Introducing the MTNA Studio Festival. (In Unison).(Music Teachers National Association)(Brief Article)

It's been two years since I first told you about my friend, "Kevin." He was a student who wasn't motivated to practice. I even labeled him "musically at risk" and suggested that MTNA find an alternative to "musical oblivion" for the Kevins of the world.

My desire to serve these students and their teachers has become a focus for the MTNA Board of Directors during this biennium. In fact, this issue of American Music Teacher is dedicated to this topic.

Several of these columns have been directed to MTNA's initiative aimed at the "everyday" or even "typical" student, if you will--those for whom music is more of a hobby or a leisure pursuit. Music most likely will not become their career choice.

The first part of this program was the Music Study Awards. There has been an overwhelming response to these certificates. In fact, national headquarters reports that, as of this writing, the certificates recognizing students for two years of study are on their third printing! One staff member remarked that they seem to be "flying off the shelf!"

The second part of this program, the MTNA Studio Festival Program, was launched in March at the National Conference. I solicited the help of my good friend, Aurelia Campbell, an independent teacher and former president of the Georgia Music Teachers Association, from Hartwell, Georgia. With her guidance, materials a teacher needs to organize and hold a Studio Festival have been compiled and now are available through the national headquarters.

The MTNA Studio Festival Program's purpose is six-fold:

1. To provide the teacher and the teacher's students with an opportunity to participate in a nationally sponsored program that is open to students of all ages and levels of advancement, and that is implemented by the teacher's own studio.