American Music Teacher articles from June 2009

American Music Teacher archives from June 2009

Celebrating the vocal arts.(Dear Reader)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... Like most members of MTNA, I'm in the piano world--teaching and performing. MTNA has an interesting dual role; it is the only national organization for piano teachers, but at the same time it is the only umbrella association for teachers of ALL...

Meet MTNA President Ann Gipson.(In Unison)(Music Teachers National Association)(Interview)
June 1, 2009... How does it feel to be the new president of MTNA? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I am excited to begin my term as president and at the same time humbled by the responsibility. In spite of the economic recession and how this may impact the next...

Lauren Keiser Music Publishing established.(items of Interest)(Report)
June 1, 2009... Veteran music publisher Lauren Keiser has started Lauren Keiser Music Publishing (LKMP), an ASCAP publisher, and Keiser Classical, a BMI house, new publishers of music print publications, rental library, CDs, DVDs and music rights. He has...

New offering at Salem College.(Items of Interest)(certificate program on keyboard technique)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Salem College and its school of music will offer a new certificate program in injury prevention keyboard technique beginning this fall. The certificate program, which will be the first of its kind to be offered at an American college or...

Third IMC World Forum on Music set for Tunis.(Items of Interest)(International Music Council)(Conference news)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The International Music Council's 3rd IMC World Forum on Music will take place in Tunis, October 17-22, 2009, under the title "Access to musical diversity." The forum is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage...

Emerson and Hancock receive Korg Lifetime Achievement Award.(Items of Interest)(Herbie Hancock and Keith Emerson)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Korg, an innovator in keyboards and synthesizers for the studio, touring and DJ markets, presented its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned keyboard artist/composer Keith Emerson and multiple Grammy-Award and Oscar-winning jazz...

Solti Foundation increases grants.(Items of Interest)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Solti Foundation U.S., which assists young American conductors in the early stages of their professional careers, has decided to award $25,000 to a young American conductor for the second time in its history this fall. The Foundation has...

New England Conservatory offers free trial of database.(Items of Interest)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... New England Conservatory is offering musicians a free trial of its Bridge: Worldwide Music Connection online database service through the end of June 2009. With more than 3,000 listings, it is the most comprehensive music opportunities database...

MIC competition winners announced.(Items of Interest)(Music Institute of Chicago)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) has announced the winners of the 2009 Generation Next Young Composer's Competition. Winners of the 2009 Generation Next Young Composer's Competition are Andrew Hsu, 14, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,...

Young Texas Artists Music Competition winners announced.(Items of Interest)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Soprano Desiree Alejandro won first place in the voice division of the 25th Annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition, capturing the Entergy grand prize along with an invitation to perform with the Montgomery County Choral Society....

LifeWay SongMap.(Music Merchandise)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... LifeWay SongMap LifeWay Worship; (800) 436-3869; worship@lifeway.com; www.lifewayworship.com. LifeWay Worship has released SongMap, a web-based digital music application that allows users to create custom arrangements of songs and produce...

Common Time From mDecks.(Music Merchandise)(card game)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Common Time From mDecks mDecks; www.mdecks.com; sales@mdecks.com. Common Time is a card game for two, three or four players where the deck of cards is custom made with musical symbols instead of numbers and the ordinary suits. The...

Duval 23 Keys.(Music Merchandise)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Duval 23 Keys Duval 23 Keys; www.23keys.com; duval@23keys.com. 23 Keys is a brand new piano course geared towards developing fluent and accurate sight reading. It combines a revolutionary note-learning program based on the 23 notes of the...

IPAY announces Showcase 2010.(Competitions)(International Performing Arts for Youth)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY), a membership organization in the world servicing and supporting the professional community of performing arts for young audiences, is calling for artists to perform at Showcase 2010, in...

Notes from a musician's journal.(Marking Time)(karaoke piano)(Viewpoint essay)
June 1, 2009... I play too much karaoke piano. Karaoke piano is exactly like it sounds: it is playing versus practicing, although sometimes, I call what I am doing practicing, which is the problem. Too often in my practice hours, I simply play along at some...

Charles-Louis Hanon's life and works.(The Man Behind The Virtuoso Pianist)(Biography)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Though Charles-Louis Hanon has been known around the world for more than a century--most notably from his last name emblazoned on the front of the Schirmer edition of his exercises--his life and other works have...

The science of sight reading.(Report)
June 1, 2009... Scientific studies are revealing a wealth of new information regarding the visual habits that contribute to good sight reading. Articles in scientific journals such as Visual Cognition and the Journal of Psycholinguistic Research feature much...

Yoga and piano: learning to unify musical intentions with easeful actions.(Report)
June 1, 2009... Making music should be a highly personal and pleasurable endeavor. Yet, too often we, as performers and teachers, are challenged by the physical task of playing our instruments. Striving to reach our artistic goals, we often let our minds take...

Annotated bibliography on musician wellness.(Recommended readings)
June 1, 2009... INTRODUCTION Included for each annotation is a brief description of the content of the resource and the intended audience it is addressed to. Publishing information is included. Most books can be bought directly from the publisher, through...

2009 National Conference Highlights: March 28-April 1 Atlanta, Georgia.(Conference notes)
June 1, 2009... COLLEGIATE EXPO/PROFESSIONAL STUDIO SATURDAY [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "A Studio Without Walls," was the theme of Professional Studio Saturday. Presenters included, from left, George Litterst, Jennifer Snow, Lisa Yui, Mario Ajero, Stella...

Blickenstaff honored with achievement award.(National Association News)(Marvin Blickenstaff)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Marvin Blickenstaff, NCTM, was honored with the MTNA Achievement Award at the 2009 MTNA National Conference in Atlanta. Blickenstaff taught at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for nine years and served as chairman of instruction...

Marie Burnette named MTNA Teacher of the Year.(National Association News)(Music Teachers National Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The recipient of the 2009 MTNA Teacher of the Year Award is Marie Burnette, NCTM Burnette is an independent music teacher in High Point, North Carolina, where she is a founding member of the local MTA. She has been teaching piano and organ...

Gibson honored with Distinguished Service Award.(National Association News)(Wayne Gibson)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The fifth annual MTNA Distinguished Service Award was given to Wayne Gibson, NCTM. Gibson served MTNA as president from 2001-2003. He has also served the association as treasurer from 1997-1999, Southern Division president, national...

Washington named State Affiliate of the Year.(Association News)(Music Teachers National Association State Affiliate of the Year)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Washington State Music Teachers Association is the 2009 MTNA State Affiliate of the Year. The award is based on membership growth and retention, certification, teacher education and programs, collegiate chapters, FOUNDATION FUND...

StAR Studio Teacher Fellowship Award.(Association News)(Student Achievement Recognition)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Ivy Jo Andreasen is the 2009 recipient of the Student Achievement Recognition (STAR) Studio Teacher Fellowship Award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Andreasen recently obtained a bachelor's degree in piano pedagogy from Weber State University...

Willard Palmer publication receives Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award.(Association News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... This year's recipient of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award is Alfred Publishing's Two- and Three-part Inventions (sinfonias) and Well-tempered Clavier by Bach by Willard Palmer. It was selected for its significant and unique...

MTNA-Shepherd distinguished Composer of the Year named.(Association News)(Music Teachers National Association)(William Price)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... This year's MTNA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year is William Price for his work, Hardboiled (Red Harvest), commissioned by the Alabama Music Teachers Association. His composition was selected from among 25 works entered in this...

Torigoe and Munoz awarded MTNA-PTG Scholarships.(Association News)(Judy Torigoe and Mandy Munoz)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The 2009 winners of the MTNA-PTG Scholarships are Judy Torigoe, who received the MTNA-PTG Recreational Music Making Workshop scholarship, and Mandy Munoz, who received the MTNA-PTG Teacher Continuing Education and/or Performance Study...

Collegiate Chapter of the Year named.(Association News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award is named for renowned teacher and MTNA benefactor, Benjamin Whitten, for his financial support of the award. It is given to the MTNA collegiate chapter that demonstrates excellence in its chapter...

Student Artwork Competition winners.(Association News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... MTNA held it's first Student Artwork Competition in an effort to provide recognition of the exceptional artistic talents of the students of MTNA members. Entries were accepted in the following age groups: Mozart (Ages 5-9), Beethoven (Ages...

Recognition of 50-year members.(Association News)(Music Teachers National Association members)(Awards list)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... At the 2009 National Conference, MTNA recognized the following members for their 50 years of service to the music teaching profession: Jo Ann Barlow, Mansfield, Ohio Mrs. Narlin Beaty, Beaumont, Texas Ronald Bennett, NCTM, Odessa,...

Board of directors.(Association News)(Music Teachers National Association board of directors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Janice Wenger, NCTM, MTNA vice president, and Judith Price, NCTM, MTNA secretary/treasurer, were honored for their two years of service on the MTNA Board of Directors. Also pictured are MTNA Executive Director & CEO...

Teacher enrichment grant recipients.(Foundation Fund)(Brief article)(List)
June 1, 2009... Eighteen teachers received grants this year from the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND. A total of $15,300 was awarded to recipients to help fund continuing education and professional development projects. This year's grants were awarded to: Karen...

Local association grant recipients.(Foundation Fund)(Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fund)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... A total of $2,875 was distributed form the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND to seven local associations in 2009. Associations receiving grants are: Chattanooga MTA Southwest Ohio MTA Tualatin Valley OMTA Chapter Wausau Area MTA ...

State affiliate grant awarded.(Foundation Fund)(One State Affiliate Matching Grant)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... One State Affiliate Matching Grant was awarded in 2009. These grants are awarded to state affiliates to enhance professional and educational development of its members, as well as creating innovative programs that will promote and enhance...

MTNA Foundation 2009 State Incentive Giving Campaign.(Association News)(Music Teachers National Association)
June 1, 2009... Congratulations to the Nebraska Music Teachers Association, North Dakota Music Teachers Association and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers for winning the MTNA Foundation Fund State Incentive Giving Campaign. The campaign...

Professional certification.(Association News)
June 1, 2009... August 3, 2008 was my birthday--also the birthday of the New Face of Certification. On this date the beginnings of the new Certification program were presented to the members of the National Certification Commission in Norman, Oklahoma. The new...

2008-2009 MTNA National Competition sponsors.
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Left, Alexandria Kim, second from right, was the winner of the MTNA Elementary Student Composition Competition, sponsored by Morty and Iris Manus. Pictured, from left, are Su-Shing Chiu, Kim's teacher; Iris Manus;...

2008-2009 MTNA National Competition winners.
June 1, 2009... COMPOSITION COMPETITIONS Elementary Composition Sponsored by Morty and Iris Manus Winner: Alexandria H. Kim, Southwest Division, (California); Su-Shing Chiu, teacher Alexandria Kim is 10 years old and a fifth grade student at...

Polyphony: an author reflects ...(Professional Resources)(Column)
June 1, 2009... This will be my last "Polyphony" column for American Music Teacher, as AMT is moving in a new direction. My gratitude goes to the AMT staff for their skill, insight and help with this column. The wonderful changes in AMT over the years can be...

What's new in pedagogy research?(Professional Resources)(Report)
June 1, 2009... Motivating students is always a topic of interest to music teachers. The Journal of Educational Psychology recently published a study titled "Supporting Students' Motivation, Engagement, and Learning During an Uninteresting Activity." (1) ...

The choral accompanist every director desires.(Forum Focus: Collaborative Arts)
June 1, 2009... Every choral director wishes for an accompanist who is of one mind with them: who gives pitches quickly and efficiently; intuits nuances, direction of phrases and dynamics even as they are thinking them; and who supports every aspect of the...

Piano proficiency exams.(Forum Focus: College Faculty)
June 1, 2009... During the past year, the College Faculty Forum has discussed piano proficiency exams that are required by colleges and universities. There seems to be a desire for a standardization of these exams, as well as the coordination of music theory...

MTNA Distinguished Composer 2008: William Price.(Forum Focus: Composer Commissioning)(Music Teachers National Association)
June 1, 2009... The music of William Price, MTNA Distinguished Composer 2008, cannot be aurally limited to any geographic region; however, Alabama would like to claim him just the same. Those who attended the Distinguished Composer MTNA Conference Session...

Local Association of the Year.(Forum Focus: Local Associations)
June 1, 2009... MTNA established the Local Association of the Year Award in 2001 to recognize the MTNA local association that makes the most significant contribution to the music teaching profession through participation in MTNA national and state programs and...

Ear training can enhance consistency and reduce repetitive overuse injuries.(Forum Focus: Wellness)
June 1, 2009... Problem: your student is inconsistent in performance. One solution: have them practice less. What is the logic here? Repetitive practice may not necessarily improve things. Sometimes it produces the opposite--less consistency. The question is,...

Debussy's Late Style.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Debussy's Late Style, by Marianne Wheeldon. Indiana University Press, 2009. www.iupress.indiana.edu; (800) 842-6796; 184pp. $34.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Did you know that Debussy wrote both words and music for a song, very popular...

The Independent Piano Teacher's Studio Handbook.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * The Independent Piano Teacher's Studio Handbook, by Beth Gigante Klingenstein. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008. www.musicdispatch.com; (800) 637-2852; 452 pp. $29.99. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one knows her business more than Beth...

Menahem Pressler: Artistry in Piano Teaching.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Menahem Pressler: Artistry in Piano Teaching, by William Brown. Indiana University Press. 2009. www.iupress.indiana.edu; (800) 842-6796; 328 pp. $24.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It is rare for a musician to achieve universally renowned...

A More Rational Approach to Traditional Music Notation: Elementary Piano Compositions, Volume 1.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... A More Rational Approach to Traditional Music Notation: Elementary Piano Compositions, Volume 1, by Peter Hayes George, edited by Annelie Boonekamp and Ginerva House. The Creative Arts Research Trust, www.simplifiedmusicnotation.org; 01273 746...

Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music, by Glenn Kurtz. Vintage, a division of Random House, 2008. www.randomhouse.com/vintage; (800) 793-2665; 239 pp. $13.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From the title, one would think Glenn Kurtz...

Return to Child: Music for People's Guide to Improvising Music and Authentic Group Leadership.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Return to Child: Music for People's Guide to Improvising Music and Authentic Group Leadership, Written and Compiled by James Oshinsky. Music for People, 2008. www.MusicforPeople.org; (877) 446-8742 or (860) 491-3763; 191 pp. $25.00. ...

Chinese Folk Songs Collection for Piano.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Chinese Folk Songs Collection for Piano, arranged by Joseph Johnson. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008. www.musicdispatch.com; (800) 637-2852; 48 pp. $7. 99. Intermediate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This lovely collection includes 24...

Microlatin: 20 New Pieces Based on Latin Rhythms for the Beginner Pianist.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Microlatin: 20 New Pieces Based on Latin Rhythms for the Beginner Pianist, by Christopher Norton. Boosey and Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd/distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008. www.musicdispatch.com; (800) 637-2852; 83 pp. $22.95. ...

Tales of Mystery.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Tales of Mystery, by Jennifer Linn. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2008. www.musicdispatch.com; (800) 637-2852; 23 pp. $7. 99. Intermediate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jennifer Linn's Tales of Mystery is part of the Composer Showcase series...

Winter Portraits.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... * Winter Portraits, by Kevin Costley. The FJH Music Company, Inc., 2008. www.fjhmusic.com; (800) 262-8744; 24pp. $5.50. Intermediate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This collection of pieces by Kevin Costley is published as a part of the FJH...

Cinco Piezas for flute and guitar.(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Cinco Piezas for flute and guitar, by Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Reiko Clement. Carl Fischer Music and Theodore Presser Company, 2008. www.carlfischer.com/presser.com; (800) 762-2328/(610) 592-1222. Score: 26pp. Flute: 11 pp. Guitar: 13...

Leadership.(Directory)
June 1, 2009... BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Ann Gipson, NCTM President-elect 11500 Northview Dr. Aledo, TX 76008 (817) 361-0661 a.gipson@tcu.edu Benjamin D. Caton, NCTM President-elect Box 70661 ETSU Music...

It's an anacrusic life.(ad lib)
June 1, 2009... As an adolescent pianist, I understood sonata-allegro form in a vague way, but it wasn't until I played the Beethoven Waldstein Sonata as an undergraduate that I became fascinated with the workings of that form. Dozens of details about the...