January 15, 2022

President’s Note Well, it’s 2022! We made it to a whole new year, but seems like too much of the old one is still hanging on. However, our first newsletter of the year is chocked full of great news, not about our students winning awards all over the country this time, but about our MEMBERS winning awards! This is just confirmation that, as you know, TMTA has some of the best teachers in the whole country! Congratulations to those winning these awards, and to all you other excellent teachers in TMTA who work tirelessly to give your students a great musical education, but haven’t been recognized yet for your efforts. The smiles on your students’ faces are proof of the excellence of your teaching!   Be healthy, be kind, be In Tune with TMTA Dr. Roy Wylie, NCTM TMTA President

Deadlines January 15: Deadline for Fall Theory Test corrections February 1: Deadline for Original Composition, Publication, and Video Essay Contests

2022 TMTA MTNA Fellows Teresa Crawford, NCTM and Heather Rathnau, NCTM were nominated and approved last summer as the MTNA Fellows to represent TMTA for 2022. It is our great pleasure to honor these two fine members of TMTA for all the tireless energy they have displayed in support of various TMTA programs.   But we need YOUR help to fully fund these awards. Any and every contribution is needed to completely fund these Fellow Awards. Please send what you can so these can be presented to Teresa and Heather at the MTNA Minneapolis Conference in March. The deadline for these contributions is January 24 – so don’t delay! Here is the link to the MTNA donation page. Don’t forget to indicate to whom you would like your donation to go.

Austin District Music Teachers named 2022 MTNA Local Association of the Year How great it was to hear that ADMTA was named the best Local Association of MTNA for 2022. This award will officially be presented to the group at the MTNA National Conference in Minneapolis. Here is the link to the details of their programs that caused them to be honored as Texas Best of State last summer. This information was forwarded to the MTNA national office and the group received this award after comparing their excellent and innovative programs with those of local associations from all over the country.   I know we have many local associations that have wonderful programs happening, despite these trying times. Don’t be shy about touting your successes. ADMTA is a great example of the fantastic local associations that we have here in Texas – maybe yours could be so honored in future years. Pictured: Current ADMTA President, Buffy Currens

MTNA Student Chapter of the Year The South Texas Collegiate Chapter of MTNA was chosen as a co-recipient of the 2022 MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year award. Jacques Andoni Mendiala-Tagle is their current president and Dr. Brendan Kinsella, their faculty advisor. The chapter is located at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. The South Texas Collegiate Chapter (STCC) was founded in 2018, and has since been invited to present their scholarly work at many of MTNA's national conferences: "Creating Your Own Method Book: A Blueprint for Aspiring Pedagogues" at the 2021 MTNA National Conference, the 2021 MTNA Virtual Collegiate Chapters Symposium, and the 2021 TMTA State Conference. In addition to this, students have also presented at previous TMTA Conferences in 2019 and 2021 on topics such as how to teach sight reading to beginners, an introduction to choral conducting, and fusing classical and popular genres as a way to spur creativity in intermediate and advanced students. The STCC has been invited to present at the 2022 MTNA National Conference, "Notes from La Frontera: Strategies for Teaching Underserved Students,'' which is a point of pride for any chapter to be featured at such a competitive event for two consecutive years.   Within the community, the STCC is focused on the special needs of first-generation learners by diversifying repertoire selections for students of all levels, partnering with local businesses to provide merit scholarships for those in financial need, using empathetic modes of verbal communication for students with limited English comprehension, and cultivating a positive performance environment that espouses personal and artistic growth. At UTRGV, its members helped facilitate a series of master classes in 2020-2021 with guest artists such as Michael Chertock (University of Cincinnati), Baruch Meir (Arizona State), Ellen Elder (University of Southern Mississippi), and many others. Its upcoming plans include fundraising recitals to help alleviate the various humanitarian crises affecting South Texas during the pandemic. We look forward to seeing these wonderful students receive their award at the 2022 MTNA Conference and to hearing their fascinating presentation. Pictured: Dr. Kensella and the STCC

Adam Salas, NCTM, receives MTNA Studio Teacher Fellowship Adam Salas, Adjunct Instructor of Music at Texas Women’s University was named a 2022 recipient of a MarySue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship through the MTNA! As well as being on the faculty at TWU, Adam is a lecturer at SMU, and President Elect of the Dallas Music Teachers Association.   This $5,000 grant is presented annually to a recently graduated independent teacher who demonstrates commitment to the music teaching profession and outstanding studio development. The award is given to an independent teacher who has established a studio, but has been a teaching professional for no more than three years. It is open to teachers of all instruments and voice.   Congratulations, Adam! We look forward to seeing Adam presented with the award at the MTNA National Conference in March 2022.

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