January 15, 2020 Newsletter

Posted by Abby Hehenberger on 01/20/2020

Dear TMTA Members,

I hope all of you had time to enjoy the holidays with family and took a little time to relax. We all needed that time to relax, because now things really begin to pick up with TMTA activities. There are deadlines right and left, as we prepare for our convention in June. On January 11, the TMTA SA Committee met in Dallas to discuss Student Affiliate activities. These dedicated individuals spent an entire Saturday working for the betterment of our organization. Thank you, Heather Rathnau, NCTM, and TMTA SA Committee!

Musically,

Teresa Crawford, NCTM

Deadlines

For Theory Chairs: Fall Theory Test Regrades-January 15

For ALL Teachers: Teacher Enrichment Grant Applications-February 1

For Original Composition Contest Chairs: Submit Compositions-February 1

For Publication Contest Chairs: Submit Publication Articles and Video Essays-February 1

For Performance Contest Chairs: Submit Regional Contestants-February 24

For Local Presidents: Nominations for Teacher Awards-March 1

Teacher Enrichment Grant

Lydia Bratcher, NCTM
TMTA Trustee Chair

TMTA Trustees would like to remind everyone of the February 1 deadline for Teacher Enrichment Grants. The criteria has changed this year, making these grants even more accessible to more teachers. Information and application form are on the TMTA website. We hope to be able to help more teachers this year in their endeavors to further education or improve studio operations.

Fellows Funded, but there is still time to donate!

Deadline-January 20, 2020

Rick Valentine and Rebecca Landreth, NCTM will be honored at the 2020 MTNA Conference in Chicago, Illinois. These two outstanding members of TMTA have been fully funded thanks to many TMTA members who have donated, but there is still time to donate if you would like to honor them as well. The deadline is January 20, 2020! To contribute to MTNA and recognize Rick or Becky, click here and select “Foundation Fellow.” Then be sure to put their name in as the fellow you wish to sponsor.

Congratulations Fort Worth MTA

Dino Mulic, Best of State Chair

The TMTA Best of State award recognizes and highlights the accomplishments of a TMTA local association. Fort Worth MTA was selected because of their growth, involvement in TMTA, new and innovative programming, and a special outreach they presented to cancer patients.

Fort Worth MTA saw big increases in membership, festivals, and theory testing. They have also implemented many new programs in the last year which include adding strings and vocal to their Solo Festival, beginning a book discussion forum (over piano pedagogy books), joining the Amazon Smile program for non-profits, and participating with donations on Giving Tuesday. Their most exciting new event covered three days of live musical performances for cancer patients at UT Southwest Simmons Center. With Steinways provided by Steinway Hall, pianos were placed outside treatment and infusion rooms for patients to enjoy. Teachers, as well as students, performed over the three days. FW MTA is looking to add another local outreach this spring. Because of the growth and innovative programs along with outreach, Fort Worth has been selected as Best of State.

Invite a colleague to join MTNA for half price!

Rick Valentine, TMTA Immediate Past President

If you know any teachers in your area who are not MTNA/TMTA members, now is the perfect time to invite them to become part of our great association. Between now and June 30, 2020, anyone joining MTNA for the first time can do so for half price! Your colleagues can join online . There is even a sample letter and flyer available for download on the MTNA website.

TMTA Convention Activities

Beth Horton, Chair

If you have been hesitant before to enroll your students in Student Affiliate activities, this is a great opportunity to see what SA is all about, so dive right in. ALL convention activities give a Student Affiliate participation point, even though SA membership is not a requirement, and there is NO theory requirement for any of them. There are so many types of activities: All-Star Festival, Chamber Music Clinic, Convention Projects, Digital Keyboard Orchestra, and the June Leondar Chamber Music/Ensemble Contest. There is something for all students at the TMTA Convention! Check the TMTA Handbook for more information.

TMTA SA Coordinator Highlight

Shelly Davis, NCTM, TMTA SA Theory Coordinator

Shelly Davis, NCTM studied music education in Houston and Tyler as well as private piano and composition at UT Tyler. She is an active member of the East Texas Music Teachers Association; serving in various offices, including president in 2011 when the association was awarded “Best of State” by the TMTA.

A member of TMTA since 1993, Shelly has enjoyed serving as All-Star Festival Chair, a member of the TMTA Theory Syllabus committee, chair of the ad hoc committee to establish testing guidelines for students with special needs, assistant theory coordinator, theory advisory committee, and TMTA Theory Coordinator.

Shelly is also the host of the Piano Parent Podcast, a weekly podcast dedicated specifically to parents of piano students. Each episode covers topics of interest to piano families such as how to motivate your child to practice and how to encourage a love of music, as well as general music topics and interviews with teachers and other piano parents. You can listen to the latest episode at http://www.PianoParentPodcast.com.