Memorable conference for collegiate chapters. (Collegiate Chapters).

The 2003 MTNA National Conference will surely go down in the memory books as one of the best. This was the first time all collegiate chapter sessions were presented by collegiate chapter members. For those of you who did not have the opportunity to catch one of the presentations, I send my deepest regrets--they were wonderful!

Sunday morning started off early with the National Student Advisory Council. I want to thank Kassandra Jenkins from Arizona State University for hosting this session. Those attending were eager to share their ideas and concerns.

Mid-morning brought the Western Michigan University MTNA Collegiate Chapter with Is Clementi Getting You Down? Discover an Innovative Approach to Finding New Repertoire for Your Intermediate-Level Students. Many in the audience left the session with a copy of "12 pieces of the 21st Century," a collection of new repertoire from commissioned student composers that was performed by student piano instructors and collegiate chapter members. The presenters took a moment to talk about each piece before it was performed. This excellent idea used the resources in the students' own backyard!

Sunday afternoon was the Collegiate Chapters Reception. It was my opportunity to recognize the members of the Weber State University Collegiate Chapter as recipients of the 2002-2003 Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award.

Also included in the reception program was an excellent presentation by the West Virginia University Collegiate Chapter, A Survey of Music Methods, Materials and Teaching Strategies to Aid Music Instructors in Teaching Culturally Diverse Students. Chapter members, as well as a collegiate chapter member from Texas Tech University, introduced the audience to teaching materials from the European Union, Malaysia, Taiwan, ...