Wednesday, November 7, 2012

CHAPTER MEETING

Tuesday, November 13th at noon, is our next chapter meeting!!

We are looking forward to an excellent presentation by Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel from SUU who will be presenting on accompanying. 

He will be sharing some great ideas on teaching our student's to accompany others and also tips to help improve our own skills.

We hope to see you there!!

Where: Caroline Jennings Home: 559 E 300 S #13, St. George (Caroline's Cell: eight 0 one -631-8697 if you need directions)
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

October Music Extravaganza!!


We had a great meeting in October! As a group, we had the chance to sight-read through several new books and newly edited collections. It was especially fun to read through some of the duets with 3 or 4 pianos playing each part!
 
In case some of you missed it, here is a list of the books we looked at and played from. There are still a few copies at The Music Store (929 Sunset Blvd) if you would like to take a look and play through them.
 
Some of the favorites of those who attended were: Northern Lights (an original collection of Romantic Scandinavian piano pieces), Blues, Jazz, Rock & Rags ( by Pixar composer, Mike Watts), and the American Popular Piano series (by Christopher Norton).
Blues, Jazz, Rock & Rags by Mike and Jennifer Watts - Book 1
Blues, Jazz, Rock & Rags by Mike and Jennifer Watts- Book 2
Northern Lights - Romantic Piano Pieces
Journey Through The Classics - Book 3
American Popular Piano Repertoire by Christopher Norton - Book 1
American Popular Piano Repertoire by Christopher Norton- Book 4
Bela Bartok for Children - Volume 1
Manhattan Swing Piano Solo by Naoko Ikeda
A Dark & Stormy Night - Faber & Faber
Tempo! Tempo! 40 Original Piano Pieces
Take A Bow! 8 Sparkling Piano Solos - Bk 2
Romantic Piano Music, Duets - 23 Pieces
Practicing The Piano
Aaron Copland Ballet Music for Piano
Astor Piazzolla - 15 Tangos & Other Pieces
 
Don't forget to attend November's Meeting! We are looking forward to an excellent presentation by Dr. Bohnenstengel from SUU who will be presenting on Accompanying.
When: November 13th, Noon
Where: Caroline Jennings Home 559 E 300 S #13
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Saturday, September 8, 2012

2012-2013 CALENDAR

We have a GREAT year of monthly meetings planned, and hope that everyone makes the time to come and share in the motivation that makes us better teachers!!  Even if you feel like you "know it all already," PLEASE come share your knowledge and experience with all the rest of us.  We love our association together as music teachers!!

(Time:  12:00 p.m.   Locations:  Caroline Jennings 559 East 300 South, St. George [tucked back in a small subdivision off of 300 South], The Music Store, Phoenix Plaza just off of Sunset Blvd.)

September 11th: Rachel France "Teaching the Young Beginner"
Location: Caroline Jennings

October 9th: Dr. Boehnenstengel "Accompanying"
Location: Caroline Jennings

November 13th: Reading Session "What's new in print music"
Location: The Music Store

December 11th: Dr. Timothy Francis "Modulations"
Location: Caroling Jennings

January 8th: Patrice Hunt "Becoming a NCTM, the Why and How"
Location: Caroline Jennings

February 12th: UMTA President Lois Mathews "Engaging and Appropriate Festival and Recital pieces"
Location: Caroline Jennings

March 12th: Sharing of Repertoire Lists
Location: Caroline Jennings

April 9th: Piano Technician Brittney Kirk "Maintaining and Understanding the Mechanics of Your Piano"
Location: The Music Store

May 14th: Closing Social
Location: Caroline Jennings
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UMTA MEMBER BENEFITS (or Why You Should Join)

  • IMPROVES YOUR TEACHING SKILLS!!
  • UMTA members are listed on the state directory. People looking for a teacher in this area are automatically funneled to UMTA members
  • Promotes professionalism in your teaching
  • Helps you help OTHERS improve THEIR teaching skills
  • Monthly lectures/presentations are FREE
  • Annual UMTA Conference is $30 cheaper!!
  • Camaraderie with other teachers/musicians
  • Community Involvement Opportunities
  • IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE ~ ~ IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!
  • Access to National Information, Help, etc
  • Subscription to American Music Teacher is included
  • 15% discount on all music at MUSIC WORKS the day of our association meetings
  • 20% discount at Barnes & Noble w/ membership card

2009 UMTA Fall Performance Evaluations

The UMTA Performance Evaluations were held last weekend (October 9th & 10th) and went extremely well. Dr. Hilary Demske, from UVU was the adjudicator, and did an excellent job of evaluating 120+ students!! (Her poor arm!)

Several teachers took advantage of this great opportunity and we would like to encourage everyone who is actively teaching to consider entering their students next year. This is a wonderful chance to have excellent one-on-one instruction, written and verbal, for each student. It does take preparation by teacher and student, but it is well worth the effort.

Teachers learn LOTS, too, by seeing what other teachers are doing with their students, repertoire being used, overall presentation, etc.

One of the things I observed about my students in comparison with other teachers' students, is that my students need to have more depth to their dynamics, whether louder louds or softer softs.

Sooooo, during their scale practice for the next two months, I am having my students use LOTS of exaggerated dynamics. If they are playing a set of three scales they do it three times: 1. LOUD AND SLOWLY 2. FAST AND SOFT 3. LOUD AND SLOWLY. If they need a little variety I will have them crescendo on the way up for two octaves, and decrescendo on the way down.

This is just ONE of the things I learned and will make me a better teacher because of the evaluations! PLEASE take advantage of this opportunity next year, if you don't already!