MTNA/RPMDA partnership action plan.(Music Teachers National Association)(Retail Print Music Dealers Association)

Our MTNA motto is "Working For a More Musical Tomorrow." In addition to working together within our association, MTNA has continually sought to further the advancement of music study and music making through shared goals and partnerships with other associations.

This past year MTNA and the Retail Print Music Dealers Association (RPMDA) jointly developed outreach initiatives to strengthen the relationship between independent music teachers and local music dealers. The goals of these outreach initiatives are:

* To forge a strong relationship between teachers and dealers in each organization;

* To develop better avenues of interaction between teachers and dealers;

* To provide information to students and parents about music and the benefits of music study;

* To make available to the dealers the MTNA structure through the local associations in this process.

Both teachers and dealers are involved in the education of students, parents and fellow colleagues and share a common goal of understanding and promoting the value of music study and music making to their students or customers and to the general public. Therefore, it is only natural that the two should have a mutually beneficial relationship in which they nurture each other by supporting independent music educators and by sustaining a robust and convenient commerce in printed music and supplies. Danny Rocks, vice president for educational development, Alfred Publishing Company, states, "To be successful each (music teachers and music dealers) must recognize the true needs of the other party and strive to provide solutions to those needs." Working together, dealers and teachers can network to promote the study of music and music education for all ages--from preschool to seniors.