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February Minutes
For the February minutes, please click here. |
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Upcoming Events
May 4 - AIM Performance Exams, Level XI-XII
May 19 - Luncheon
Old Orchard Country Club
May 20 - Certification Coffee, Home of Jennifer Cohen, 3 Old Barn Rd., Hawthorn Woods
June 2 - Board Mtg.
Rolling Meadows Library
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A Welcome from Our President
 Dear Fellow Members:
As this year draws to a close, I am excited about our all-time high membership number! We are at 140!
It all began, 50+ years ago, with a few area piano teachers who started meeting and discussing ways to improve their teaching. Carol Stein was at the head of this group, joined by Elinor Traeger and Grace Garrett, Verna Dean Roberts, Joan Drolet, Suzanne Hynek. They discussed issues of interest to all of us -- back then and still today -- such as:
- How much time do we allot to theory, technic, sightreading, repertoire, etc., during a 30 minute lesson?
- What are the most important things to consider when setting up a home studio?
- How do we deal with a transfer student?
- How can we motivate and challenge our students to do their best?
Thanks to this small group of teachers, we exist as a thriving organization. Please invite other teachers in your area to join our group -- our programs continue to grow and set the bar for excellence in our community.
Congratulations to Ilse Schmidt, who just celebrated her 50th anniversary as a member of MTNA! Thank you, Ilse, for all your contributions to NWSMTA over the years! Please remember to reserve your spot at the May Luncheon at the Old Orchard Country Club on May 19 -- it promises to be a wonderful event, and our time to reflect on a fruitful year for our students. It's also a time to socialize -- to catch up with old friends and meet new members. Please contact Justyna Kraft-Weirich for details and to sign up. And thank you, Justyna, for all your planning! Please note that the Awards Competition Winners' Recital will take place on Sunday, April 27, at Countryside Church in Palatine. It was originally scheduled for the 26th. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to Galina Kostukovich for all her hard work in coordinating everything for another successful Awards Competition!
Thank you, too, to Miyoung Kim, Fran Onley and Mary Anne Block -- the Classical Recitals and Pop & Jazz Recital were wonderful! I heard some excellent playing and great pieces!
Maureen P. Flood
President, NWSMTA
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Awards Recital Change
The Awards Recital date is Sunday, April 27th (not Saturday the 26th as listed in the yearbook) at the Countryside Church in Palatine.
Sincerely,
Galina Kostukovsky
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| Note from the Editor
When you looked over the titles of the programs at the national convention, you could see "times are a-changing." Many of the programs had to do with the use of I-pads in lessons, the best apps and even online teaching. The large attendance at these sessions showed people are very interested in incorporating the newest technology into their teaching. Our students are also interested in using technology in their practice.
There was a wonderful session presented on practicing presented by Barbara Fast, using her brother Arlen Fast, bassoonist with the New York Philharmonic. He often has to perform music that is unknown with difficult rhythms. When there is no aural model, he creates one, often writing the music with the computer and listening to the playback. The ear can then guide the fingers. Slow downer apps can be helpful. He also plays with the aural model. The ear can help you make leaps in technically difficult parts.
I found it interesting that someone of his caliber enlarges the music for the beginning stage of learning. Sometimes he re-notates the score. Perhaps using enharmonics for difficult spots. You want the score to be easily readable.
You don't want to spend 70% of your attention reading the music. You need to spend 70% of your attention on the niceties of style.
When you look at the notation, think about the musical effect you desire. Teach the musical meaning. It affects how the student will play the notes. When a student leaves his/her lesson, they should have an aural, expressive model.
Sincerely,
Deb Lynch, Editor
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Luncheon
Our annual luncheon this year will be held on Monday, May 19th, 10:30 a.m. at Old Orchard Country Club, 700 West Rand Road in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The luncheon menu selections will be your choice of either Chicken Vesuvio or Portabella Mushroom Ravioli. Both dishes will be served with rolls, salad, vegetables, baked potato, desert and beverage. Entertainment during the luncheon will be provided by harpist Molly Krueger. The cost to attend is $ 29.60. This includes both tax and gratuity.
In order for our event to take place we need a minimum of 35 members so please join in this celebration of another fantastic year with friends, food and music.
Please send your checks payable to NWSMTA and an indication of menu choice to:
Justyna Weirich
2657 East Yarmouth Court
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
Please reply no later than Monday, May 12th, 2014
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April Program
MARCIA BOSITS is Associate Professor of Piano and Director of the Piano Pedagogy Program at the Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University. In addition to the doctorate from Northwestern, she earned an Artist's Diploma from the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland as the recipient of a Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowship.
Dr. Bosits holds national positions in many professional organizations
including Music Teachers National Association, the College Music Society, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and the World Piano Conference. Her articles have appeared in such recognized journals as Clavier, Keyboard Companion, Piano Journal and the American Music Teacher, and she appears as a clinician in piano pedagogy throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and the Far East. Active as a soloist and chamber musician, she has been a guest performer for the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) Conferences in Rome, Portugal, and Serbia.
Building Artistry through Piano Miniatures
As our piano students approach the early advanced repertoire, we try to choose music for them that is both challenging and inspiring. While there is value in assigning familiar pieces, teachers may miss the opportunity to expand students' musical horizons while promoting the development of needed pianistic and artistic skills. This session will share newer piano miniatures (by Bolcom, Piazzolla and others) that students will not only love to play, but will also build their stylistic understanding, technical finesse, and performance sophistication.
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Piano for Sale
Beautiful Steinway Grand Piano Looking for a New Home!
- Mahogany Model M Chippendale
- One owner, purchased in 1990, taken care of very well over the years
- Sounds fantastic, excellent condition
- Model M: 5 feet, 7 inches, medium sized grand piano
- Serial Number: 517556
- Chippendale style: styled with all the grace and distinction of design made famous by the master cabinetmaker of 18th century England, handcrafted legs and lyre
- Currently being stored at a climate-controlled Steinway warehouse
- Brand new, a piano like this will cost $80,000 - $90,000
- You owe it to yourself to at least consider this beautiful instrument
- If you have any questions, please ask
Asking Price: $39,990 ...willing to negotiate, serious inquires and offers please.
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Invitation
YOU ARE INVITED....
A Piano Recital by Chieko Garling and a
Coffeehouse Performance by "Rick Lowe & Friends"
When: Friday, May 2nd, 2014 @ 7pm
Where: Wildwood Presbyterian Church
18630 W. Old Gages Lake Road
Grayslake, IL
Featuring a classical recital by Chieko Garling (followed by jazz improvisation), an open mic segment (poetry readings, instrumental and vocal solos) and a performance of popular songs from the past including arrangements from the Chicago based musical group, "Chicago" by Rick Lowe & Friends.
Everyone is cordially invited to attend this event. Free Admission.
Complimentary coffee and light refreshments provided.
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____________________________________________________________
Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association
Maureen Flood, President
Chieko Garling, Webmaster
Deborah Lynch, Newsletter
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