt) •The state is working on the written and aural test, Lion Theory LLC is creating it and gave demos at a meeting recently, it would be a learning curve as it is online, but it looks great! May be a surcharge to take the theory test for the students •An email will be sent out when the students can access the sample tests •Parents could administer tests, need a way to diplomatically make sure the students won’t cheat on it •Angie, Denise and Erin will be meeting on the audition portion of student day; maybe have it over zoom with a waiting room Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell) • “The workshops at the conference were wonderful!” Old Business: • Erin Bennett will send a detailed message about the Sonatina and Sonata Festival; adjudicator is Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla New Business: • Conference presentations are still available at FSMTA website Adjourned: Anita Renfroe at 10:21am - Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin via a Zoom Recording Monthly Meetings January 13, 2021 - District IV Meeting JANUARY D4 MEETING DETAILS: Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 9:30 a.m. on Zoom: https://unf.zoom.us/j/98595753549? pwd=MVREMHBPM2ZISk1TOElyUm9xU0lZUT09 Meeting ID: 985 9575 3549 Passcode: 693258 Our presenter will be Dr. João Paulo Casarotti, from Baton Rouge, LA, who will present on “The Use of Technology in Piano Lessons.” His presentation will discuss basic and more elaborate configurations for online teaching, asynchronous initiatives in piano lessons, tutorial videos, apps, and some new ideas for student recitals. Dr. Casarotti (https://www.jpcasarotti.com/) is a Brazilian pianist and pedagogue who serves as the Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy (tenured) and the coordinator of piano studies at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also the organist and pianist of the First Christian Church of Baton Rouge. In addition Dr. Casarotti is the founder and artistic director of the Encontro Internacional de Pianistas, de Piracicaba (Piracicaba, SP), Encontro Internacional de Pianistas no Vale do Aço (Timóteo-MG) and the Piracicaba International Piano Concerto Competition (Piracicaba-SP), Brazil. He maintains an extensive private studio in both the U.S. and Brazil and has taught online for more than a decade. For a taste of how Dr. Casarotti has set up his home online studio, you can watch his short demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch? app=desktop&v=8c1p_28CiuM - Dr. Erin Bennett February 10, 2021 - JMTA General Meeting The Taubman Approach: Playing and teaching trills, Alberti bass, & broken octave with greater clarity and ease-- A Presentation by Master Taubman Teacher Robert Durso All are invited to join next month's meeting on Zoom at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 10th. We will host Robert Durso, Master Teacher of the Taubman Approach to Piano Playing and founding director of the Golandsky Institute. The Golandsky Institute is the premier teaching institute for the Taubman Approach. Mr. Durso will focus upon how the principles of the Taubman Approach canassist the teaching and learning of trills, Alberti bass, broken octaves and how to play them with greater clarity and ease. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 9:30 a.m. on Zoom: The link to the meeting and the program, which begins at 10:30 am is: https://unf.zoom.us/j/92522070004?pwd=TDNiUFBRcHVzV0ZNZHJQQ3lXNGVUUT09 - Dr Michael Mastronicola ____________________________________________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS! This fall six students of Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM were recognized as winners in the 4th Online “Florida Keys'' International Music Competition (IMC) in their age categories: Mark Chen (Honorable Mention) Eva Nguyen, Fangze Chen (3rd Place) Annie Nguyen, Yunhan Shen (2nd Place) Alan Li (1st Place and Timothy Brown Special Prize) Kamila Shahtakhtinski received the Diploma Of Recognition For Excellence in Education and Teaching from the same Competition. ___________________________________________________ JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report | November 1 - November 30, 2020 Debits Credits Expenses 11/9/2020 FSMT Foundation $100.00 11/9/2020 FSMT Conference Fund $100.00 11/23/2020 Charles Turon (Programs) $100.00 Deposits 11/9/2020 Deposit MTNA Dues $50.00 11/30/2020 Deposit Interest Checking $0.81 11/30/2020 Deposit Interest Money Market $1.96 11/30/2020 Deposit to Business Shares $0.14 Current Checking $5,041.20 Piano Festival Fund (add to Business Shares Acct) $3,333.18 Warren Fund $1,177.73 TOTAL Checking Account as of November 30, 2020 $9,552.11 Other Accounts: Business Money Market (Scholarship) $9,502.82 Business Shares (Festival) $1,651.80 TOTAL as of November 30, 2020 $11,154.62 TOTAL ASSETS as of November 30, 2020 $20,706.73 - Submitted by Lorie Burningham 12/04/20 ____________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS District IV Sonatina-Sonata Festival News: The inaugural (and virtual) District 4 Sonatina & Sonata Festival went live shortly before Christmas. Many thanks to those who contributed students to this first event. I was overwhelmed by the participation: 25 students from 10 studios! Digital program found here: https://www.flipsnack.com/UNFpiano/2020-fsmta-district-4-sonatina-sonata-festival.html YouTube Playlist found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV91hilHhqUfd6l68ub2fHDIzEX1kERPE The playlist is hosted by the JMTA YouTube channel as an unlisted link (meaning you must have the link to access it; it’s not searchable on the youtube page, etc.). At the end of January I will set the link to “private” to protect student privacy, so watch away while you can! Adjudicated comments and certificates should be coming to you by or before the end of the month. Many thanks to FSU’s Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla for serving as our adjudicator. Dr. Erin K. Bennett _______________________________ 2021 District IV Student Day District IV Student Day will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2021. This event will be held virtually. The deadline to register will be Friday, February 12. FSMTA has been working to put the written theory and aural theory tests online. Once this is completed and sample tests are available online, I will send out an email with this information. Please continue to be working with your students to prepare. You can help your student(s) prepare now by using the Student Day guidelines given on the FMTA.org website. Click on Student Activities at the top of the screen, then on FSMTA NonCompetitive Events. Scroll down to the “Members of FSMTA” and login with the casesensitive password that was recently emailed to you, for Student Day tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials, for each of the levels primary through 12. In addition, the Student Day Handbook may answer more questions that you have; you can refer to your student’s level in the handbook for specific requirements. You can print all or any portion of the handbook. In addition, an independent teacher in Florida has devised a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, aural theory, and written theory portions of Student Day. The guidelines follow the same leveling and guidelines that are provided in your Student Activities Handbook. These materials will assist students in mastering the FSMTA guidelines for Student Day. Contact information is as follows: Music Masters, 4111 NW 79 Ave, Coral Springs, FL 33065, 954-752-2856, email jwcsr@aol.com. Contact name: Sue Colvert Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have regarding Student Day. Angie Holt, Student Day Chair ____________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . As we start the new year, we are getting better acquainted with our District IV president, Dr. Erin Bennett. Thank you, Erin, for taking the time to share your life experiences with us! DR. ERIN BENNETT Hi folks! I miss seeing you all in person, but hope this offers a bit more of my background and purpose than you usually get to learn about in meetings. I was born to a predominantly UNmusical, but incredibly supportive family, and grew up on the west coast in Oregon. My earliest exposure came from an older cousin who taught me how to play the primo part of Heart and Soul” by taping letters to the keyboard (I’m now horrified!) so we could entertain (or torture?) our family at larger gatherings. Very soon after I started picking out familiar tunes by ear as my parents tried to find me a piano teacher. I was so fortunate to work with a wonderful teacher from age 7 to 18, and we are still in touch (she just turned 94 on Beethoven’s birthday last month). I’ve crossed the country a few times over the course of my education, with degrees from Rice University in Houston, TX, the University of Florida, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and first moved to Jacksonville in 2009 to start teaching at UNF. But seeing as how we are all teachers, I wanted to share some stories with you of my mentors and how they shaped me into the teacher and pianist I am today: • Virginia Hawley Buhn, my first piano teacher, was probably the third most important adult in my childhood, just behind my parents. Her philosophy was that every student could learn to play musically, and you could certainly hear that reflected in all her students. Beyond simply learning technique and repertoire, she taught me the value of MTNA membership and active participation. The “NCTM” initials after her name and signature were how I first learned about MTNA Professional Certification. She also offered me some unparalleled opportunities: she once gave an innovative presentation focused on Clara Schumann where she dressed in character and read from the Schumann family diaries and letters. I assisted her and was “cast” as her daughter, Eugenie Schumann, as part of the act at a state conference. In the mid-90s she prepared a series of videotapes showing how to use the OMTA Syllabus (Oregon’s Student Day equivalent) for effective teaching, going through each of the 10 levels. I was invited to be the student guinea pig, performing as part of her demonstration. Her model of MTNA engagement at the local, state, and national level is one I still follow today. • Robert Roux was my piano professor at Rice and one of my greatest musical influences. I owe my facility at the instrument (and my admiration for the Liszt Sonata) to his guidance. Any time I need a tune-up, Dr. Roux is the teacher I most want to turn to. I also have many fond memories of our visits to restaurants (in Houston and in Prague) and our rather legendary (but good-natured!) political debates in the halls of the Shepherd School of Music. • Boaz Sharon, formerly at UF, became the connecting thread for all my collegiatelevel teachers, owing to his Prague International Piano Masterclasses. I attended 3 summers, the last of which I also served as his Operations Manager. I am grateful to him, in particular, for these master classes, which were among the best of their kind, and also because it was there that I met my now-husband! It was also during my time with Boaz that I first had to opportunity to play with orchestra, an activity that continues to thrill me to this day. • In Cincinnati I worked with husband-wife piano duo, Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff. While I worked primarily with Eugene, weekly studio classes were a joint affair and it taught me the musical benefits of having multiple perspectives. That I now run a joint weekly studio class at UNF with my colleague Gary Smart is due entirely to their model. • My pedagogy advisor and assistantship supervisor at CCM, Michelle Conda, continues to be a significant mentor for me. In my last year of coursework I served as her Head Graduate Assistant, and when she went on sabbatical in my final year in residence, she asked me to serve as her sabbatical replacement, teaching her group piano and pedagogy classes, and overseeing 9 graduate assistants. Dr. Conda was the teacher who encouraged me to finally join MTNA, and who prompted my first article submission to AMT and my first presentations at MTNA national conferences and GP3 (the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum). From her I learned the value of conference attendance and participation, and the importance of mentoring the rising generation of music teachers. Favorite Resource to Improve my Teaching: Attending MTNA National Conferences. Most Terrifying Performance: Returning to Rice to perform as part of a celebration in honor of Dr. Roux’s 25th anniversary of teaching at Rice. I felt so confident and adult right until the moment I walked back onto the stage where I gave so many early performances. It was like reliving my freshman year all over again! Sometimes you can’t go home…. (the performance went fine, I think. But my nerves were shot!) Proudest Teacher Moment(s): Watching my students present at several state and national conferences, and watching them host the MTNA Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium at UNF. Seeing them step up, become experts in a subject, and interact directly with the field is so much greater than any performance or presentation I have ever given. Other Musically-Related Jobs I Have Held: Volunteer usher at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts (Eugene, OR), sheet music sales at Pender’s Music (Houston, TX), Operations Manager for the 4 orchestras of the Houston Youth Symphony, Operations Manager for the Prague International Piano Master Classes, Director of Educational Programs for the Beaujolais Chamber Music Workshop (France), Adjunct Instructor at Rice University (class piano) and CCM (class piano and piano pedagogy). As different as all these opportunities are, it’s fun to look back and see how they all contributed to the teacher I have become. Best Student Motivation Secret: Travel, Music Camps, and Music Festivals (once the pandemic is over!). Hearing other perspectives, living in an immersive environment with other young pianists and musicians, hearing older (and/or better) performers are eye-opening and tremendously motivating experiences. I didn’t know I would major in music until two summers at Interlochen Arts Camp while I was high school. I worked with very fine teachers there, but it was the whole experience that convinced me that I had no choice but to have a life in the arts. So often pianists work alone (in a practice room, working predominantly on solo repertoire, etc.), and finding out there were so many other young people equally passionate about their art was a revelation to me. I’ve also been very lucky to have attended piano workshops in Paris, Barcelona, Prague, and Belgium over the years, and found the simple act of traveling outside of my comfort zone and my usual bubble to be both beneficial and inspiring. Due to COVID-19 I was sadly unable to lead my biennial UNF Music study abroad to France in 2020. Getting out of my usual routine, dealing with unforeseen challenges, meeting new people, and navigating a different language/culture grounds me and refocuses me in a way that nothing else does. I’m looking forward to the hope of relaunching the event in the summer of 2022. _____________________________________________________________________ Accompanist Available Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is skrmusic@bellsouth.net, or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068. ___________________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Music Exchange Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION January 13 9:30am District IV Meeting Zoom (on Zoom) and program (see email for link) February 10 9:30am-meeting JMTA General Zoom (on Zoom) 10:30am-program Meeting followed by (see email for link) program March 10 9:30am-meeting JMTA General Zoom (on Zoom) 10:30am-program Meeting followed by (see email for link) program March 27 As Scheduled District IV Student Day Held Virtually (virtual) 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. JMTA High Notes
November 2020—Vol. 24, no. 3 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): November 11, 2020: 9:30am - general meeting; 10:30am - program: “CONNECTING THE DOTS: Making Music Theory Practical” ________________________________________________________________________ From the President’s Pen The FSMTA 2020 conference online was amazing! Kerri Turner and the conference staff pulled together an extensive array of clinicians from around the country and the globe. If you were unable to watch during the week of October 23-31, go to the FSMTA website and look for the links. Many of the clinicians have their own websites so you should be able to still benefit from their expertise. The Florida Foundation Fellow for this year is Charles Turon. He will be our guest clinician November 11th. Attend our Zoom session and you will understand why he was selected. Charles, along with Gail Berenson, former MTNA President, will be co-hosting the FSMTA Conference next fall in Venice, FL. Many of the sessions were outstanding! One inspiring example was Penelope Roskell’s, “Nurturing Healthy, Confident Piano Students.” Ms Roskell (from the UK) shared some clever ideas to foster good technique such as playing with a parachute touch. Place your hand on your knee and as you breathe in, lift your hand up slowly. When the hand is in front of your face, exhale and slowly let it float to the keys and land on cat’s feet. If the wrist drops too low, you have stepped on the cat’s tail. This exercise helps develop a soft wrist. Another session relevant to my current teaching situation was “Late Bloomers: Making Up for Lost Time” presented by Victor Andzulis. “Have students set their own assignments for the week and be responsible for their goals.” These words of wisdom I’ll try in lessons with teens. The enthusiasm, sparks of energy and inspiration provided though the sessions as well as the chats with other teachers can energize our teaching in the coming months. Congratulations to JMTA member Lisa Barwell and her 10 year old student, Caroline Vynanek for her performance in the Composer Recital. Caroline played the “Soggy Sonatina” by Wendy Stevens. Congratulations also to JMTA member Dr. Erin Bennett for the premier performance on the Teachers Recital of “Autumn Lullaby,” a piece dedicated to music teachers during the 2020 COVID crisis. The work was composed by Jacksonville violinist, Peter Szewcyk. See you soon on Zoom! Anita Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM President, JMTA _____________________________________________________ JMTA General Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 14, 2020, Keyboard Connection Present: Anita Renfroe, Lynn Freeman, Angie Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Stewart, Stephanie Blind, Lorraine Sears, Michael Mastronicola, Erin Bennett, Paulette Kilts, Sandra Roberts, Maureen Rhodes, Denise Homsley, Betty Atkinson, Lisa Barwell Call to Order: 9:30am (Anita Renfroe) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) Nothing to report Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie Batson-Martin) Top of September 9, 2020 Minutes had February 12, 2020 date (from copying and pasting, sorry!) Treasurer’s Report: (Lori) Not present Sent in approved budget Things to talk about in “New Business” Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra) Four new members had not renewed that joined in Spring; contacted all of them, all but one went ahead and renewed October: 46 total members Two new members: Dayvin and Stephanie Blind were on the Zoom meeting last month COMMITTEE REPORTS: Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) Sandra has been doing a fantastic job with getting cards out for various things Contact her if you have something to acknowledge with a card from JMTA Communications: (Angie Holt) Nothing to report Community Service: (Joan Cordell) Not Present Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes) Nothing to report Historian: (Lynn Roberts) Not Present Nothing to report Internet Media: (Angie) No newsletter in December, so make sure news for the next few months makes it in the November newsletter Programs: (Michael Mastronicola) Dr. Indelicato: Presenter from September donated her honorarium to the scholarship fund, she gave a great program Today is Charlotte Mabrey on innovative ways to teach rhythm to students November: Dr. Charles Turon - Connecting the Dots, Making Music Theory Practical No program in December Erin Bennett doing district program in January Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) Not Present Keep checking the website for scholarship information Social: (Angie Holt) None right now Student Recitals: (Sandra Stewart and Gavin Taylor) Stefanie has offered to help the committee with technology (video) Lisa has offered to join the committee and has ideas from previous experiences Sandra Stewart and Gavin Taylor will stay in charge of the committee as consultants Student Day Report: (Angie Holt) Will be held online Registration deadline will be Friday, February 12, 2021 The theory and aural portion will be online and is being worked on Details will need to be worked out Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell) Not Present Stefanie has offered to join the committee Old Business: None New Business: A change in the bylaws was approved in the August 2020 board meeting, we need to vote on that; Erin Bennett motions to change the bylaws and add a Section 3 to match the FSMTA bylaws on meeting remotely, Paulette Kilts seconds; unanimously approved (14 total), motion passed Sonatina/Sonata Festival: Everything was sent to Angie; official rules, repertoire guidelines and video submission guidelines will be out; unlisted youtube playlist will be shared with members, teachers and students/families, up for two weeks; families will retain ownership of videos; one entry, due November 21, 2020, $15 students of members, $25 students of non-members; online registration; scanned copy of the score for the adjudicator; parent/guardian consent waiver; adjudicator will be providing written comments and each participant will receive a certificate; repertoire should be memorized and in original form; student should dress up and bow; sent to youtube as unlisted or public Music Gift from JMTA to the Florida State Music Teacher’s Foundation of $100, proposed by Anita Renfroe, Paulette Kilts moved, Erin Bennett seconded, unanimously approved (14) motion passed FSMTA Conference is coming up Adjourned: Anita Renfroe at 10:17am - Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin __________ JMTA Programs: November Another exciting program is on the schedule for November, again through Zoom! Charles Turon, Ph.D., FSCTM, Retired Professor of Music, State College of Florida, will be presenting: “CONNECTING THE DOTS: Making Music Theory Practical” on Wednesday, November 11 at 10:30am (following the general meeting at 9:30am). Hope to see you there! NOVEMBER 11 ZOOM INVITATION: Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/95975260919?pwd=L2ovRUJLSTZmKzlLb21jVS9iejR6QT09 ____________________________________________________________________ JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report | September 1 - September 30, 2020 Debits Credits Expenses Deposits 09/09/20 Deposit MTNA Dues $150.00 09/09/20 Transfer from Ckg to MM for speaking fee donation $100.00 Deposit to Money Market - speaking fee donation 09/09/20 from Dr. Indelicato for scholarship fund $100.00 09/14/20 Deposit to MM from Business Shares (old CD $) $7,120.78 09/14/20 Transfer from Business Shares to Money Market $7,120.78 09/30/20 Deposit Business Shares Interest $0.39 09/30/20 Deposit Money Market Interest $1.32 09/30/20 Deposit Checking Interest $0.81 Current Checking $4,891.20 Piano Festival Fund (add to Business Shares Acct) $3,330.70 Warren Fund $1,527.73 TOTAL Checking Account as of September 30, 2020 $9,749.63 Other Accounts: Business Money Market (Scholarship) $9,498.84 Business Shares (Festival) $1,651.51 TOTAL as of September 30, 2020 $11,150.35 TOTAL ASSETS as of September 30, 2020 $20,899.98 - Submitted by Lorie Burningham 10/08/20 ____________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Sonatina & Sonata Festival District IV is launching its inaugural Sonatina & Sonata Festival, to be held virtually due to the pandemic. This non-competitive festival will take place in late Fall (with a video submission deadline of November, 21, 2020). All participants will receive adjudicated feedback, which will also help them prepare for future events in 2021 (Student Day, Federation, auditions, recitals, etc). We welcome students of all ages and levels performing movement(s) of a Sonatina or Sonata for piano by composers from the Classical Era onwards (including modern pedagogical or method book composers). Entries will be submitted as Youtube videos, and the final “event” will consist of a link to a Youtube playlist which can be watched as a recital from your own home. Rules & Regulations: published on the JMTA website Deadline: Video submissions and online applications are due before midnight on November 21, 2020. Cost: $15 for students of FSMTA members; an additional $10 is required for students of non-member teachers What to Play: A movement or movements from a Sonatina or Sonata by any composer from the Classical Era to the present day. Repertoire to be performed by memory. 10-minute time limit. Questions: Contact Erin Bennett at e.bennett@unf.edu ______________________________________________________________ 2021 Student Day District IV Student Day will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2021. This event will be held virtually. The deadline to register will be Friday, February 12. FSMTA is working to put the written theory and aural theory tests online. Once this is completed and sample tests are available online, I will send out an email with this information. You can help your student(s) prepare now by using the Student Day guidelines given on the FMTA.org website. Click on Student Activities at the top of the screen, then on FSMTA Non-Competitive Events. Scroll down to the “Members of FSMTA” and login with the case-sensitive password that was recently emailed to you, for Student Day tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials, for each of the levels primary through 12. In addition, the Student Day Handbook may answer more questions that you have; you can refer to your student’s level in the handbook for specific requirements. You can print all or any portion of the handbook. In addition, an independent teacher in Florida has devised a curriculum to help you prepare your students for the keyboard skills, aural theory, and written theory portions of Student Day. The guidelines follow the same leveling and guidelines that are provided in your Student Activities Handbook. These materials will assist students in mastering the FSMTA guidelines for Student Day. Contact information is as follows: Music Masters, 4111 NW 79 Ave, Coral Springs, FL 33065, 954-752-2856, email jwcsr@aol.com. Contact name: Sue Colvert Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have regarding Student Day. Angie Holt, Student Day Chair ____________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . We have been getting to know some of our new members, since we are not yet able to meet or greet them in person. This month we are getting acquainted with Sonja Foster. Thank you, Sonja, for introducing yourself to us! SONJA FOSTER Hello to all my fellow musicians and teachers in the Jacksonville area! I am a violinist, an alumna of The Curtis Institute and The Juilliard School and have been a member of GMTA for 30+ years. It is my great pleasure to have moved to Amelia Island, my favorite place on earth, in the past year from Atlanta where I have had a studio for gifted pre-college violinists for over 30 years. I was born in Chicago, Illinois where my parents filled our home with music. I started violin at age 7 and was practicing 4 hours per day by the time I was 9 years old. My teacher at Chicago Musical College required it. I was invited, at age 15, by Ivan Galamian, to study with him at The Curtis Institute. For my college years, I continued my seven years of studies with him for my degree at Juilliard. Following that, I did have a performing career across the country while teaching in the Chicago area at Wheaton College and Trinity College. After some years, I moved to Atlanta and focused my teaching primarily on the pre-college level of violin students, since there is such a need for young ones to learn correct technique. This was Mr. Galamian’s passion as well. He has always been my inspiration since he grounded his violinists in consistent, accurate technique. In teaching, it has been my great privilege to have taught many young people from the ground up, so to speak, from the most beginning levels to high career levels. I taught Timothy, Phillip and Janet Ying of the Ying Quartet when they were children as well as Joel Link of the Dover Quartet; Kirsten Lee, now a concert violinist and many others. Currently, I have reduced my studio to a select few gifted young violinists in Georgia and Florida. I am a member of GMTA and FSMTA. As far as experiences I have had in my teaching experiences, this stood out: One of my students, age 9, was performing at the Winners recital for the GMTA yearly conference a few years ago at Spivey Hall. Spivey Hall is about one hour from the north side of Atlanta where most of my students live. Her family arrived at the hall and discovered that they had forgotten her 3/4 size violin! The mother drove about 90 MPH back to Roswell and made it to Spivey Hall one minute before her daughter was to perform! Never a dull moment! One of my favorite books on being a wonderful musician and teacher, and a really great book for any musician, is: THE TALENT CODE by Daniel Coyle. My favorite book for taking care of the artist in us is: THE ARTIST’S WAY by Julia Cameron. If you would like more information on my background, my website is: sonjafoster.com. ________________________________________________________________________ Accompanist Available Dr. Sandra Roberts is available to play for Sunday morning church services if anyone has a need. Her email is skrmusic@bellsouth.net, or you can text or call her at 904-607-9068. _____________________________________________________________________ Area Concerts The Heritage [R]ingers of Jacksonville Holiday Concert by The Heritage Singers of Jacksonville “What happens when a choral group can't sing due to a worldwide pandemic? Why, we RING, of course.” Admission: Free but accepting donations for the International Myeloma Foundation Date and Time: Sunday, December 6, 2020, 3:00pm – 4:00pm Location: South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church 2137 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32207 Register at eventbrite.com for socially-distanced seating. ---------- Christmas Orchestra Concert “Put on your best holiday attire and come and enjoy a symphony orchestra featuring various styles of music including classical, contemporary, tango, jazz, and more!” Admission: Free Date and Time: Friday, December 18, 2020, 7:00pm-9:00pm Location: Destination Church, 7341 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32211 Attire: Semi-formal Questions? Text Corina at (704) 776-5669 or e-mail donicacorina@gmail.com Register at eventbrite.com _______________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. ________________________________________________________________ Music Exchange Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. November 11 (on Zoom) 9:30am - meeting 10:30am - program “Connecting the Dots: Making Music Theory Practical” Zoom (see email for link) Submissions Due November 21: Sonatina & Sonata Festival Held Virtually January 13 (on Zoom) 9:30am - District IV Meeting Zoom (see email for link) February 10 (on Zoom) 9:30am - meeting 10:30am - program - program “Playing and Teaching Trills, Alberti basses, and broken octaves” Zoom (see email for link) 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. Attachments area JMTA High Notes
October 2020—Vol. 24, no. 2 JMTA General Meeting (using ZOOM): October 14, 2020: 9:30am - general meeting; 10:30am - program: “Sharing Good Vibes Through Percussion: Learning, Improvising and Teaching Rhythms” ________________________________________________________________________ From the President’s Pen JMTA is off to a wonderful start for 2020_2021! In our September Zoom BusinessMeeting we welcomed several new members and look forward to seeing them in the coming sessions. As soon as possible in the new year, we will have a Face-to-Face welcome. Hats off to our Program Chair, Dr. Michael Mastronicolo for arranging our September speaker, Dr. Natalie Indelicato. She was inspiring, an expert in her field and so accommodating to members’ questions. The Handouts from her session should have reached you last week. I encourage you to download and use these. Each member attending the Zoom session received practical information and suggestions to help our students “open_up” in lessons. My favorites were the Feelings Wheel and the chart explaining Responding versus Reacting. Please see the information for our October Zoom program featuring Dr. Char Mabrey. Our upcoming state conference will be online for the first time and is FREE to all! 2020 VISION: Opening Eyes to the Power of Music, October 23-31 Here is the link: Check out all of the upcoming sessions. https://www.fmta.org/fsmta-conference.html I’m looking forward to the Composer Recital featuring two living composers, James King and Wendy Stevens. I was not familiar with James King, but have used Wendy Stevens’ materials for several years. She abounds with energy and will keep you engaged. Need a little boost…this quote from Yo Yo Ma may help… “This moment has clarified for me that music was invented for a purpose: to serve, to respond to needs of individuals, communities and society. It’s a source of comfort, connection and hope.” See you October 14th on Zoom, Anita Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, NCTM President, JMTA Below are some links that may be useful as you plan lessons this fall - Anita MUSIC THEORY Earplane www.earplane.com Good Ear www.good-ear.com E-Music Theory www.emusictheory.com Music Learning Community www.musiclearning.com Aural Online http://web.aanet.com.au/auralonline Music Theory.net www.musictheory.net ACADEMIC Scholarships http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/interest/music-performance/ Mapping Music https://www.areditions.com/books/rs002.html Piano Pedagogy Forum http://www.music.sc.edu/ea/Keyboard/PPF/index.html Graded Piano Repertoire www.gradepianorepertoire.com/ _____________________________________________________ JMTA General Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 9, 2020, Keyboard Connection Present: Anita Renfroe, Ronald Touchton, Lynn Freeman, Joan Cordell, Angie Holt, Stefanie Batson-Martin, Sandra Stewart, Stephanie Blind, Lorraine Sears, Dayvin Sterling, MichaelMastrinocola, Hari Sharan, Erin Bennett, Paulette Kilts, Sandra Roberts, Kamila Shahtakhtinsky, Kama Rasmussen-Li Call to Order: 9:33am (Anita Renfroe) Parliamentarian: (Lynn Freeman) Nothing to report Secretary Minutes: (Stefanie) Met as the board in August, had another meeting two weeks later to take care of business. Treasurer’s Report: (Lori) (Emailed, with daughter at hospital) Monthly budget report. Lynn motioned, Lorraine seconded Budget, we'll deal with later Vice-President/Membership: (Sandra) 41 Current Members 17 non-renewals (February was 51) New Members: Stephanie Blind, Sonya Foster, Scott Mcnany, Dayvin Sterling Sandra will contact non-renewals and see what happened with membership COMMITTEE REPORTS: Altruistic: (Sandra Roberts) Sent get well card to Deborah East and welcome Lorie Burningham, for daughter who is having health challenges Communications: (Angie Holt) Community Service: (Joan Cordell) Info is on state website under competitive events, if you have a student in 8th or 12th grade that has completed a lot of musical community service, go and submit them, deadline should be December Ethics: (Maureen Rhodes) Not present Historian: (Lynn Roberts) Not present Internet Media: (Angie) Updating the website Facebook posts links to website as well Programs: (Michael Mastronicola) Dr. Natalie Indelicato is coming at 10:30am, will talk about working with student on remote distancing and how to help support, requested JMTA donate her honorarium for financial aid, summer program fund? This meeting is being recorded for Stefanie to make notes, program will be recorded, and can be placed on the website with Dr. Indelicato’s permission October 14: Char Mabrey, Zoom meeting, rhythm and rhythmic movement into the lesson to support a holistic support to rhythm reading November 11: Dr. Charles Turon from Florida State College, ideas: Connecting the dots, making music theory practical Paradigm shift, music teachers as promoters of mental health Essential health science training for music teachers Health and wellness of studio music teachers (Email Michael if preference for specific topic) December: No meeting January: District program Working on February, March and April, depends on meeting format being zoom or in-person Scholarships: (Kamila Shahtakhtinski) Social: (Angie Holt) Can’t meet in person, so no updates Student Recitals: (Sandra Stewart and Gavin Taylor) Discussed and tabled until following meeting Student Day Report: (Angie Holt) Yearly evaluation, judged on written theory, aural theory, performances Many don’t feel comfortable having it in person at this point Looking at having virtually Stephen Gosden can help with theory Wellness Liaison: (Joan Cordell) Lots of wellness webinars Nothing to report Old Business: Nothing to go over New Business: If you are interested in joining a committee, please let Anita know Proposed budget: Paulette moved, Angie seconded, unanimously approved Sonatina Festival presented by Erin Bennett Bylaw revision tabled until next month since we are not in violation Adjourned: Anita Renfroe at 10:33am Submitted by Stefanie Batson-Martin ____________________________________________________________________ JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report | August 1 - August 31, 2020 Debits Credits Expenses Deposits 08/06/20 Deposit MTNA Dues $400.00 08/11/20 Deposit MTNA Dues 100.00 08/31/20 Deposit Checking Interest $0.83 08/31/20 Deposit Business Shares Interest $0.75 08/31/20 Deposit Money Market Interest $0.49 Current Checking $4,941.20 Piano Festival Fund (add to Business Shares Acct) $3,330.72 Warren Fund $1,527.73 TOTAL Checking Account as of August 31, 2020: $9,799.65 Other Accounts: Business Money Market (Scholarship) $2,276.74 Business Shares (Festival) $8,771.90 TOTAL as of August 31, 2020 $11,048.64 TOTAL ASSETS as of August 31, 2020 $20,848.29 - Submitted by Lorie Burningham 09/06/20 ________________________________________________________________________ Condolences Our deepest sympathy goes to Mr. Joseph Alessandro, of Keyboard Connection, in the passing of his wife, Kathleen Olive, on September 13th. ________________________________________________________________________ JMTA Programs: October You’ll want to mark your calendars for our sensational October program! Charlotte Mabrey will be presenting “Sharing Good Vibes Through Percussion: Learning, Improvising and Teaching Rhythms.” Meeting again through Zoom, it will be held on Wednesday, October 14th at 10:30am (following our Zoom general meeting at 9:30am). After receiving UNF’s Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1991 and the Distinguished Professor Award in 2001, Mabrey was named Professor Emerita ofMusic in 2016. “Her students have gone on to hold positions in military bands, The President’s Own drum and fife corps, as university professors, as performers, and as music teachers at all levels from elementary to high school to university. “Her unique position of both active performer and educator allowed Mabrey to grow and learn throughout her years with the JSO and UNF. It brought a certain relevance to her percussion studio, one that constantly brought together the world of playing and education.” - https://mabreymusic.com/about/ Come join us on October 14th for this exciting program! Thank you to Dr. Michael Mastronicola, program chair. OCTOBER 14 ZOOM INVITATION: Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/98728625759?pwd=aFYvaS9uY0R6bmgvZUh4d3FNZWdPQT09 ____________________________________________________________________ DISTRICT IV NEWS Sonatina & Sonata Festival District IV is launching its inaugural Sonatina & Sonata Festival, to be held virtually due to the pandemic. This non_competitive festival will take place in late Fall (with a video submission deadline of November, 21, 2020). All participants will receive adjudicated feedback, which will also help them prepare for future events in 2021 (Student Day, Federation, auditions, recitals, etc). We welcome students of all ages and levels performing movement(s) of a Sonatina or Sonata for piano by composers from the Classical Era onwards (including modern pedagogical or method book composers). Entries will be submitted as Youtube videos, and the final “event” will consist of a link to a Youtube playlist which can be watched as a recital from your own home. Rules & Regulations: to be published shortly on the JMTA website Deadline: Video submissions and online applications are due before midnight on November 21, 2020. Cost: $15 for students of FSMTA members; an additional $10 is required for students of non-member teachers. What to Play: A movement or movements from a Sonatina or Sonata by any composer from the Classical Era to the present day. Repertoire to be performed by memory. 10-minute time limit. Questions: Contact Erin Bennett at e.bennett@unf.edu. ______________________________________________________________ 2021 Student Day Discussions are currently taking place for 2021 District IV Student Day regarding how it will be held. In the meantime, you can help your students prepare for this annual evaluation by choosing and helping them learn the repertoire, and working on their keyboard skills, written theory, and aural theory. What is Student Day? It is an annual evaluation held on a Saturday in one of the early months of the year, and the student can choose whether to attend in the morning or the afternoon. 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 fourth event, the recital performance, is not graded, though it is a chance to perform one of the pieces in front of an audience. How many pieces do they play in the audition before the judge? For the primary level and level one, just two pieces memorized from different composers, and for levels two through twelve, three pieces memorized (from different musical periods beginning with level five). What is the cost to participate in Student Day? Individual student fees are $30 for all levels. Student Day guidelines may be found on the fmta.org website. Click on Student Activities at the top of the screen, then on FSMTA Non_Competitive Events. Scroll down to the “Members of FSMTA” and login with the case_sensitive password that was recently emailed to you, for Student Day tests, guidelines, suggested repertoire, and other materials, for each of the levels primary through 12. In addition, the Student Day Handbook may answer more questions that you have; refer to your student’s level in the handbook for specific requirements. You can print all or any portion of the handbook. More information will be coming in an email and in next month’s High Notes once it is determined how this event will be held. Please contact me by email (angiespianostudio7@gmail.com) with any questions you may have regarding Student Day. - Angie Holt, Student Day Chair ____________________________________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . For the next several months we will be interviewing some of our new members, since we are not yet able to meet or greet them in person. This month we are getting to know Stephanie Blind and Lois Gurney. Thank you, ladies, for sharing your passion and experiences with us! STEPHANIE BLIND Hello! My name is Stephanie Blind (pronounced with a short “i,” not like the eye condition!) and it’s such a pleasure to be back in the Jacksonville area. My husband is in the Navy, stationed at NAS Jacksonville, and our family recently relocated here from Annapolis, Maryland. We live in Nocatee and our children, Connor (8) and Samantha (6) are seriously loving the Florida lifestyle! I’m originally from New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia, and studied Piano Performance at Ithaca College in NY. After graduation, I was fortunate to receive a Rotary Int’l Ambassadorial Scholarship, which allowed me to pursue my Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Teaching at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Upon my return to the States, I realized that although I love classical piano, my heart was in teaching, especially elementary music. Teaching music even allowed me to pursue my second biggest love- travelling! I accepted a job teaching elementary music and dance at an International School in Tokyo, Japan in 2006, which changed my life in more ways than one. Because of the vibrant music scene, I was able to play piano in Western cover bands as well as Jazz bands at bars and embassies across the city. Tokyo is also where I met my husband, who was stationed there! Already an avid traveler and lover of adventure, I settled quickly into our military lifestyle. Getting to move every 2_3 years is exciting, and we’ve been able to live in some fantastic places. However, every time we land somewhere new, I have to start over again. It’s exhausting yet full of possibility. I’ve taught music in public and private schools in three states. I’ve taught piano to countless students (although the frustration and sadness with not being able to see them through more than 2 years is getting harder each time.) I even became certified to teach Music Together, an amazing music program designed for very young children and their families. We were stationed back in Japan from 2016_2018 and I was so proud of the musical community of Japanese and American military families I was able to nurture through Music Together. So, here I am, starting over for the 7th time in 11 years! In the midst of a pandemic, no less. I hit the ground running this summer and joining JMTA was one of the first things I did. I want to be connected to the community of pianists and educators here, and I love the activities and opportunities to connect for students that exist through it. I opened up a virtual piano studio and appealed to all of my military friends across the country, whose kids were home from school, to consider piano lessons. Luckily for me, some of them took me up on it! I have 12 students, all virtual, who live in 5 different states. I advertised on the Nocatee Facebook group and picked up some local students as well. Not having a full-time classroom job this year, I really want to focus on refreshing my piano pedagogy practice and feel reinspired. Thanks to MTNA newsletters, I discovered the Elementary Piano Teaching course through the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and signed up! It’s a 10_week online course designed to challenge veteran teachers (or inspire new ones) to shake up their methods and expose them to new research and mentors. So far, I love it! I can’t wait to meet everyone, and I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Fall! __________ LOIS GURNEY It is good to have joined the ranks of the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association. I have happy memories of hosting JaxMTA recitals on the Steinway grand pianos at Riverside Presbyterian Church. Because of my work responsibilities as Music Director/Organist there, I could only enjoy snippets of your students’ performances from the back of the sanctuary. I always heard fine music making. Congratulations on such fine musicianship. I was born in South Africa into a family where music was an important part of everyday life. Gran was a piano teacher and gave each of her 10 children a piano when they married. This gift fostered the family tradition of live music in the next generation. Making music with piano, guitar and song was fun when the cousins got together, and we often organized concerts in our grandmother’s living room. Although daily practice was never a bind, it was only when I entered college that I learned a new level of focused rehearsing. That was probably my most difficult year of piano study. I can thank my teacher, Peggy Haddon, who helpedme see and hear with new eyes and ears. I would have saved so much time and achieved so much more if careful practice had been part of my early piano study. Peggy’s kind, careful yet unwavering commitment to the nurture of good habits to produce fine music has been a model for my teaching career. Since my recent retirement from Riverside Presbyterian Church, I am enjoying my home in Fernandina Beach and have more time to devote to teaching. Previously I had active piano studios as well as held organist positions in South Africa, Texas, Alabama and Kentucky. I have Licentiates in piano teaching from the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College of Music in London, and degrees from The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa; the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; and Rice University in Houston, Texas, where I received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance degree. My piano teachers include Peggy Haddon and Adolph Hallis, and Organ professors include Stephanus Zondagh, Boyd Jones and Clyde Holloway. My second instrument in college was Double Bass, and for years I worked in orchestras, playing in South Africa, Europe, Israel, and South America. As an Organist, I have performed as soloist and accompanist in South Africa, Europe, Mexico and the United States. The pandemic has brought challenges that we never expected. The MTNA has been a helpful resource as I have searched for new ways of doing my craft. I amgrateful that music has been an integral part of my life since my earliest days. My family and teachers have woven threads of love and care to encourage growth as a musician and person that sustain during confusing times. ________________________________________________________________________ Florida State Music Teachers Association 2020 FSMTA Conference - "2020 Vision: Opening Eyes to the Power of Music” October 23-31, 2020 - Virtual Conference FREE TO ALL The Virtual Conference will be FREE and still include a variety of engaging presenters, the annual teacher's recital, several student recitals, virtual exhibitors and more! Visit www.fmta.org ______________________________________________________________________ Area Concerts St. Anastasia Concert Series - Opening Night with Peter Morin & Friends! Celebrating 10 years of music at St. Anastasia with Peter & Helen Morin, guests Cal Brown, Joe Colsant, Lisa Lockhart, Barbara Van Rysdam Featuring Helen Morin and organist, Peter Morin and guests. Parish choir singers will also be performing. The program will feature sacred vocal works Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus, etc. and organ masterpieces Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor, Widor's Toccata from Symphony V, and Vierne's Carillon de Westminster, among others. Free - donations will be taken to offset expenses. There will be no intermission and the concert will last about an hour. Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 7pm St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 5205 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080 ----- The Friday Musicale 131st Season Opening Night Concert – Daniel Rodriguez “The Singing Policeman” October 23 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Pre-concert reception 6:00pm, Concert 7:00pm Limited Seating – RSVP required. Please RSVP through email (rentals@fridaymusicale.com) or call 904-355-7584. “Daniel Rodriguez, the now_retired NYPD officer, helped bring the country an uplifting spirit of promise and hope with his stirring rendition of ‘God Bless America’ after the September 11th terrorist attacks.” Read more at https://fridaymusicale.com/event/daniel-rodriguez/ ----- Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Haydn and Stravinsky October 23-24, 7:30pm at the Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water Street FLORIDA BLUE MASTERWORKS SERIES Courtney Lewis, Music Director STRAVINSKY - Symphony in C HAYDN - Symphony No. 92, “Oxford” “Over his 104 symphonies, Franz Joseph Haydn single-handedly codified the genre’s conventions. By the time he wrote his 92nd, ‘The Oxford,’ he was breaking his own ‘rules’ in order to create explosions of humor and surprise. Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony in C exudes the tremendous upheaval he experienced during its composition: losing much of his family, recovering himself from tuberculosis, and emigrating from France to the United States at the onset of World War II.” https://www.jaxsymphony.org/event/haydn-and-stravinsky/ Performances last 60_75 minutes with no intermission. Masks must be worn at all times. _______________________________________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, Please take a moment to check out your information on our Find a Teacher page. If you would like to edit, add, or delete your information, please send whatever you would like changed to our Internet Media chairperson Angie Holt at angiespianostudio7@gmail.com. _____________________________________________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Great Scott Music School, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at greatscottmusicacademy@gmail.com. _____________________________________________________________________ Music Exchange Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Let's have a music exchange! Bring your unwanted 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 JaxMTA 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. October 14 (on Zoom) 9:30am - JMTA General Meeting 10:30am - program “Sharing Good Vibes Through Percussion” Zoom (see email for link) October 23-31 As Scheduled FSMTA Conference: Opening Eyes to the Power of Music Online Submissions Due October 26 MTNA Competitive Events (registration deadline 3pm 9/16) Online November 11 (on Zoom) 9:30am - JMTA General Meeting 10:30am - program “Connecting the Dots: Making Music Theory Practical” Zoom (see email for link) Submissions Due November 21 Sonatina & Sonata Festival Held Virtually 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 jaxmta@gmail.com. |
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