MMTA NOTES E-Newsletter Fall 2017
MMTA State Auditions
November 1st – 5th, 2017
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO

Registration Deadline: October 2nd, 2017

Visit the  MMTA Auditions website  to register. Please follow the instructions  here . Please note that the MMTA member Teachers Registration Fee is available when you logged in your account. Otherwise, you don’t see it in the Payment page. 


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You can click on the link above, and it will take you a personalized page for the MTNA/MMTA rate. The hotel has asked for a closing date of October 5 to book a room .

Lisa Thill Franck is a performing artist and flute instructor based in Columbia, Missouri. During graduate studies at MIZZOU she established the LTF Flute Studio in 1994.  Additionally, she is currently the Adjunct Flute Professor at Central Methodist University. Lisa’s early flute teachers were Marsha Neher and Beth Jensen. She studied flute with Hal Ott at Central Washington University and Steve Geibel at the University of Missouri. 


Private Lessons Are Tailor Made to Fit the Individual - Lisa Thill Franck

Over the years my flute playing has opened the doors for me to many wonderful experiences. Festivals and band tours were some of the most memorable parts of my youth. I have been able to participate musically in important events, services and ceremonies and have had the opportunity for both domestic and international travel. Through music I have encountered scores of fabulous people and developed many profound relationships and lasting friendships. 
As a teacher I realize the majority of my students will not become professional musicians. However, I hope all of my students will always enjoy music as an avocation. I like to see students develop a greater appreciation for, and understanding of the music that surrounds them. This increases the likelihood they will cherish their musical experiences and continue to make music throughout their lives. 
One size does NOT fit all. The goals of each student that comes into my studio are as different as the individual. The beauty of private lessons is the inherent opportunity to build an individual course for each student. In fact, I tell students to help steer their lessons. Giving them some control ensures their studies are tailor made.
Of course there are skills everyone needs to work on. Tone exercises for flutists include harmonics, long-tones and work on vibrato. There are so many different courses of curriculum for learning scales and building technical facility. There are many fine methods and treatises on playing flute with lessons on ornamentation and playing well stylistically. The sheer volume of high quality repertoire for solo flute and chamber music from the earliest written music to modern selections is rich and vast. Consequently, the options for designing custom curriculum are mind-boggling.
Students also need an individualized practice plan. Everyone needs to practice, but the when, where, how and how much should be customized. Parents are sometimes frustrated with my vague answers when they ask how much their budding flutist should practice. But just like a sheet of math problems from school; what takes one student 10 minutes may take a classmate an hour. Thus, practice depends on the student’s personality, aptitude, and personal goals. Establishing reasonable practice goals is essential because overwhelming goals can be a deterrent to success.  
Organizing practice for the individual is important. Some students work well with practice journals. Putting practice priorities on a rotation schedule can be helpful. Flash cards for scales works for a lot of students. Tracking progress in the margins of their music or a chart is useful for many. I encourage students to come up with practice strategies on their own.
Musical study is a different journey for each student. It remains exciting to me when I find new ways to communicate concepts and techniques. It is fun to return to old books with a new student and inspiring to see what ideas they come up with themselves. I grow personally as I tailor their course to fit each individual student.
Upcoming Events
VP for Local Associations and Collegiate Chapters, Sharon Parker


Dear Local Associations:
Please make sure that your president (or someone from your association) emails the following information by September 1 to Sharon Parker at:   parkerpositiv@gmail.com

(1) Name, email and cell number of the President of your association for this year.
(2) Calendar/Schedule of programs and meetings of your association for 2017-18. 
Please include the location, date and time of each event.

Also take note of the “Matching Grants Guidelines” and “Matching Grants Application” documents that are updated online and available for making application – deadline is February 1, 2018. Matching grants are available for local associations to apply on a biennial basis. 

Dear Collegiate Chapter Advisors:
(1) Please send the name and email address of the faculty advisor for your collegiate chapter to Sharon Parker at parkerpositiv@gmail.com
(2) Also, please mark your calendars for the MMTA State Convention to be held November 1-5, 2017 at University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg MO. Our Collegiate Chapter Luncheon will be held (tentative) on Friday, November 3 at 12 noon. We want to invite all collegiate chapter members and their advisors to this luncheon as guests of MMTA. An exact count of those attending will be needed by October 15, 2017.




Technology Courses for College Musicians

Ryan McLouth
Assistant Professor of Music
Music Ministry Program Coordinator
Central Methodist University


This academic year, I had the pleasure for teaching a pair of new courses at Central Methodist University. Fundamentals of Music Technology and Advanced Music Technology were offered during the 2016-17 academic year as a part of our recently developed Bachelor of Music in Music Ministry, which is a professional degree designed to train worship leaders, creative arts directors, and professional church musicians.
Fundamentals of Music Technology is designed for both musicians and non-musicians. Focusing on techniques related to live performance, the course included topics such as physical properties of sound, acoustics, audio equipment, live effects, editing software, synthesis, and music notation technology. Students were asked to complete assignments such as critical reviews of particular products, video demos of assigned equipment, fantasy news segments related to technology and live performance, and written manuals for existing technologies.
Advanced Music Technology was a continuation of themes from the first semester, but in a recording context. Unit topics included using a digital audio workstation, fundamentals of MIDI, the recording industry, sequencing computer-generated music, using effects in the studio, performing with prerecorded music, and technology in an art music context. Many assignments for the course required our students to work with our new professional recording equipment endowment, which is located on-site. Students also complete in-home recording exercises as well, using digital audio workstations and recording software on their own devices. The results were quite good, as the capstone assignment for the course was a fully orchestrated recording of a song of their choice. Students could choose a preexisting piece for the project, or compose their own work. They were required to use a melodic instrument or voice, a harmonic instrument or voice, a bass instrument or voice, and a rhythmic instrument.
We are excited about what the future holds for this course sequence, as well as the Music Ministry program in general at Central Methodist, as our recording endowment and enrollment continue to grow. This fall brings the offering of two more new courses in the program at CMU, Worship Design and Music Business. Worship Design is purposed to teach students how to create a church service from the musician’s perspective. From choosing music, to collaborating with a pastor, to implementing technology, to training and supporting volunteers, students learn practical skills that help them execute a worship service. Music business focuses on an entrepreneurial approach to accounting, budgeting, marketing, and other financial practices that any musician can use as a utility in their survival and independence in the industry. We’re thrilled about the new courses and the developing program.