American Music Teacher articles from February 2003

American Music Teacher archives from February 2003

Looking forward to national conference. (Dear Reader).
February 1, 2003... It is with very mixed emotions that I write this "Dear Reader" column. I am so excited about the upcoming national conference and eager to have you share my enthusiasm as you learn more about the program we've put together for you. At the same...

2001-2003 biennium agenda completed. (In Unison).
February 1, 2003... As we approach the end of the biennium, in this, the final column from this MTNA president, it seems appropriate to assess MTNA's accomplishments with regard to the agenda the Board of Directors adopted at the very beginning of this biennium....

Sibelius appoints Silver as CEO. (Items of Interest).(Sibelius USA Inc.; Jeremy Silver)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sibelius USA, Inc., has announced the promotion of Jeremy Silver to CEO of Sibelius Software Ltd., its parent company. Ben Finn, who started the company with his twin brother Jonathan Finn and served as CEO, takes on the newly created role...

Steinway band division staff announcements. (Items of Interest).(Steinway Musical Instruments Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... John M. Stoner, Jr. is the new president of the band instrument division of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (recently renamed Conn-Selmer), replacing Thomas Burzycki, who has retired. Stoner also will serve as a director on the board. ...

ASTA with NSOA hosts first national conference. (Items of Interest).(American String Teacher's Association and National School Orchestra Association)
February 1, 2003... The American String Teacher's Association with National School Orchestra Association (ASTA WITH NSOA) will host its first national conference, "Celebrating Strings: All Together Now!", March 27-29, 2003, at The Ohio State University. ...

New Center for American Music. (Items of Interest).(established by the University of Texas at Austin School of music )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The New Center for American Music was established by The University of Texas at Austin (UTA) School of Music to advance the teaching, scholarship and performance of American music from all traditions, including concert, folk and popular music....

Sibelius to distribute Auralia and Musition Software. (Items of Interest).(Sibelius USA Inc. to distribute Rising Sofware's music education titles)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sibelius USA, Inc., announced that its parent company, Sibelius Software Ltd., has acquired the worldwide distribution of Australia-based Rising Software's leading educational titles Auralia and Musition. Ben Finn, co-founder of Sibelius...

2002 International Violin Competition winners announced. (Items of Interest).(Sixth Quadrennial Violin Competition of Indianapolis )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Hungarian violinist Barnabas Kelemen was the gold medal winner of the Sixth Quadrennial Violin Competition of Indianapolis in September 2002, receiving $30,000 and a twenty-four-carat gold medal. He also received a four-year loan of the...

San Francisco Symphony website earns accolades. (Items of Interest).(SFSKids.com)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The San Francisco Symphony and 415, Inc., creators of the website SFSKids.com, an online music education resource for children, families and schools, received the 2002 WebAward for Best Music Website. SFSKids.com was designed to provide a...

Find sheet music online at MusiGramma.com. (Items of Interest).(sheet music search engine )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... MusiGramma.com is a search engine dedicated to compositions, their composers and all the editions--parts or scores--available for purchase. Visitors can search for compositions by author, title or instrument, or browse the site by topic,...

Steinway net sales declined in third quarter. (Items of Interest).(Steinway Musical Instruments Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of musical instruments, experienced a 9 percent decrease in net sales for the quarter ended September 28, 2002, amounting to $75 million. Earnings per share were $0.25...

JazzMasters workshops expanding. (Items of Interest).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... The San Francisco Bay Area's premier music mentoring program is now becoming the nation's premier music mentoring program with its recent expansion to Long Island and South Central Los Angeles, approaching its 400th workshop. Founded in...

MakeMusic! Inc. launches SmartMusic Studio 7.1. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... MakeMusic! Inc., 6210 Bury Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55346-1718; (952) 937-9611, fax: (952) 937-9760; customerservice@smartmusic.com; www.makemusic.com or www.smartmusic.com. Cost varies. MakeMusic! Inc. recently released SmartMusic Studio 7.1,...

Featherweight keyboard cases built tough. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... The Music Link. Contact nearest local dealer listed at www.themusiclink.net. $99. The Music Link is now offering durable featherweight keyboard cases for forty-nine, sixty-one and seventy-six-key keyboards. These sturdy lightweight cases...

MakeMusic! introduces finale guitar. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... MakeMusic! Inc., 6210 Bury Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55346-1718; (952) 937-9611, fax: (952) 937-9760; finalesales@makemusic.com; www.makemusic.com. $99.95. MakeMusic! Inc., a world leader in music education technology, recently released its...

EzyTuner 1.2 tuner and metronome available. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... EzyTuner, 5 Rainbow Cres., Beechboro WA, Australia, 6063, (08) 9378 6970; support@ezytuner.com; www.ezytuner.com. $19 for single-user license. EzyTuner 1.2 allows musicians to tune their instruments more economically and efficiently...

Beethoven Lives Upstairs to be released on DVD. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... The Children's Group, Inc., 1400 Bayly St., Ste. 7, Pickering, Ontario, L1W 3R2 Canada; (800) 668-0242 or (905) 831-1995, ext. 27, Fax: (905) 831-1142; moreinfo@childrensgroup.com or mdaoust@childrensgroup.com; www.childrensgroup.com. See local...

Latin music activity kit for kids. (Music Marketplace).(advertisement)
February 1, 2003... Putumayo World Music, 324 Lafayette St., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10012; (800) 995-9588, ext. 250 or (212) 625-1400, Fax: (212) 460-0095; blenzb@aol.com; www.putumayo.com/ playground. $69. 95 for complete classroom edition or $29. 95 for...

National Piano Scholarship Competition. (Competitions and Scholarships).
February 1, 2003... The University of Tennessee National Piano Scholarship Competition will take place March 8, 2003, and is open to all piano students who are planning to enter The University of Tennessee in the fall of 2003 as piano majors. The first-place...

Markey Organ Scholarships in New Jersey. (Competitions and Scholarships).
February 1, 2003... The George Markey Memorial Pipe Organ Encounter Scholarships, sponsored by the Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, are accepting applications for both collegiate and high school scholarships. George Boone...

Taiwan International Piano Competition. (Competitions and Scholarships).(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... The 1st Taiwan International Piano Competition will take place September 25-October 5, 2003, at the National Recital Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities born after October 5, 1972, and not later...

Partners at home and on stage. (Misha & Cipa Dichter).(pianists )
February 1, 2003... Nearly every article about pianists Misha and Cipa Dichter begins with the story of two young pianists who fall in love while attending the Juilliard School of Music. Well, why fight the trend? With no apologies at all to the popularity of a...

A Scorpio whose star is rising. (Sari Gruber).(opera singer)
February 1, 2003... I've always been fascinated by astrology. Not that I really believe the alignment of stars determines what happens in any given day, but I do often wonder why it is that my horoscope is right on the mark such a great percentage of the time....

Catch the rising stars. (Rising Stars).(at Music Teachers National Association Conference)(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... For the second consecutive year, MTNA will showcase young artists in one of its conference concerts. These artists are the result of dedication, hard work and fine teaching, Ann Milliman Gipson introduces Juilliard's Five Browns, pianists, and...

The dispensables and indespensables of proper pedagogical preparation or what to pack for an MTNA conference.(Music Teachers National Association)
February 1, 2003... Note: The following article was written in 1993, but alas many of the same suggestions still are applicable. Fortunately for all of you, the superlative staff at MTNA headquarters is constantly thinking of members' needs. They have asked me to...

Pedagogy Saturday history: embracing all disciplines.(Music Teachers National Association program)
February 1, 2003... Editors Note: The December/January 2002/2003 American Music Teacher featured a "Meeting of the Minds" interview by Bruce Berr with MTNA Executive Director Gary L. Ingle and Louise Goss, renowned pedagogue, Frances Clark Center chair and...

Directory of summer programs.(music programs)(Directory)
February 1, 2003... ALABAMA University of Mobile Barbara Laurendine, Camp Director, University of Mobile, Fine Arts Department, 5735 College Pkwy., Mobile, AL 36613; (251) 442-2402, fax: (251) 442-2526; dianest@hotmail.com; www.umobile.edu Summer...

Official notice of annual business meeting. (National Association News).(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... The annual business meeting of the Association for the presentation of reports and discussion of association affairs will be held Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at 2:00 P.M. in the Salt Palace Convention Center Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah. This...

State affiliates recognized. (National Association News).(Music Teachers National Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Three state MTAs recently were recognized for their years of affiliation with MTNA. Kansas Music Teachers Association became partially affiliated with MTNA in 1921; it became fully affiliated in 1952. Founded in 1886, its first president,...

Official notice of bylaws amendment proposal. (National Association News).(Music Teachers National Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... At the annual business meeting, the MTNA Board of Directors is proposing an amendment to Article I, Section 3 of the MNTA Bylaws regarding terms of office for National and Division officers. The purpose of the amendment is to modify the...

MTNA affiliates taking advantage of 501(c)(3) status. (National Association News).(Music Teacher National Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... As of December 2002; eighty-nine MTNA state and local affiliates have been approved for 501(c)(3) status through MTNA's group exemption process, achieving their status without filing for an application with the Internal Revenue Service. By...

Online resource for local presidents. (National Association News).(Music Teacher National Association offer online handbook to local chapter presidents)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Local MTA presidents often have questions about MTNA's programs or want to know who to contact at national headquarters for answers to specific questions. Yet many are not certain where to find the answers. Perhaps the best place to go for...

Percussion Competition reinstated. (National Association News).(Music Teachers National Association Student Percussion Competitions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... After a one-year suspension, the MTNA Student Percussion Competitions have been reinstated at all levels. Percussion competitions will be held as part of the 2003-2004 MTNA Competitions. The Board of Directors postponed the competitions for...

StAR Award program. (National Association News).
February 1, 2003... Since 1998, the Student Achievement Recognition (StAR) Award program has granted free, one-year national active MTNA membership to selected graduates. Students are selected by faculty and school administrators on the basis of excellence in...

Board approves Diversity Plan. (National Association News).(Music Teachers National Association Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... At its December meeting, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation by the MTNA Diversity Task Force, which was charged with advising the MTNA Board of Directors of programs and services the association should establish to better meet the...

East Central Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... The Illinois State MTA (ISMTA) was founded in 1886 and has a long history of providing high-quality programs and support for music teachers. The ISMTA Achievement in Music program could be a standard for the entire MTNA membership....

Northwest Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... Plans are underway for the 2003 state conferences in the Northwest Division. The Alaska State MTA Conference will be the weekend of May 10 in Anchorage. Session topics will be performance anxiety; childhood learning and psychology,...

Eastern Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... Focusing on the Eastern Division state of Connecticut, the Connecticut State MTA (www.CSMTA.org) is divided into five chapters. Estrid Eklof is president of the association that is offering programs and opportunities for each community. The...

Southwest Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... This is an exciting time for the Southwest Division and for Utah, particularly, as we welcome attendees of the MTNA National Conference to Salt Lake City. We encourage Southwest Division members to take advantage of the proximity and come to...

West Central Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... Members and friends of the West Central Division are invited to attend a no-host dinner during the MTNA National Conference in Salt Lake City. The dinner will be held immediately following the division business meeting on Monday, March 17, with...

Southern Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... There have been many interesting happenings in our division lately. Thanks to all who wrote in to tell me about them. I like to keep abreast of what is going on and rely on your input. Keep those cards and letters coming! Georgia MTA...

South Central Division. (MTNA Division News).
February 1, 2003... Members may log on to the following sites to learn about the activities in the South Central Division states. The Louisiana MTA (LMTA) launched its website, www.lmta.org, in June 2000. The site contains the following sections: president's...

Harris Endowment Fund established. (MTNA Foundation News).(MarySue Harris Endowment Fund to finance Music Teachers National Association's Studio Teacher Fellowship Award)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The MTNA FOUNDATION welcomes MarySue Harris to membership in the Legacy Society. She recently funded the MarySue Harris Endowment Fund that will support the MTNA Studio Teacher Fellowship Award. Her strong commitment to the beginning teacher...

Kudos to state Foundation chairs! (MTNA Foundation News).
February 1, 2003... The MTNA FOUNDATION thanks the chairs for the work they do coordinating their state's fundraising efforts. The role of the state chair is very important to the work of the FOUNDATION. Many thanks to all of you! Constance H. Teague,...

Contributing made easy. (MTNA Foundation News).
February 1, 2003... Have you considered making your annual gift to the FOUNDATION via your credit card? The FOUNDATION offers you four card choices: MTNA MasterCard, MasterCard, Visa or American Express, plus five payment options: annual, semiannual, quarterly,...

Please let us know. (MTNA Foundation News).
February 1, 2003... Have you remembered the MTNA FOUNDATION in your estate plan? If so, we would like for you to let us know so we can say "thank you." Making a planned gift through your will is a significant commitment that deserves recognition. The FOUNDATION...

Double your money. (MTNA Foundation News).
February 1, 2003... Many corporations are willing to match employee donations to a nonprofit. Do you or your spouse work for such a company? The MTNA FOUNDATION encourages applicable donors and their families to check with their corporate headquarters to inquire...

Celebrating certification.(parents on why they chose a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music )
February 1, 2003... Because parents ultimately guide their children's education--and have the potential to strongly impact the standards of the music teaching profession--MTNA asked several parents why they chose a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music to instruct...

State MTA presidents directory.(Music Teachers National Association)(Directory)
February 1, 2003... Alabama--Brent Reeves, 3508 Laurel View Rd., Birmingham, AL 35216-3826; (205) 979-6472; brentandlorna@aol.com Alaska--Timothy Smith, 16056 Hidden Creek Ln., Anchorage, AK 99516-7524; (907) 345-4156; aftcs@uaa.alaska.edu ...

Polyphony. (Professional Resources).(teaching variations for music )
February 1, 2003... In this month's column, I would like to deal with two issues--the sameness of the private lesson setting, and meaningfulness in what we do in teaching and within out personal lives as a whole. Both topics deserve much thought, and cannot be...

What's new in Pedagogy research? (Professional Resources).(music teachers and college music students survey about use of practice time)
February 1, 2003... Ever since the first person showed a friend how to clap their hands or beat on a rock in rhythm, teachers have expected their students to practice. Most teachers think the main goal of every lesson is to prepare the student to practice until...

It's all of your business. (Professional Resources).(insurance for self-employed music teachers)
February 1, 2003... Insurance Checkup After a period of relative stability throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, health care costs in the United States have been on the rise. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA) report that total...

Town and gown: models of musical collaboration. (College Faculty Forum).
February 1, 2003... I recently asked the director of a large community music school how a newly established branch of that school was doing. My colleague answered, "Not as well as we'd hoped; but they don't really know us yet." This conversation seemed very...

Commissioning FAQ's. (Composer Commissioning).(Music Teachers National Association Composer Commissioning Program)
February 1, 2003... At this writing, we are busy completing another year of the MTNA Composer Commissioning Program, including the selection of the MTNA Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year. This seems like a good time to remind you to allow plenty of "lead...

Developing the independent music studio. (Independent Music Teachers Forum).(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... Jump-start your attendance at the National Conference in Salt Lake City with Professional Studio Saturday, March 15, 2003. The focus of our sessions this year is how to raise the overall level of our studios. So much of our attention is...

National Office Candidates.(Music Teachers National Association)
February 1, 2003... In accordance with Article VI, Sec. 2. of the MTNA Byaws, this slate of the two candidates per office was prepared by the MTNA Nominating Committee, consisting of: Joan Reist, NCTM, Lincoln, Nebraska, chair; Arlene Krueger, NCTM, Sioux Falls,...

President-elect East Central Division. (Division Elections).(candidates Mark Mrozinski and Lynn Singleton)
February 1, 2003... Mark Mrozinski served for thirteen years as coordinator of the Harper Music Academy, a community music school affiliated with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. While at the Harper Music Academy, he was responsible for...

Echoes of Scotland.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... by Mary Leaf. The FJH Music Company, Inc. (2525 Davie Rd., Ste. 360, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317-7424), 2002. 5 pp., $2.95. Pre-reading. Satisfying solos for those first lessons using prenotation are hard to come by, making Mary Leaf's Echoes...

The Godowsky Collection, Volume 3:53 Studies in Etudes of Frederic Chopin and Other Chopin Arrangements.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... compilation and introductory notes by Millan Sachania Carl Fischer (65 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012), 2002. 445 pp., $49.95. Advanced. Carl Fischer has released the third volume of its five-volume compilation, The Godowsky Collection, a...

Sonate Romantique.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... (for flute or violin and piano), by Paul Badura-Skoda. Editions Musicales Alphonse Leduc/Theodore Presser Company (588 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406), 1984. 9 pp. flute or violin, 25 pp. piano; $42.95. Late Intermediate. The...

Funny 4 or More.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... by Martin Klaschka. Musikverlag Doblinger (Postfach 882, A-1011 Wien, Austria), 2001. 18 pp. score and eleven parts for C and B-flat instruments, keyboard and percussion; 18.90 [euro]. Early intermediate. Funny 4 or More contains seven...

Passionate Practice: the Musician's Guide to Learning, Memorizing, and Performing.(Book Review)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... by Margaret Elson. Regent Press (6020-A Adeline, Oakland, CA 94608), 2002. 108 pp., $19.95. This book has much to offer the thoughtful reader, especially the adult student intrigued by psychological approaches and looking for new pathways...

Classical Music 101.(Book Review)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... by Fred Plotkin. Hyperion (114 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011), 2002. 672 pp., $14.95. Encapsulating the milieu of classical music in a single volume is a formidable task, but Fred Plotkin has by-and-large succeeded. After cutting his teeth...

Schubert's Late Lieder: Beyond the Song-Cycles.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Susan Youens. Cambridge University Press (40 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011-4211), 2002. 436 pp., $75. Thoughts of the late lieder of Franz Schubert bring to mind the settings of Wilhelm Muller's Die schone Mullerin and Die Winterreise or...

2001 Qilloowawya, "Hitting the Rawhide": Serenade Songs from the Nez Perce Music Archive.(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Edited by Loran Olsen. Northwest Interpretive Association (909 1st Ave., Ste. 630, Seattle, WA 98104-3627), 2001. 38 pp., $19.95. This thirty-eight-page booklet with CD, containing thirty-six Nez Perce song selections, supporting...

Music Teachers National Association, Inc.: consolidated statement of financial position: June 30, 2002: independent auditor's report. (MTNA).
February 1, 2003... We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Music Teachers National Association, Inc. as of June 30, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of activities and cash flows for the year then ended. These...

Leadership.
February 1, 2003... Wayne Gibson, NCTM President 4 Ivy Chase N.E. Atlanta, GA 30342-4500 (404) 816-9910 WayGib@aol.com Phyllis Heifer, NCTM President-elect 4852 Wishkah Rd. Aberdeen, WA 98520-9628 (360) 537-6863 Fax (360) 537-6852...

Music Teachers National Association 2003 National Conference.
February 1, 2003... Dear MTNA Member: Let me be the first to officially invite you to join your colleagues, distinguished clinicians and artists in the music-teaching profession at the 2003 MTNA National Conference in Salt Lake City, March 15-19. MTNA has a...